River stage
Embudo, Rio Grande
- River level
- 2.47 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.34 ft
- Recent high
- 3.69 ft
- Recent low
- 1.88 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS EMBN5
- 30-day change
- +0.55 ft
- Average
- 2.11 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 15.90 ft
In brief
The Rio Grande at Embudo, NM read 2.47 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 5.53 ft below action stage. That is 0.55 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge EMBN5
Water 61 °F (16 °C) · 4 °F warmer than normal for this date · -3 °F in 24 hours
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.90 ft | 1903-06-19 |
| 2 | 14.02 ft | 1921-06-16 |
| 3 | 13.95 ft | 1941-05-16 |
| 4 | 12.90 ft | 1920-05-28 |
| 5 | 12.32 ft | 1948-05-27 |
| 6 | 12.32 ft | 1987-05-20 |
| 7 | 12.17 ft | 1949-06-22 |
| 8 | 12.08 ft | 1979-06-09 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 8.00 ft
Minor overbank flows are occurring above the Embudo gaging site. Access to riverside picnic facilities above Pilar and below the Taos Junction Bridge along State Route 570 will be limited if further rises occur. Water may be extremely close to underside of bridge over Rio Grande on Aguas Caliente Rd in Pilar. Other localized effects due to the high water levels will begin to be felt at a stage of 10 feet but no significant flooding is expected until the river rises to 12 feet.
- 10.00 ft
Access to riverside picnic facilities above Pilar but below the Taos Junction Bridge may be affected due to flooding. Water is about to flow over the Aguas Caliente Rd Bridge in Pilar. This could impact locals living on west side of Rio Grande. No significant damages are expected until the river rises to 12 feet or higher.
- 12.00 ft
Properties along the west bank of the river just upstream of the gage are beginning to flood. Aguas Caliente Rd Bridge is flooded, cutting off homes on west bank of river in Pilar. Water covers parts of State Road 570 above Pilar, and day use recreational sites along the river above Pilar are flooded.
- 15.00 ft
Homes along the Rio Grande banks at Embudo are subject to serious flooding as the river is approaching the all time record stage of 15.9 feet set in 1903. Lowland flooding is also occurring along the Rio Grande both above and below the Embudo gauging site. Sections of state route 570 from Pilar to the Taos Junction Bridge are inundated and impassable.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rio Grande flooding at Embudo?
No. The Rio Grande at Embudo is at 2.47 ft, 5.53 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Embudo?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 8 ft, minor flooding 10 ft, moderate flooding 12 ft and major flooding 15 ft.
What is the highest the Rio Grande has been at Embudo?
The highest crest on record is 15.9 ft, on 1903-06-19.
Is the Rio Grande high or low right now at Embudo?
At 2.47 ft it is higher than 89% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Embudo, Rio Grande?
The water temperature at Embudo, Rio Grande is 61 °F (16.3 °C), measured 7:00 pm by USGS, which is 4 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has fallen 2.9 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge EMBN5); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 08279500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.