When does Rio Grande at Embudo, NM normally run highest?

May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,277.6 cfs, against 294.8 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.

What is a normal flow for Rio Grande at Embudo, NM?

It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 492.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 372.6 and 627.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.

How long has Rio Grande at Embudo, NM been measured?

Discharge records at USGS site 08279500 begin in 1889, about 137 years, covering roughly 9,130 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.

Is there a flow forecast for Rio Grande at Embudo, NM?

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 Rio Grande at Embudo, NM?

The gauge sits at 36.20556, -105.96397, in New Mexico, in hydrologic subbasin 13020101, at an elevation of about 5,789 feet, draining roughly 10,400 square miles.

Can I use Rio Grande at Embudo, NM 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.

USGS Streamgage 08279500

Rio Grande at Embudo, NM

Rio Grande at Embudo, NM is USGS streamgage 08279500 in New Mexico, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 13020101. It sits on the Rio Grande, alongside 19 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 10,400 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1889. Typical flow runs near 444.6 cfs in July and 698.9 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State: New Mexico
Drainage area: 10,400 sq mi
Gauge elevation: 5,789 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8): 13020101
Coordinates: 36.20556, -105.96397
USGS site number: 08279500
Records begin: 1889-01-01 (137 years)
Rivermatics forecast: 14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through September 16 for Rio Grande at Embudo, NM. 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
September 17	147	153	174
September 18	150	165	217
September 19	152	173	238
September 20	149	165	218
September 21	145	158	197
September 22	144	156	190
September 23	145	158	199
September 24	145	159	204
September 25	148	169	237
September 26	154	184	276
September 27	156	188	279
September 28	153	181	258
September 29	152	176	241
September 30	155	182	257

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 96 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
January	372.6	492.7	627.5
February	423.3	555.9	740
March	443.2	661.3	1,058.6
April	328	698.9	1,846
May	320.5	1,277.6	4,303.9
June	273.1	1,012.8	4,413
July	206.7	444.6	1,726.9
August	205	339.1	787.8
September	203.5	294.8	584.9
October	224.9	337	671.5
November	273.7	490.5	853.3
December	340.9	507.5	678.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Rio Grande at Embudo, NM normally run highest?: May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,277.6 cfs, against 294.8 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Rio Grande at Embudo, NM?: It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 492.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 372.6 and 627.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Rio Grande at Embudo, NM been measured?: Discharge records at USGS site 08279500 begin in 1889, about 137 years, covering roughly 9,130 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Rio Grande at Embudo, NM?: 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 Rio Grande at Embudo, NM?: The gauge sits at 36.20556, -105.96397, in New Mexico, in hydrologic subbasin 13020101, at an elevation of about 5,789 feet, draining roughly 10,400 square miles.
Can I use Rio Grande at Embudo, NM 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.

Upstream and downstream on the Rio Grande

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Rio Grande in full.

Rio Grande near Lobatos, CO 7,700 sq mi
Rio Grande near Cerro, NM 8,440 sq mi
Rio Grande below Taos Junction Bridge near Taos, NM 9,730 sq mi
Rio Grande at Embudo, NM this page
Rio Grande at Valle de Oro, NM 13,100 sq mi
Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge, NM 14,300 sq mi
Rio Grande below Cochiti Dam, NM 14,900 sq mi
Rio Grande near Alameda, NM 17,210 sq mi
Rio Grande at Albuquerque, NM 17,440 sq mi
Rio Grande at Isleta Lakes near Isleta, NM 17,666 sq mi
Rio Grande near Bosque Farms, NM 17,718 sq mi
Rio Grande at State Hwy 346 near Bosque, NM 18,406 sq mi
Rio Grande at Bridge near Escondida, NM 28,068 sq mi
Rio Grande above US Hwy 380 near San Antonio, NM 28,435 sq mi
Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM 28,500 sq mi
Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam, NM 29,450 sq mi
Rio Grande at El Paso, TX 32,210 sq mi
Rio Grande at Rio Grande Village, Big Bnd NP, TX
Rio Grande below Leasburg Dam at Fort Selden, NM
Rio Grande near Castolon, TX