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

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WEST FORK CARSON RIVER - WOODFORDS (WOOC1)
Latitude: 38.77º NLongitude: 119.83º WElevation: 5755 Feet
Location: Alpine County in CaliforniaBulletin Group: Eastern SierraRiver Group: Eastern Sierra
Issuance Time: Dec 26 2025 at 2:46 PM PSTNext Issuance: Dec 27 2025 at 9:00 AM PST
Action/Monitor: 12.5 FeetMinor Flood: 13.5 FeetModerate Flood: 14.5 FeetMajor Flood: 15.0 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 451 12.68 May 11, 2025
2024 678 13.12 Apr 23, 2024
2023 1,940 14.02 May 19, 2023
2022 1,180 13.51 Oct 25, 2021
2021 241 11.56 May 7, 2021
 Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1938 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1997 8,100 7.32 Jan 01, 1997
1963 4,890** 9.00 Feb 01, 1963
1956 4,810 8.86* Dec 23, 1955
1951 4,810 8.86* Dec 23, 1955
1938 3,500 8.00* Dec 11, 1937
1965 3,100 6.70 Dec 23, 1964
 * Prior to November 1958, gage at two different datums at the same location.
 ** November 1958 to January 1963, gage 150 ft downstream. Datum change with a difference of +3.06 ft must be applied to data in this time range to convert to current datum.
Location Photographs
ESRI™ Locator Map
Flood Impacts
15.5 FeetDisastrous, record flooding along entire reach of West Fork Carson River in both Alpine County, California, and Douglas County, Nevada. Extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools, roads, bridges, and irrigation systems. Communications, power, and transportation systems severely disrupted. Many highways, roads, and bridges impassable. Roughly Similar peak level to January 1997 event.
15.0 FeetMajor Flooding. Substantial damage to homes, businesses, schools, and property in south Carson Valley from Centerville to Genoa. Many local roads flood including Centerville, Mottsville, and Muller Lanes. Interruption of power, communications, and water systems. Major flooding also in Alpine County, California, near Woodfords and Paynesville. CA Highways 89 and 88, and NV Highway 88 flood. Downstream Hwy 395 floods.
14.5 FeetModerate flooding in southwest Carson Valley between Centerville and Genoa, with some damage to homes and businesses. Many local roads flooded in this area. Minor to moderate flooding in Alpine County, California, near Woodfords and Paynesville. Lane or road closures on Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way likely if combined with flood flows on the East Fork. Similar peak level to December 2005 event.
14.0 FeetMinor flooding in the southwestern Carson Valley between Centerville and Genoa,impacting agricultural areas, local roads, and outbuildings. Impacts will be more significant if heavy rain and/or snowmelt cause significant rises in small creeks draining the east side of the Carson Range below Woodfords. Possible lane closures on Highway 395 north of Stephanie Way if combined with flood flows on the East Fork. Similar peak level to January 2017 event and May 2017 peak snowmelt.
13.5 FeetMinor flooding begins in lowest areas along the West Fork of the Carson River in southwest Carson Valley including agricultural areas, local roads and outbuildings. Residents along the river should prepare for more serious flooding if there are additional rises expected due to snowmelt and/or rainfall runoff. Impacts will be more significant if heavy rain and/or snowmelt causes significant rises in small creeks draining the east side of the Carson Range below Woodfords. Similar to peak of Feb 2017 event.
12.5 FeetMonitoring Stage. No flooding occurs. However, residents along the West Fork Carson River should be prepared for flooding if there are additional rises expected due to snowmelt and/or rainfall runoff.
Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast   (CAZ072)
Today: Areas of freezing fog in the morning. Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow in the morning, then sunny in the afternoon. Highs 30 to 35. Southwest winds around 10 mph in the morning becoming light.

Tonight: Clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows 14 to 24. Light winds.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs 30 to 40. Light winds becoming east around 10 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Clear. Lows 7 to 17. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Ridge gusts up to 50 mph.

Monday: Sunny. Highs 34 to 44. East winds 10 to 15 mph.

Monday Night: Clear. Lows 13 to 23.

Tuesday and Tuesday Night: Clear. Highs 39 to 49. Lows 18 to 28.

Wednesday: Sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs 43 to 53.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Lows 22 to 32.

New Years Day: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow and rain. Highs 40 to 50.

Thursday Night: Snow and rain likely. Lows 24 to 34.

Friday: Snow likely. Highs 36 to 46.
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 Reno 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.