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Latitude: 36.90º N | Longitude: 121.60º W | Elevation: 82 Feet | |
Location: Santa Cruz County in California | River Group: Central Coast |
Issuance Time: | Feb 03 2023 at 2:13 PM PST | Next Issuance: | Feb 04 2023 at 9:00 AM PST |
Monitor Stage: 25.0 Feet | Flood Stage: 32.0 Feet |
Observed Data Credit | |
![]() | Raw streamflow data is provided by the US Geological Survey (USGS). |
Historical Stage/Flow Data |
|||
Water Year
|
Peak Discharge (cfs)
|
Stage (feet)
|
Date
|
Most Recent 5 Years | |||
2021 |
1,160 |
9.97 |
Jan 29, 2021 |
2020 |
1,070 |
9.60 |
Apr 6, 2020 |
2019 |
4,540 |
20.49 |
Feb 15, 2019 |
2018 |
909 |
9.22 |
Mar 23, 2018 |
2017 |
9,160 |
26.98 |
Feb 21, 2017 |
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - February 1938* to Present) - Ranked by Flow | |||
1998 |
25,100 |
33.73 |
Feb 3, 1998 |
1956 |
24,000 |
32.46 |
Dec 24, 1955 |
1958 |
23,500 |
33.11 |
Apr 3, 1958 |
1955 |
21,500 |
32.20 |
Mar 11, 1955 |
1969 |
17,800 |
23.90 |
Feb 25, 1969 |
* Missing data during 1939, otherwise record complete |
Location Photographs | ||
ESRI™ Locator Map |
Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ529) |
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Saturday: Rain in the afternoon. Highs around 60. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph and becoming south 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night: Showers. Lows in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Sunday: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of showers 40 percent. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Monday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Monday Night and Tuesday: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Highs in the lower 60s. Tuesday Night through Thursday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Highs around 60. Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Friday: Sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s. |
Impacts - E19 Information | |
25.0 Feet | Scouring of lowlands throughout the Pajaro Valley in areas not protected by levees. |
28.0 Feet | Some minor flooding of lowest agricultural areas in all reaches above Chittenden. Some secondary roads begin to flood. Watsonville levees within 3 feet of top. |
29.5 Feet | Levees protecting Watsonville within 2 feet of top. Moderate bank erosion and sediment deposition throughout reach. Some secondary roads flooded. State Highway 129 between US 101 and Watsonville begins to flood at railroad underpass 300 feet below gage and other lower spots along the river. |
32.0 Feet | Significant damage from bank erosion and sediment deposition throughout reach. Some primary and many secondary roads flooded. Minor flooding of low portions of towns within the reach of the gage begins. Damage to roads and bridges possible due to erosion or logjams. |
32.5 Feet | Widespread flooding through the Pajaro Valley, with extensive damage and possible loss of life. Extensive erosion and logjam damage to highways and bridges. Many primary and most secondary roads flooded making transportation difficult. |
33.11 Feet | Extensive flood damage throughout the Pajaro Valley. Transportation extremely difficult. Watsonville and Pajaro levees overtopped or severely strained if sandbagged. |
33.5 Feet | Severe damage in Pajaro Valley, especially in Pajaro and Watsonville areas and likely near San Juan Bautista along the San Benito River and portions south of Gilroy near the Pajaro River. Transportation essentially impossible. |
33.73 Feet | Stage and flow of record. 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs. |
35.0 Feet | Bankfull at gage. Transportation impossible. Levees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro in great danger of failing. |
Product Disclaimer |
This river graphic is not intended to serve as a substitute for official flood watches, warnings, advisories, or statements issued by the NWS San Francisco Bay Area-Monterey Weather Forecast Office. Observations are preliminary and subject to change. River levels identified as "forecast" should be consistent with those contained in official NWS products. River levels identified as "guidance" have significant uncertainty due to future weather or reservoir regulation and are provided for planning purposes only. |