Carmel River at Robles Del Rio

1. 14.00 ftDisastrous flooding along the entire Carmel River. Approaches to all bridges along the entire Carmel River will be impassable. Many homes and businesses along the entire Carmel River experiencing severe flood damage with transportation difficult.
2. 13.00 ftMajor Flood Stage. Major flooding can be expected along the entire Carmel River. Some levees along the lower Carmel River in danger of breaching. Many homes, businesses, and roads along the entire Carmel River will become inundated. Portions of Mission Fields and Rio Roads will be flooded.
3. 12.90 ftFlood of Record: 03/10/1995 12.90 ft, 16,000 cfs at 13:30 PT
4. 12.00 ftWidespread flood damage to low lying homes along the entire Carmel River. Levees protecting homes near Mission Fields are in danger of breaching. Homes near the Carmel Lagoon area begin to have substantial flooding.
5. 11.00 ftModerate Flood Stage. Hacienda Carmel residential development levee is threatened. Moderate flooding of golf courses and low lying homes along the entire Carmel River. Homes in the Carmel Lagoon area begin to experience moderate flooding.
6. 10.00 ftSouth side of Highway 1 bridge access becomes inundated and impassable. Many low lying homes threatened along the entire Carmel River. Low lying homes near Camp Steffani experience substantial flooding and homes near Schulte Road in danger of flooding. Homes surrounding the Carmel Lagoon area are in danger of flooding.
7. 8.50 ftMinor Flood Stage. Low lying homes from Camp Steffani to below Robles del Rio will begin to flood. Old Odello Ranch near Carmel begins to flood. Homes along Paso Hondo and Dampierre Park subject to flooding.
8. 7.50 ftAction Stage. Water levels are roughly 1 foot below primary breakout locations near Camp Steffani, Paso Hondo, and Dampierre Park.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 27, 2024.

Most recent crests

• February 13, 2025: 6.73 ft
• February 5, 2024: 7.40 ft
• March 10, 2023: 8.48 ft
• January 14, 2023: 9.06 ft
• January 9, 2023: 12.69 ft
• December 31, 2022: 7.27 ft
• December 23, 2021: 5.37 ft
• January 28, 2021: 6.32 ft
• April 6, 2020: 5.05 ft
• February 14, 2019: 8.12 ft

• UpstreamLos Padres Dam
• DownstreamCarmel River at Carmel
• San Clemente Dam
• Garrapata Creek at Highway 1
• Carmel River at Highway 1
• Salinas River at Spreckels
• Salinas River at Chualar
• Carmel River Lagoon

Forecasts by the California Nevada River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.