Rivers in California
Pajaro River at Chittenden
Below flood stage
1.98ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 11:30 PM PDT
- Flood stage
- 24.10 ft
- Forecast crest
- 2.01 ftTue, Sep 22, 1:00 AM PDT
- Record crest
- 33.73 ft1998
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 27.10 ft |
| Minor flood | 24.10 ft |
| Action | 22.00 ft |
- 33.73 ftStage and flow of record. 02/03/1998. 25,100 cfs
- 29.00 ftLevees protecting Watsonville and Pajaro at risk of failure. Flooding throughout the Pajaro Valley.
- 27.10 ftMajor Flood Stage. Levees protecting Pajaro at risk of overtopping at lowest points or severely strained if sandbagged. Seepage likely throughout the levee system.
- 25.10 ftWater levels within 2 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro.
- 24.10 ftMinor Flood Stage. Water levels within 3 feet of top of levee protecting Pajaro. Increased potential for seepage through levee at vulnerable locations.
- 22.00 ftAction Stage. Water beginning to rise onto levee slopes.
Crest history
55 crests on NOAA’s list since 1909.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 3, 1998 | 33.73 ft |
| 2 | April 3, 1958 | 33.11 ft |
| 3 | December 24, 1955 | 32.46 ft |
| 4 | March 11, 1995 | 32.20 ft |
| 5 | February 12, 1938 | 31.30 ft |
| 6 | January 3, 1997 | 29.53 ft |
| 7 | January 21, 1909 | 29.50 ft |
| 8 | March 11, 2023 | 29.11 ft |
| 9 | February 22, 1917 | 28.60 ft |
| 10 | February 11, 1922 | 28.20 ft |
| 11 | March 2, 1983 | 28.03 ft |
| 12 | February 19, 1986 | 27.68 ft |
| 13 | January 10, 2023 | 27.66 ft |
| 14 | February 14, 1937 | 27.50 ft |
| 15 | December 28, 1931 | 27.30 ft |
| 16 | February 21, 2017 | 26.98 ft |
| 17 | April 4, 1941 | 26.20 ft |
| 18 | February 2, 1945 | 25.80 ft |
| 19 | January 17, 2023 | 25.78 ft |
| 20 | February 13, 1926 | 25.60 ft |
| 21 | January 5, 1982 | 25.51 ft |
| 22 | February 9, 1915 | 25.50 ft |
| 23 | February 28, 1940 | 25.50 ft |
| 24 | January 15, 1952 | 25.15 ft |
| 25 | December 9, 1909 | 24.90 ft |
Most recent crests
- January 5, 2026: 10.23 ft
- February 13, 2025: 17.68 ft
- February 8, 2024: 15.48 ft
- March 11, 2023: 29.11 ft
- January 17, 2023: 25.78 ft
- January 10, 2023: 27.66 ft
- December 28, 2021: 11.57 ft
- January 29, 2021: 9.97 ft
- April 6, 2020: 9.60 ft
- February 15, 2019: 20.49 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the California Nevada River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. NEW! Click <a href='https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/eae31228407c48d38d9cda2d75ff5710/page/City-of-Emporia'>Here</a> for Flood Inundation Maps for Meherrin River at Emporia.
Sources
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.