Soquel Creek at Soquel, CA
River level and flood forecast · Santa Cruz County
The river is 13.5 ft below flood stage (16 ft).
Flow: 7 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 4 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Soquel Creek at Soquel to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 16 ft |
| Action stage | 13 ft |
| Record crest (December 23, 1955) | 22.33 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 ftMajor Flooding. Floods of record roughly equivalent to this level (22.33 feet in 1955; 21.85 feet in 1982). Debris blockage at Soquel Drive Bridge possible, as well as major backwatering in downtown Soquel. Capitola and Esplanade flooded, with widespread regional damage.
- 18 ftModerate Flooding. Flooding of several feet in downtown Soquel, Old Mill area, Heart of Soquel, and houses along Soquel Wharf Road flooded, and other areas along creek in Capitola and Esplanade. Soquel Drive Bridge likely backwatered.
- 16 ftMinor Flooding. Water begins to reach riverfront properties in downtown Soquel, including the Old Mill mobile home park, Heart of Soquel, and along Soquel Wharf Road. Flooding may also be possible downstream in Capitola, especially during high tide. NWS will issue a Flash Flood Warning, if not yet already issued.
- 13 ftAction Stage. Three feet below flood stage. NWS may issue a Flash Flood Watch, if not yet already issued.
Highest crests on record
- 22.33 ft — December 23, 1955
- 21.85 ft — January 4, 1982
- 17.93 ft — January 9, 1995
- 16.27 ft — January 31, 1963
- 15.8 ft — December 10, 1996
Recent crests: 15.1 ft (January 1, 1997) · 15.8 ft (December 10, 1996) · 12.89 ft (March 10, 1995) · 17.93 ft (January 9, 1995) · 15.68 ft (February 17, 1986)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SOQC1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.