« Back to Loving Rivers

Dark Canyon at Carlsbad

Critical Stages
9' - Action
15' - Flood
18' - Moderate
22' - Major

Latest Observation

Updated: 1:15 PM MST 12/16/25

Status: No Flooding

Stage: 3.37 ft

Flow: -999 kcfs

Forecast

Forecast not available for this location.

TimeStage (ft)Flow (kcfs)
1:15 PM 12/16 3.37 -999
1:00 PM 12/16 3.37 -999
12:45 PM 12/16 3.37 -999
12:30 PM 12/16 3.37 -999
12:15 PM 12/16 3.37 -999
12:00 PM 12/16 3.37 -999
11:45 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
11:30 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
10:15 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
10:00 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
9:45 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
9:30 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
9:15 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
9:00 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
8:45 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
8:30 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
8:15 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
8:00 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
7:45 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
7:30 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
7:15 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
7:00 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
6:45 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
6:30 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
6:15 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
6:00 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
5:45 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
5:30 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
5:15 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
5:00 AM 12/16 3.37 -999
Hydrograph for Dark Canyon at Carlsbad
22' - the canyon reaches major flood stage, and begins flooding residences and businesses in the vicinity of Canal Street and Dark Canyon Draw in Carlsbad begins. U.S. Highway 285 (Canal Street) is likely to flood, and numerous other city streets will be inundated.
18' - the canyon reaches moderate flood stage. A few residences and businesses nearest to the bank near the U.S. Highway 285 bridge (Canal Street) in Carlsbad begin to flood.
15' - the canyon reaches minor flood stage, with banks near capacity near the U.S. Highway 285 bridge in Carlsbad. Water is likely to reach the railroad bridge just downstream from the highway bridge. Water should remain under the highway bridge, but numerous city and outlying roads will flood, primarily upstream. Individuals near the Canal Street bridge should be alert to rising water under the bridge.
9' - the canyon reaches bankfull, and banks will begin to overflow about 1 mile upstream from the U.S. Highway 285 bridge around San Jose Blvd and Fiesta Drive in Carlsbad. Several secondary roads and a few city streets will likely flood and become impassable.
DateStage (ft)
Aug 23, 1966 22
Sep 22, 2014 21.62
Apr 4, 2004 20.45
Jun 29, 2021 19.26
Sep 12, 2013 17.85
Sep 22, 2014 15.02
Jun 24, 1986 12.53
Sep 26, 1980 12.1
Oct 23, 1974 10.8
Aug 10, 1984 10.56
Sep 25, 1978 9.82
Sep 24, 1974 6.18

Data provided by the National Weather Service.