SAN FRANCISCO RIVER AT CLIFTON, AZ
USGS 09444500 · Arizona · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading SAN FRANCISCO RIVER AT CLIFTON, AZ…
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USGS 09444500 · Arizona · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
During periods of high water, fish move towards the banks to find calmer water and lower velocitiesPennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the streambed is not visiblePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
If stream conditions are not favorable, consider fishing at a lakePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 9:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Much above normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 166 readings from Oct 29, 10:00 PM MST to Nov 5, 9:00 PM MST; ranging 93.9 to 24,800 ft³/s; latest 843 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 9:00 PM MST | 843 | 11.4 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 PM MST | 859 | 11.5 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM MST | 874 | 11.5 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST | 884 | 11.5 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM MST | 904 | 11.5 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST | 930 | 11.6 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 943 | 11.6 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 957 | 11.6 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 964 | 11.6 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 991 | 11.7 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 1,010 | 11.7 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 1,040 | 11.7 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 1,050 | 11.8 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 1,100 | 11.8 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 1,100 | 11.8 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 1,120 | 11.8 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 1,160 | 11.9 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 1,160 | 11.9 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 1,190 | 11.9 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 1,220 | 12 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 1,280 | 12.1 | 46–105 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 1,300 | 12.1 | 46–105 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 1,330 | 12.1 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 1,350 | 12.1 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 1,390 | 12.2 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 1,430 | 12.2 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 1,460 | 12.3 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 1,520 | 12.3 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 1,530 | 12.4 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 1,600 | 12.4 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 1,620 | 12.5 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 1,720 | 12.6 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 1,700 | 12.6 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 1,780 | 12.6 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 1,850 | 12.7 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 1,900 | 12.8 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 1,990 | 12.9 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 2,030 | 12.9 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 2,090 | 13 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 2,190 | 13.1 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 2,200 | 13.1 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 2,350 | 13.2 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 2,430 | 13.3 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 2,590 | 13.4 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 2,670 | 13.4 | 43–101 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 2,820 | 13.5 | 43–101 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 2,990 | 13.7 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 3,140 | 13.8 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 3,300 | 13.9 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 3,430 | 14 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 3,540 | 14 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 3,680 | 14.1 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 3,840 | 14.3 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 4,030 | 14.4 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 4,110 | 14.4 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 4,400 | 14.6 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 4,650 | 14.8 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 4,890 | 14.9 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 5,020 | 15 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 5,220 | 15.1 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 5,540 | 15.2 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 5,750 | 15.4 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 6,090 | 15.5 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 6,480 | 15.7 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 6,870 | 15.9 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 7,280 | 16.1 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 7,820 | 16.4 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 8,380 | 16.6 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 8,940 | 16.9 | 44–93 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 9,840 | 17.3 | 44–93 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 10,400 | 17.5 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 11,000 | 17.8 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 11,200 | 17.9 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 10,500 | 17.6 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 10,200 | 17.5 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 10,200 | 17.4 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 10,500 | 17.6 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 11,000 | 17.8 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 11,600 | 18.1 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 12,800 | 18.6 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 13,200 | 18.7 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM MST | 14,500 | 19.2 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM MST | 15,200 | 19.5 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM MST | 16,500 | 20 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM MST | 17,500 | 20.4 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM MST | 19,800 | 21.2 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM MST | 15,600 | 19.6 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM MST | 12,000 | 18.2 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM MST | 11,400 | 18 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM MST | 13,000 | 18.6 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM MST | 14,300 | 19.1 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM MST | 16,000 | 19.8 | 44–92 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM MST | 18,300 | 20.7 | 44–92 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM MST | 19,600 | 21.1 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM MST | 22,300 | 22.1 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM MST | 24,800 | 23 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM MST | 19,200 | 21 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM MST | 10,300 | 17.5 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM MST | 5,390 | 15.2 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM MST | 4,630 | 14.8 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM MST | 4,610 | 14.7 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM MST | 3,440 | 14 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM MST | 3,080 | 13.7 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM MST | 2,190 | 13.1 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM MST | 2,070 | 12.9 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM MST | 2,040 | 12.9 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM MST | 2,250 | 13.1 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM MST | 2,000 | 12.9 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM MST | 1,530 | 12.4 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM MST | 1,130 | 11.9 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM MST | 162 | 9.68 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM MST | 197 | 9.83 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM MST | 139 | 9.58 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM MST | 128 | 9.54 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM MST | 114 | 9.49 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM MST | 175 | 9.74 | 45–96 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM MST | 96.3 | 9.42 | 45–96 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM MST | 128 | 9.54 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM MST | 111 | 9.48 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM MST | 93.9 | 9.41 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM MST | 119 | 9.51 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM MST | 131 | 9.55 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM MST | 104 | 9.45 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM MST | 139 | 9.58 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM MST | 153 | 9.64 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM MST | 101 | 9.44 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM MST | 147 | 9.61 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM MST | 128 | 9.54 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM MST | 119 | 9.51 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM MST | 151 | 9.63 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM MST | 111 | 9.48 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM MST | 128 | 9.54 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM MST | 109 | 9.47 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM MST | 170 | 9.72 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM MST | 149 | 9.62 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM MST | 153 | 9.64 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM MST | 170 | 9.72 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM MST | 136 | 9.57 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM MST | 177 | 9.75 | 44–96 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM MST | 153 | 9.64 | 44–96 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM MST | 168 | 9.71 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM MST | 160 | 9.67 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM MST | 142 | 9.59 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM MST | 168 | 9.71 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM MST | 136 | 9.57 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MST | 153 | 9.64 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MST | 160 | 9.67 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MST | 189 | 9.8 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MST | 170 | 9.72 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MST | 186 | 9.79 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MST | 170 | 9.72 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MST | 194 | 9.82 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MST | 203 | 9.85 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM MST | 194 | 9.82 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM MST | 181 | 9.77 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM MST | 158 | 9.66 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM MST | 184 | 9.78 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM MST | 160 | 9.67 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM MST | 212 | 9.88 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM MST | 197 | 9.83 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM MST | 179 | 9.76 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM MST | 177 | 9.75 | 44–86 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM MST | 209 | 9.87 | 44–86 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM MST | 166 | 9.7 | 44–86 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM MST | 166 | 9.7 | 44–86 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MST | 181 | 9.77 | 44–86 |
Map of USGS gauge 09444500 and the river around it
Where SAN FRANCISCO RIVER AT CLIFTON, AZ sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Arizona Game and Fish uses are 67°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Arizona Game and Fish Department: Arizona fish stocking schedule · Arizona fishing licenses and regulations.
Normal for Nov 5: 46–105 ft³/s (middle half of 102 years of record). Now: 843 ft³/s, much above normal.
Much above normal for this date. 843 ft³/s is above the 90th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 102 years of record (1914–2026): 10th 32, 25th 46, median 59, 75th 105, 90th 159 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 2.77 ft³/s, highest 3,550 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Falling over 24 hours: discharge down 39.4%, from 1,390 to 843 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Flow far above normal. Above the 90th percentile of daily mean flow for this date (USGS class “much above normal”), from 102 years of record. Expect higher, faster water than usual for the season.
hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) Statistics documentation (percentiles of daily mean discharge) (U.S. Geological Survey)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 11.4 ft stage, 813 ft³/s at Nov 5, 9:00 PM MST (NWS gauge SFCA3; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:39 AM MST. Highest point: 11.9 ft, 1,130 ft³/s on Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 11.9 ft | 1,130 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 11.2 ft | 745 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 10.6 ft | 471 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 10.1 ft | 287 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 10 ft | 263 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 9.99 ft | 247 ft³/s |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 9.94 ft | 230 ft³/s |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 9.9 ft | 217 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 9:50 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.