Rivers in California
Napa River near St. Helena
Below flood stage
0.47ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 1:00 PM PDT
- Flood stage
- 18.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 1.08 ftWed, Sep 23, 1:00 PM PDT
- Record crest
- 23.61 ft2005
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 22.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 20.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 18.00 ft |
| Action | 16.00 ft |
- 24.00 ftDisastrous Flooding. Widespread flooding across upper Napa Valley with travel essentially impossible.
- 23.61 ftFLOOD OF RECORD. 12/31/2005 measured 23.61 ft. 18,300 cfs 07:45 PT
- 23.60 ftThe peak water level during the flood of 12/31/2005 measured 23.6 feet.
- 22.00 ftMajor Flood Stage. Major flooding throughout the upper Napa Valley with most roads inundated, making travel extremely difficult and unsafe.
- 20.00 ftModerate Flood Stage. Moderate flooding of the lower portions of Silverado Trail along the reach. Inundation of low lying residential areas along the east river bank in the vicinity of Pope Street Bridge. Secondary and many primary roads inundated; most major cross roads inundated and unsafe to pass.
- 18.00 ftMinor Flood Stage. Minor flooding of low lying agricultural areas along river begins. Low lying rural residential areas immediately adjacent to the river and some secondary roads affected.
- 16.00 ftAction Stage. WFO Monterey may issue a Flood Watch-based products to cover Napa Valley regional flood potential at this stage.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 27, 2024.
Crest history
54 crests on NOAA’s list since 1940.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 31, 2005 | 23.61 ft |
| 2 | February 27, 2019 | 19.50 ft |
| 3 | February 7, 2017 | 19.20 ft |
| 4 | January 1, 1997 | 17.70 ft |
| 5 | January 9, 1995 | 17.47 ft |
| 6 | January 22, 1997 | 17.00 ft |
| 7 | December 23, 2012 | 16.87 ft |
| 8 | October 24, 2021 | 16.82 ft |
| 9 | March 13, 1983 | 16.79 ft |
| 10 | January 9, 2023 | 16.71 ft |
| 11 | January 20, 1993 | 16.67 ft |
| 12 | March 10, 2023 | 16.61 ft |
| 13 | February 21, 1998 | 16.60 ft |
| 14 | December 16, 2002 | 16.47 ft |
| 15 | December 19, 1981 | 16.30 ft |
| 16 | January 16, 1978 | 16.19 ft |
| 17 | December 11, 2014 | 15.63 ft |
| 18 | December 25, 1983 | 15.46 ft |
| 19 | January 31, 1963 | 15.30 ft |
| 20 | December 22, 1955 | 15.17 ft |
| 21 | January 16, 1973 | 15.10 ft |
| 22 | January 14, 1995 | 15.05 ft |
| 23 | January 21, 1967 | 15.01 ft |
| 24 | March 20, 2011 | 14.99 ft |
| 25 | January 5, 1965 | 14.96 ft |
Most recent crests
- March 10, 2023: 16.61 ft
- January 9, 2023: 16.71 ft
- October 24, 2021: 16.82 ft
- February 27, 2019: 19.50 ft
- March 22, 2018: 11.31 ft
- February 7, 2017: 19.20 ft
- March 6, 2016: 13.85 ft
- December 11, 2014: 15.63 ft
- February 9, 2014: 8.77 ft
- December 23, 2012: 16.87 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.
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.