Rivers in California

Santa Margarita River at Ysidora

San Diego County, CaliforniaNWS YDRC1USGS 11046000San Diego office

Below flood stage
6.87ftStage

Observed Sun, Sep 27, 6:15 AM PDT

Flood stage
12.50 ft
Forecast crest
7.18 ftSun, Sep 27, 7:00 AM PDT
Record crest
20.47 ft1993

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood16.29 ft
Moderate flood13.78 ft
Minor flood12.50 ft
Action10.85 ft
  1. 16.29 ftMajor flood, 37,000 cfs. Widespread inundation of Camp Pendleton with evacuations likely. Flood of Record Jan 16, 1993.
  2. 13.78 ftModerate flood stage, 17,000 cfs. Vandegrift Road is flooded for several miles downstream of the gage site. Stuart Mesa Road is flooded near the bridge.
  3. 12.50 ftMinor flood stage, 8,000 cfs. Vandegrift Road has begun to flood downstream of the gage. Stuart Mesa Road closures can be expected.
  4. 10.85 ft2,500 cfs. The river has reached monitor stage. Personnel begin regular patrols along the levee.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

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

Crest history

15 crests on NOAA’s list since 1927.

#DateStage
1January 16, 199320.47 ft
2February 18, 198018.80 ft
3March 1, 197818.12 ft
4February 16, 192718.00 ft
5February 25, 196915.89 ft
6February 14, 201915.07 ft
7January 22, 201714.60 ft
8January 23, 194314.05 ft
9March 3, 193812.70 ft
10January 10, 199512.68 ft
11February 23, 199812.41 ft
12January 16, 202311.73 ft
13March 1, 199111.20 ft
14February 7, 193710.50 ft
15March 2, 198310.40 ft

Most recent crests

  • January 16, 2023: 11.73 ft
  • February 14, 2019: 15.07 ft
  • January 22, 2017: 14.60 ft
  • February 23, 1998: 12.41 ft
  • January 10, 1995: 12.68 ft
  • January 16, 1993: 20.47 ft
  • March 1, 1991: 11.20 ft
  • March 2, 1983: 10.40 ft
  • February 18, 1980: 18.80 ft
  • March 1, 1978: 18.12 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.