Salinas River near Spreckels
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/20/2025 1:00 AM PDTRecord: 30.3 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 28 ft Moderate Flooding 26 ft Minor Flooding 23 ft Action 20 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 30.29 - Flood of Record, March 12, 1995, 95,000 cfs. Disastrous flood damage to roads and agriculture land in the Salinas Valley. The city of Salinas in danger of being inundated, with the lowest portions of the city beginning to flood. Historical Note: at least 2,000 acres of agricultural land were permanently destroyed by erosion and soil deposition by this flood of record.
- 30 - Disastrous floding within the reach of the gage. Major damage to Southern Pacific Railroad near Castroville and Spreckels. Castroville residences and businesses from Merritt Street toward the Salinas River inundated. Disastrous flooding to farm land in the Salinas Valley, including severe damage due to erosion and sediment deposition. At least 100,000 acres inundated. Travel in the Salinas Valley near impossible. Water/sewage treatment plants flooded.
- 29 - Major flooding continues along the entire reach. Possible evacuations of Soledad, Gonzales, Chualar, Spreckels, and Castroville. All roads to Spreckels inundated, isolating the town. US 101 inundated just north of Soledad. Highway 1 south of Castroville near Nashua Road begins to flood.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 21.70 ft | on 03-25-2023 | (P) |
| 2. | 25.94 ft | on 03-17-2023 | (P) |
| 3. | 26.89 ft | on 03-13-2023 | (P) |
| 4. | 22.83 ft | on 01-18-2023 | (P) |
| 5. | 24.63 ft | on 01-13-2023 | (P) |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 21.70 ft | on 03-25-2023 | (P) |
| 2. | 25.94 ft | on 03-17-2023 | (P) |
| 3. | 26.89 ft | on 03-13-2023 | (P) |
| 4. | 22.83 ft | on 01-18-2023 | (P) |
| 5. | 24.63 ft | on 01-13-2023 | (P) |
| 6. | 9.24 ft | on 12-29-2021 | |
| 7. | 12.94 ft | on 01-30-2021 | |
| 8. | 8.34 ft | on 04-08-2020 | |
| 9. | 17.88 ft | on 02-16-2019 | |
| 10. | 9.15 ft | on 03-24-2018 | |
| 11. | 19.92 ft | on 02-22-2017 | |
| 12. | 3.61 ft | on 01-23-2016 | |
| 13. | 2.74 ft | on 12-22-2015 | |
| 14. | 2.61 ft | on 12-21-2014 | |
| 15. | 2.62 ft | on 10-02-2013 | |
| 16. | 9.42 ft | on 12-25-2012 | |
| 17. | 5.96 ft | on 01-25-2012 | |
| 18. | 20.14 ft | on 03-26-2011 | |
| 19. | 13.94 ft | on 01-22-2010 | |
| 20. | 9.55 ft | on 03-05-2009 | |
| 21. | 11.64 ft | on 01-29-2008 | |
| 22. | 24.54 ft | on 02-08-1998 | |
| 23. | 30.29 ft | on 03-12-1995 | |
| 24. | 20.34 ft | on 01-26-1995 | |
| 25. | 20.21 ft | on 02-25-1993 | |
| 26. | 23.44 ft | on 03-03-1983 | |
| 27. | 17.77 ft | on 02-20-1980 | |
| 28. | 22.66 ft | on 02-11-1978 | |
| 29. | 26.51 ft | on 02-26-1969 | |
| 30. | 22.01 ft | on 12-09-1966 | 1 |
| 31. | 22.46 ft | on 04-04-1958 | 1 |
| 32. | 23.83 ft | on 12-25-1955 | 1 |
| 33. | 20.71 ft | on 01-16-1952 | 1 |
| 34. | 18.26 ft | on 01-22-1943 | 1 |
| 35. | 15.31 ft | on 01-26-1942 | 1 |
| 36. | 19.21 ft | on 03-04-1941 | 1 |
| 37. | 25.00 ft | on 02-12-1938 | |
| 38. | 23.90 ft | on 02-08-1937 | |
| 39. | 20.64 ft | on 02-24-1936 | |
| 40. | 20.40 ft | on 12-29-1931 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 30.29 ft | on 03-12-1995 | |
| 2. | 26.89 ft | on 03-13-2023 | (P) |
| 3. | 26.51 ft | on 02-26-1969 | |
| 4. | 25.94 ft | on 03-17-2023 | (P) |
| 5. | 25.00 ft | on 02-12-1938 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 30.29 ft | on 03-12-1995 | |
| 2. | 26.89 ft | on 03-13-2023 | (P) |
| 3. | 26.51 ft | on 02-26-1969 | |
| 4. | 25.94 ft | on 03-17-2023 | (P) |
| 5. | 25.00 ft | on 02-12-1938 | |
| 6. | 24.63 ft | on 01-13-2023 | (P) |
| 7. | 24.54 ft | on 02-08-1998 | |
| 8. | 23.90 ft | on 02-08-1937 | |
| 9. | 23.83 ft | on 12-25-1955 | 1 |
| 10. | 23.44 ft | on 03-03-1983 | |
| 11. | 22.83 ft | on 01-18-2023 | (P) |
| 12. | 22.66 ft | on 02-11-1978 | |
| 13. | 22.46 ft | on 04-04-1958 | 1 |
| 14. | 22.01 ft | on 12-09-1966 | 1 |
| 15. | 21.70 ft | on 03-25-2023 | (P) |
| 16. | 20.71 ft | on 01-16-1952 | 1 |
| 17. | 20.64 ft | on 02-24-1936 | |
| 18. | 20.40 ft | on 12-29-1931 | |
| 19. | 20.34 ft | on 01-26-1995 | |
| 20. | 20.21 ft | on 02-25-1993 | |
| 21. | 20.14 ft | on 03-26-2011 | |
| 22. | 19.92 ft | on 02-22-2017 | |
| 23. | 19.21 ft | on 03-04-1941 | 1 |
| 24. | 18.26 ft | on 01-22-1943 | 1 |
| 25. | 17.88 ft | on 02-16-2019 | |
| 26. | 17.77 ft | on 02-20-1980 | |
| 27. | 15.31 ft | on 01-26-1942 | 1 |
| 28. | 13.94 ft | on 01-22-2010 | |
| 29. | 12.94 ft | on 01-30-2021 | |
| 30. | 11.64 ft | on 01-29-2008 | |
| 31. | 9.55 ft | on 03-05-2009 | |
| 32. | 9.42 ft | on 12-25-2012 | |
| 33. | 9.24 ft | on 12-29-2021 | |
| 34. | 9.15 ft | on 03-24-2018 | |
| 35. | 8.34 ft | on 04-08-2020 | |
| 36. | 5.96 ft | on 01-25-2012 | |
| 37. | 3.61 ft | on 01-23-2016 | |
| 38. | 2.74 ft | on 12-22-2015 | |
| 39. | 2.62 ft | on 10-02-2013 | |
| 40. | 2.61 ft | on 12-21-2014 |
Probability Information
No Images Available
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
Resources
Hydrologic Resource Links
Additional Resource Links
WFO Information
Weather Forecast Office
San Francisco Bay Area
21 Grace Hopper Ave, Stop 5
Monterey, CA 93943-5505
Official Homepage