CNRFC - Hydrology - River Guidance - Graphical RVF

Location:

SALINAS RIVER - BRADLEY (BRDC1)

Latitude: 35.93º N	Longitude: 120.87º W	Elevation: 443 Feet
Location: Monterey County in California		Bulletin Group: Central Coast		River Group: Salinas/Pajaro

Issuance Time:

May 02 2025 at 7:42 AM PDT

Next Issuance:

May 03 2025 at 9:00 AM PDT

Action/Monitor: 12.0 Feet

Minor Flood: 14.0 Feet

Moderate Flood: 20.0 Feet

Major Flood: 22.0 Feet

Plot Type:

Please Note:
1) Each individual timeseries plotted on the graphical river forecast can be toggled on and off by clicking the legend entry above. If the "Observed (Raw Data)" contains bad data and is toggled off, the plot will scale to the remaining timeseries.

2) At extremely low river flows, the "Observed (Raw Data)" may show readings below the lower end of the available rating table, while the "Observed (Simulated)" will only show values at the bottom of the rating table, creating a potential discrepancy between the two readings.

Observed Data Credit
	Raw streamflow data is provided by the US Geological Survey (USGS). View US Geological Survey (USGS) Data for this station location.

Historical Stage/Flow Data
Water Year	Peak Discharge (cfs)	Stage (feet)	Date
Most Recent 5 Years
2024*	4,630	8.85	Feb 19, 2024
2023*	45,600	19.64	Jan 10, 2023
2022*	810	4.89	Dec 30, 2021
2021*	784	4.88	Jan 29, 2021
2020*	721	4.80	Aug 26, 2020
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1948 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1995*	120,000	23.44	Mar 11, 1995
1969*	117,000	20.34	Feb 24, 1969
1978*	70,600	18.68	Feb 10, 1978
2023*	45,600	19.64	Jan 10, 2023
* Discharge affected by regulation or diversion

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Flood Impacts
23.0 Feet	Disastrous flooding occurs across wide expanses of agricultural land in the Salinas Valley. At least 90,000 acres of farm land is in danger of flooding. Salinas Valley travel is impossible. Some residences along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad are in danger of flooding.
22.0 Feet	Major flooding occurs along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad. Most primary and secondary roads are flooded making travel in the Salinas Valley very difficult. Widespread flooding occurs at the San Ardo oil fields. Water and sewage treatment plants along the upper Salinas River are in danger of flooding.
20.0 Feet	Moderate flooding occurs along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad. Many of the secondary roads and some of the primary roads along the Salinas River will flood. Major damage to farm land along the upper Salinas River is expected.
18.0 Feet	Minor flooding begins at the San Ardo oil fields. Significant flooding occurs along the lowest portions of towns from Bradley to Soledad. Erosion will cause minor damage to agricultural land. Some secondary roads from Bradley to Soledad will flood.
16.0 Feet	Minor flooding of agricultural land is expected. The lower portions of the San Ardo oil fields is close to flooding.
14.0 Feet	Minor lowland flooding is expected.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ516)

Today: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Breezy. A slight chance of drizzle in the morning. Highs in the mid to upper 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 40 mph decreasing to 30 mph after midnight.

Sunday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph and becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

Monday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph increasing to west 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly clear except patchy fog. Lows in the upper 40s.

Tuesday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

Tuesday Night and Wednesday: Mostly clear. Areas of fog. Lows in the upper 40s. Highs around 80.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.

Thursday: Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

Thursday Night and Friday: Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the upper 80s.

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.

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