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

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BEAR CREEK - MCKEE ROAD (MEEC1)
Latitude: 37.31º NLongitude: 120.44º WElevation: 187 Feet
Location: Merced County in CaliforniaRiver Group: San Joaquin
Monitor Stage: 17.0 FeetFlood Stage: 23.0 Feet

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 2,571 15.04 Feb 15, 2025
2024 2,390 14.80 Feb 8, 2024
2023 7,513 26.16 Jan 10, 2023
2022 580 8.01 Dec 28, 2021
2021 1,860 12.25 Jan 29, 2021
 Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - November 1956 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1956* 9,500 22.90 Dec 25, 1955
2006 7,711 24.65 Apr 4, 2006
1958 7,400 16.90 Mar 16, 1958
2023 7,390 26.16 Jan 10, 2023
1965 5,640 -- Jan 7, 1965
1973 5,542 17.35 Feb 11, 1973
 * Possible backwater effect
Location Photographs
ESRI™ Locator Map
Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast   (CAZ302)
Today: Partly sunny. Highs 76 to 82. West winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Cloudy. Lows 55 to 61. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday: Cooler, cloudy. Chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs 62 to 68. Southwest winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday Night: Cooler. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Lows 48 to 54. Southwest winds up to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs 64 to 70. Southwest winds up to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Chance of rain after midnight. Lows 47 to 53. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs 61 to 67.

Thursday Night and Friday: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs 66 to 72.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.

Saturday through Sunday: Mostly clear. Highs 73 to 83. Lows in the mid 50s.
Flood Impacts
27.2 FeetOn 1/10/23, the 26.18 foot Flood of Record took water up to the top of the levee system at the north end of Morse Drive and Thurman Court. This levee system has since been raised to 27.2 feet.
26.18 FeetWater impacts the bottom of the M Street and G Street Bridges. Water escapes its banks at E South Bear Creek Drive between Glen Avenue and Cameron Lane.Flood of Record - 1/10/2023
24.65 Feet2nd highest crest from 4/4/2006.
24.0 FeetAt 24 feet, the water flows towards the low point of Cooper Drive, businesses begin to flood.
23.0 FeetThe beechwood subdivision and the trailer park along the southern end of Bear Creek Drive floods in addition to Applegate Park on the south side of Bear Creek Drive.
17.0 FeetStorm drains begin to back up. Street flooding occurs primarily north of Bear Creek Drive and east of M Street.
16.0 FeetSouth bike path along Bear Creek floods downstream of the G Street bridge.
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.