CNRFC - Hydrology - Observed River/Reservoir Conditions

MERCED RIVER - YOSEMITE NP AT POHONO BRIDGE (POHC1)

Latitude: 37.72º N	Longitude: 119.67º W	Elevation: 3862 Feet
Location: Mariposa County in California		River Group: San Joaquin

Monitor Stage: N/A

Flood Stage: 10.0 Feet

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

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	3,430	7.28	May 11, 2025
2024	5,090	8.79	May 16, 2024
2023	9,520	12.08	May 22, 2023
2022	4,810	8.55	Oct 25 2021
2021	2,160	5.92	May 6, 2021
Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - Oct 1916 to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1997	24,600	23.43	Jan 03, 1997
1956	23,400	21.52	Dec 23, 1955
1951	23,000	19.98	Nov 19, 1950
1938	22,000	19.10	Dec 11, 1937
1965	18,000	16.96	Dec 23, 1964
1963	13,200	14.25	Feb 01, 1963

Location Photographs
Upstream Photo	Gage House Photo	Downstream Photo

ESRI™ Locator Map

Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast (CAZ324)

Tonight: Colder. Snow showers, rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms early in the evening, then snow showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the late evening and overnight. Locally heavy rainfall possible early in the evening. Snow accumulation of 2 to 15 inches. Lows 22 to 30. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Tuesday: Breezy. Snow in the morning, then snow showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 4 to 17 inches. Highs 31 to 37. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Tuesday Night: Colder. Snow showers in the evening, then snow after midnight. Snow may be heavy at times after midnight. Snow accumulation of 6 to 16 inches. Lows 15 to 23. Southwest winds 5 to 20 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Wednesday: Snow likely. Light snow accumulations. Highs 27 to 33. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Wednesday Night: Snow likely. Snow may be heavy at times after midnight. Moderate snow accumulations. Near steady temperature in the mid 20s. South winds up to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Thursday: Snow. Snow may be heavy at times. Heavy snow accumulations. Highs 29 to 37. Chance of snow 90 percent.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Lows 17 to 25.

Friday: Partly sunny. Chance of snow in the morning, then chance of snow and rain in the afternoon. Highs 34 to 42. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Lows 22 to 30.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Highs 40 to 48. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow and rain. Lows 29 to 37.

Sunday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of rain and snow. Highs 42 to 50.

Sunday Night and Monday: Rain and snow likely. Moderate snow accumulations. Lows 33 to 41. Highs 42 to 48. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Flood Impacts
23.45 Feet	Flood of record...1/3/97. $178 million damage to Yosemite Valley.
13.6 Feet	Lift stations at Housekeeping Camp and Yosemite Creek flooded. Southside Drive at Chapel Meadow impassable.
12.5 Feet	Northside Drive at Wosky Pond, El Capitan crossover, and Sentinel crossover are impassable to vehicles.
12.0 Feet	Water on road at Northside Drive, Southside Drive, El Capitan crossover, Sentinel crossover, and Highway 140 near Cookie Cliff.
11.4 Feet	Water begins to overtop road curbs on Northside Drive. Swinging Bridge overtops.
10.0 Feet	Merced River at Pohono Bridge begins to rise out of its banks. Flood Stage.
9.5 Feet	Lower Pines and Housekeeping Camp begin flooding.
7.0 Feet	RIVER IS CLOSED TO RAFTERS AND FLOATATION DEVICES.

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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