National Weather Service California Nevada River Forecast Center Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service

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SAN JOAQUIN RIVER - NEWMAN (NWMC1)
Latitude: 37.35º NLongitude: 120.98º WElevation: 90 Feet
Location: Merced County in CaliforniaBulletin Group: San JoaquinRiver Group: San Joaquin
Issuance Time: Dec 26 2025 at 9:01 AM PSTNext Issuance: Dec 26 2025 at 3:00 PM PST
Action/Monitor: 63.0 FeetMinor Flood: 69.4 FeetModerate Flood: 70.7 FeetMajor Flood: 71.7 Feet

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

Verification - Historical Graphical RVF
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To view other verification locations, use our Historical Graphical River Forecast Interface.
Historical Stage/Flow Data
Note: Water Year 2025 is currently showing peak daily mean values. These will be updated to instantaneous peaks in the coming months.
Water Year
Peak Discharge (cfs)
Stage (feet)
Date
 Most Recent 5 Years
2025* 4,630 58.49 Mar 21, 2025
2024* 5,330 59.44 Mar 6, 2024
2023* 19,800 65.93 Mar 17, 2023
2022* 1,260 51.74 Dec 30, 2021
2021* 1,760 53.26 Feb 1, 2021
 Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Apr 1912 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1997* 36,200 66.14 Jan 28, 1997
1938* 33,000 18.50 Mar 07, 1938
1983* 30,700 65.78 Mar 04, 1983
1969* 28,000 65.90 Feb 26, 1969
2006* 24,600 66.26 Apr 09, 2006
1980* 23,500 65.26 Feb 25, 1980
 * Discharge affected by regulation or diversion
Location Photographs
ESRI™ Locator Map
Flood Impacts
71.7 FeetTop of levee rb
70.4 FeetDanger stage.
70.0 FeetFlood water reaches the top of the levee that surrounds the Newman waste water treatment plant.
69.4 FeetProject flood stage.
66.26 FeetPeak stage of record. 4/9/2006
66.14 Feet1/28/1997
65.0 FeetThe fisherman's bend trailer park north of hills ferry road begins to flood.
64.0 FeetThe Wastewater Treatment Plant begins taking on river water and flood pumping begins.
63.6 FeetSand slough will flow.
63.0 FeetMonitor stage. Levee patrols required.
62.0 FeetWater seepage begins outside the levee along the river, near the newman waste water treatment plant.
55.0 FeetThe city of Newman Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) begins to flood at the lowest point. Newman Police Department shooting range a the WWTP is also affected.
Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast   (CAZ302)
Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Lows in the mid 40s. South winds up to 5 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Northwest winds up to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows around 40. Northwest winds up to 5 mph.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in the upper 40s. Northwest winds up to 5 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds up to 5 mph.

Monday through Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s. Lows in the upper 30s.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. Highs around 50.

Wednesday Night: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Near steady temperature in the mid 40s.

New Years Day and Thursday Night: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs around 50. Lows in the mid 40s.

Friday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs in the lower 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.