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

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MERCED RIVER - YOSEMITE NP AT POHONO BRIDGE (POHC1)
Latitude: 37.72º NLongitude: 119.67º WElevation: 3862 Feet
Location: Mariposa County in CaliforniaBulletin Group: San JoaquinRiver Group: San Joaquin
Action/Monitor: N/A Minor Flood: 10.0 FeetModerate Flood: 12.5 FeetMajor Flood: 20.0 Feet

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
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
2020
3,560
7.41
Apr 30, 2020
 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
Location Photographs
ESRI™ Locator Map
Flood Impacts
23.45 FeetFlood of record...1/3/97. $178 million damage to Yosemite Valley.
13.6 FeetLift stations at Housekeeping Camp and Yosemite Creek flooded. Southside Drive at Chapel Meadow impassable.
12.5 FeetNorthside Drive at Wosky Pond, El Capitan crossover, and Sentinel crossover are impassable to vehicles.
12.0 FeetWater on road at Northside Drive, Southside Drive, El Capitan crossover, Sentinel crossover, and Highway 140 near Cookie Cliff.
11.4 FeetWater begins to overtop road curbs on Northside Drive. Swinging Bridge overtops.
10.0 FeetMerced River at Pohono Bridge begins to rise out of its banks. Flood Stage.
9.5 FeetLower Pines and Housekeeping Camp begin flooding.
7.0 FeetRIVER IS CLOSED TO RAFTERS AND FLOATATION DEVICES.
Official 7 Day National Weather Service Forecast   (CAZ324)
Today: Sunny until late afternoon then becoming partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain late in the afternoon. Highs 51 to 63. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Colder. Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the upper 30s. West winds up to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny. Chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs 45 to 55. Southwest winds up to 10 mph. Chance of showers 40 percent.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows 35 to 41. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.

Wednesday: Warmer, sunny. Highs 56 to 66. Northeast winds up to 5 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night and Thursday: Mostly clear. Lows 42 to 48. Highs 62 to 74.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 47 to 53.

Friday: Partly sunny. Highs 63 to 73.

Friday Night through Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 43 to 53. Highs 61 to 71.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs 63 to 73.
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.