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

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PAJARO RIVER - CHITTENDEN (AROC1)
Latitude: 36.90º NLongitude: 121.60º WElevation: 82 Feet
Location: Santa Cruz County in CaliforniaBulletin Group: Central CoastRiver Group: Salinas/Pajaro
Action/Monitor: 22.0 FeetMinor Flood: 24.1 FeetModerate Flood: N/A Major Flood: 27.1 Feet
Please Note:Provisional monitor and flood stages have been established along the Pajaro River due to observed impacts to the levee system from previous flood events.
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.

Historical Stage/Flow Data
Water Year
Peak Discharge (cfs)
Stage (feet)
Date
 Most Recent 5 Years
2023
13,200
29.11
Mar 11, 2023
2022
1,150
11.57
Dec 28, 2021
2021
1,160
9.97
Jan 29, 2021
2020
1,070
9.60
Apr 6, 2020
2019
4,540
20.49
Feb 15, 2019
 Historical High Stage/Flow Events (Period of Record - February 1938* to Present) - Ranked by Flow
1998
25,100
33.73
Feb 3, 1998
1956
24,000
32.46
Dec 24, 1955
1958
23,500
33.11
Apr 3, 1958
1995
21,500
32.20
Mar 11, 1995
1969
17,800
23.90
Feb 25, 1969
2023
13,200
29.11
Mar 11, 2023
 * Missing data during 1939, otherwise record complete
Location Photographs
ESRI™ Locator Map
Flood Impacts
33.73 FeetStage and flow of record. 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs
29.0 FeetLevees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro at risk of failure. Flooding throughout the Pajaro Valley.
27.1 FeetMajor Flood Stage. Levees protecting Pajaro at risk of overtopping at lowest points or severely strained if sandbagged. Seepage likely throughout the levee system.
25.1 FeetWater levels within 2 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro.
24.1 FeetMinor Flood Stage. Water levels within 3 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro. Increased potential for seepage through levee at vulnerable locations.
22.0 FeetMonitor Stage. Water beginning to rise onto levee slopes.
Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast   (CAZ529)
Rest of Tonight: Clear. Areas of frost after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds around 5 mph late in the evening and Becoming light.

Sunday: Sunny. Areas of frost in the morning. Highs in the upper 50s. Light winds and becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Clear. Areas of frost after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. North winds around 5 mph in the evening and becoming light.

Monday: Sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Widespread frost in the morning. Highs in the upper 50s. Light winds and becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog and frost after midnight. A slight chance of drizzle after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. Northwest winds around 5 mph in the evening and becoming light.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog. A slight chance of drizzle. Highs in the mid 50s.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and drizzle. Lows in the upper 30s.

Wednesday: Rain. Highs in the mid 50s.

Wednesday Night and Thursday: Rain. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the upper 50s.

Thursday Night: Patchy fog. Rain and a chance of drizzle. Lows in the mid 40s.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog. A chance of rain. Highs in the upper 50s.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Areas of fog. A slight chance of rain. Lows in the lower 40s.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Areas of fog. Highs in the lower 60s.
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 Francisco Bay Area-Monterey 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.