CNRFC - Hydrology - River Guidance - Graphical RVF

Start of River Group

Location:

KERN RIVER - KERNVILLE (KRVC1)

Latitude: 35.75º N	Longitude: 118.42º W	Elevation: 2637 Feet
Location: Kern County in California		Bulletin Group: San Joaquin		River Group: Tulare

Issuance Time:

Dec 25 2025 at 2:10 PM PST

Next Issuance:

Dec 26 2025 at 9:00 AM PST

Action/Monitor: 12.5 Feet

Minor Flood: 13.5 Feet

Moderate Flood: 17.0 Feet

Major Flood: 20.0 Feet

Please Note:

Raw observed data may be unreliable due to gauge damage and river bank erosion sustained during the recent 2023 floods. This may increase forecast uncertainty.

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 Army Corps of Engineers. View US Army Corps of Engineers Data for this station location.

Historical Stage/Flow Data
Water Year	Peak Discharge (cfs)	Stage (feet)	Date
Most Recent 5 Years
2025	2,729	6.13	May 12, 2025
2024	3,800	7.09	May 18, 2024
2023	41,400	17.77	Mar 10, 2023
2022	1,990	7.49	Dec 24, 2021
2021	787	6.17	May 8, 2021
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Jan 2010 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1967	74,000	19.32	Dec 06, 1966
2023	41,400	17.77	Mar 10, 2023
1951	38,700	18.4	Nov 19, 1950
1956	29,400	16.2	Dec 23, 1955
1963	28,800	16.76	Feb 01, 1963
1969	26,900	14.0	Jan 25, 1969

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Flood Impacts
13.5 Feet	Kern River adjacent to Riverside Park begins to escape its banks, flooding the lower park sidewalk. This is Preliminary Flood Stage.

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ332)

Tonight: Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain after midnight. Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms late in the night. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall in the evening. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall late in the night. Lows 40 to 46. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Friday: Rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Friday Night: Colder. Mostly cloudy. Rain likely in the evening, then chance of rain and snow after midnight. No snow accumulation. Lows 31 to 37. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. West winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 29 to 35. North winds up to 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

Sunday Night: Clear. Lows 31 to 37.

Monday and Monday Night: Mostly clear. Highs 54 to 60. Lows 35 to 41.

Tuesday and Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Highs 59 to 65. Lows 38 to 44.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs 60 to 66. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Wednesday Night and New Years Day: Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of rain. Lows 39 to 45. Highs in the upper 50s.

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 Joaquin Valley-Hanford 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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Verification - Historical Graphical RVF
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