Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06741510

Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO

Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO is USGS streamgage 06741510 in Colorado, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10190006. It drains a watershed of about 531 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1979. Typical flow runs near 87.6 cfs in July and 8.6 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Colorado
Drainage area
531 sq mi
Gauge elevation
4,910 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10190006
Coordinates
40.37874, -105.06082
USGS site number
06741510
Records begin
1979-07-04 (47 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
36.9 40.7 43.1
33.4 39.2 43
30.3 37.9 42.9
26.7 36.9 43.8
22 35.4 43.5
22.1 35.1 44.2
17.5 33.4 44.5
15.4 32.2 43.8
13.4 31.2 43.1
13 30.1 42
12.2 29.3 41.6
7.6 25.4 40.5
4.6 20.5 38.1
3.4 19.2 38.2

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 47 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 2.8 10.1 44.1
February 2.8 7.7 39.5
March 2.8 7.1 37.4
April 3.8 8.6 67.8
May 6.8 57.2 447.3
June 38.8 92.4 932.1
July 43.9 87.6 212
August 33.7 65.3 125.1
September 14.1 34.3 68.2
October 4.8 13.2 123.9
November 4.1 10.8 53.2
December 3 9.4 40.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 92.4 cfs, against 7.1 cfs in March, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 10.1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 2.8 and 44.1 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06741510 begin in 1979, about 47 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO?
The gauge sits at 40.37874, -105.06082, in Colorado, in hydrologic subbasin 10190006, at an elevation of about 4,910 feet, draining roughly 531 square miles.
Can I use Big Thompson River at Loveland, CO data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Other gauges in this subbasin