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Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera — water level right now

Rio Arriba County, New Mexico · NWS gauge LMDN5
Loading the latest reading…
–
current stage (ft)
 
7
minor flood stage
 
10.32
record crest
set 2025-08-25
–
flood status
official NWS category
Official NOAA forecast → USGS data → Full US flood map →

Flood stages at this gauge

Where the water stands right now against the four official thresholds:

action · 6.5
minor · 7
moderate · 9
major · 10
Flood stageLevel (ft)What it means
Major flood stage10extensive inundation and significant evacuations — a serious event
Moderate flood stage9some buildings and roads inundated; evacuations possible
Minor flood stage7low-lying roads and fields near the river start to flood
Action stage6.5water is approaching flood level — time to pay attention

Highest floods on record here

#Crest (ft)Datevs. minor flood stage
110.322025-08-25+3.32 above
28.271994-08-14+1.27 above
37.71998-07-08+0.7 above
47.352007-07-26+0.35 above
57.152000-06-29+0.15 above
67.132017-05-09+0.13 above
76.852017-04-200.15 below
86.421958-04-210.58 below
96.331980-05-080.67 below
106.261985-05-060.74 below
116.222005-05-180.78 below
126.022009-04-300.98 below

Historic crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service — the 12 highest on file.

Where this gauge is

The marker is this gauge; nearby gauges load live and are clickable.

Nearby river gauges

Rio Grande at Embudo 11 mi away · loading… Embudo Creek below Dixon 12 mi away · loading… Rio Grande below Taos 16 mi away · loading… Rio Chama near Chamita 19 mi away · loading… Rio Pueblo De Taos below Taos 21 mi away · loading… Rio Chama below Abiquiu 22 mi away · loading…

Gauge details

NWS gauge IDLMDN5
USGS site08289000
CountyRio Arriba
StateNew Mexico
NWS forecast officeAlbuquerque
River forecast centerWest Gulf River Forecast Center
Coordinates36.35, -106.044
Time zoneMST7MDT
Turn Around, Don't Drown. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet and twelve inches can float a car. Never drive around barricades or into water of unknown depth — most flood deaths happen in vehicles.

Questions about Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera

Is Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera flooding right now?

The live reading at the top of this page answers that: the gauge is compared against its official NWS flood stages every 15 minutes. Minor flooding at this gauge begins at 7 ft. Blue means normal, yellow is action stage, orange minor, red moderate and dark red major flooding.

What is flood stage for Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera?

major flood stage 10 ft, moderate flood stage 9 ft, minor flood stage 7 ft, action stage 6.5 ft. These are official National Weather Service thresholds set specifically for this gauge, not generic values.

What is the record flood at Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera?

The highest crest on file at this gauge is 10.32 ft, reached on 2025-08-25 — that is 3.32 ft above minor flood stage. The full list of the highest crests is in the table on this page.

Where does this data come from?

From the NOAA National Water Prediction Service, the official U.S. river gauge network — a U.S. government work in the public domain. Live stage is refreshed every 15 minutes; flood thresholds and historic crests are refreshed monthly. For life-safety decisions follow NWS Albuquerque and local emergency management.