Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 09480500

Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ

Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ is USGS streamgage 09480500 in Arizona, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 15050301. It sits on the Santa Cruz River, alongside 7 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 533 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1913. Typical flow runs near 1.5 cfs in July and 1.8 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
Arizona
Drainage area
533 sq mi
Gauge elevation
3,705 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
15050301
Coordinates
31.34457, -110.85151
USGS site number
09480500
Records begin
1913-01-01 (113 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ. 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
5.7 20.6 104
2.4 13.8 81.4
1.1 8.8 52.5
0.7 5.8 37.6
0.4 3.8 20.2
0.3 2.9 16
0.2 2.4 13.9
0.1 1.9 10
0 1.5 8.7
0 1.3 7
0 1.2 7.2
0 1.1 6.8
0 0.9 6.2
0 0.9 6.4

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 113 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 0 4.2 44.7
February 0 4.3 58.2
March 0 3.6 41.7
April 0 1.8 18.8
May 0 0.5 3.3
June 0 0 1
July 0 1.5 90.8
August 0 10.2 183.5
September 0 1.5 59.4
October 0 0.8 19
November 0 1.4 15.9
December 0 3 27.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ normally run highest?
August, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 10.2 cfs, against 0 cfs in June, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 4.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 44.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 09480500 begin in 1913, about 113 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 Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ?
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 Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ?
The gauge sits at 31.34457, -110.85151, in Arizona, in hydrologic subbasin 15050301, at an elevation of about 3,705 feet, draining roughly 533 square miles.
Can I use Santa Cruz River near Nogales, AZ 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 Santa Cruz River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin