Mad River near Arcata
Beach Hazards Statement
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
- Upstream gauge unavailableDownstream gauge unavailableWarning: 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) 04/04/2025 2:45 PM PDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 04/04/2025 1:19 PM PDTRecord: 32.7 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 28 ft Moderate Flooding 24 ft Minor Flooding 22 ft Action 15 ft Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions
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
- 33 - Disastrous flooding of all areas near the river from Blue Lake to the mouth. The river is forecast to exceed record levels. All roads in the vicinity of the river are likely to be innundated and travel will be severly restricted. Residents should be prepared to take appropriate action to protect lives and property. This would include homes in Blue Lake, Tyee City and the Arcata Bottoms, as well as US Highway 101 between Arcata and Mckinleyville.
- 32 - Disastrous flooding of all areas near the river from Blue Lake to the mouth. The river is forecast to approach record levels. All roads in the vicinity of the river are likely to be innundated and travel will be severly restricted. Residents should be prepared to take appropriate action to protect lives and property. This would include homes in Blue Lake, Tyee City and the Arcata Bottoms, as well as US Highway 101 between Arcata and Mckinleyville.
- 30 - Extensive, severe flooding of all low lying areas near the river from Blue Lake downstream to the mouth. Residents in these areas should be prepared to take appropriate action to protect lives and property. Critical locations include residential areas of Blue Lake, Tyee City, and the Arcata Bottoms, as well as US Highway 101 near Janes Road and areas near Giuntoli Lane.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 40.9098, -124.061 |
| RFC | CNRFC |
| State | CA |
| WFO | EKA |
| County | Humboldt |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| US Geological Survey | USGS--Water Resources of the United States |
| USGS | 11481000 |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 27.26 ft | on 01-13-2024 | (P) |
| 2. | 20.90 ft | on 03-14-2023 | |
| 3. | 22.27 ft | on 12-30-2022 | |
| 4. | 14.28 ft | on 02-15-2021 | |
| 5. | 14.10 ft | on 01-26-2020 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 27.26 ft | on 01-13-2024 | (P) |
| 2. | 20.90 ft | on 03-14-2023 | |
| 3. | 22.27 ft | on 12-30-2022 | |
| 4. | 14.28 ft | on 02-15-2021 | |
| 5. | 14.10 ft | on 01-26-2020 | |
| 6. | 23.92 ft | on 02-27-2019 | |
| 7. | 16.89 ft | on 02-15-2019 | |
| 8. | 19.82 ft | on 01-11-2017 | |
| 9. | 22.73 ft | on 01-18-2016 | |
| 10. | 16.39 ft | on 02-07-2015 | |
| 11. | 14.48 ft | on 03-10-2014 | |
| 12. | 22.67 ft | on 12-02-2012 | |
| 13. | 16.65 ft | on 03-30-2012 | |
| 14. | 16.65 ft | on 03-30-2012 | |
| 15. | 19.56 ft | on 12-29-2010 | |
| 16. | 13.97 ft | on 02-26-2010 | |
| 17. | 13.62 ft | on 02-23-2009 | |
| 18. | 23.33 ft | on 12-31-2005 | |
| 19. | 25.46 ft | on 01-01-1997 | |
| 20. | 24.17 ft | on 12-30-1995 | |
| 21. | 20.76 ft | on 01-09-1995 | |
| 22. | 16.90 ft | on 01-20-1993 | |
| 23. | 17.30 ft | on 11-22-1988 | 1 |
| 24. | 23.10 ft | on 02-18-1986 | |
| 25. | 21.30 ft | on 12-16-1982 | 1 |
| 26. | 22.00 ft | on 12-19-1981 | |
| 27. | 22.70 ft | on 03-18-1975 | |
| 28. | 22.20 ft | on 01-16-1974 | |
| 29. | 25.40 ft | on 03-02-1972 | |
| 30. | 19.20 ft | on 01-16-1971 | 1 |
| 31. | 20.20 ft | on 01-24-1970 | 1 |
| 32. | 19.50 ft | on 12-21-1969 | 1 |
| 33. | 20.60 ft | on 01-20-1969 | 1 |
| 34. | 20.70 ft | on 01-13-1969 | 1 |
| 35. | 20.20 ft | on 12-05-1966 | 1 |
| 36. | 21.40 ft | on 01-04-1966 | 1 |
| 37. | 32.70 ft | on 12-22-1964 | |
| 38. | 23.00 ft | on 01-20-1964 | |
| 39. | 20.00 ft | on 12-02-1962 | 1 |
| 40. | 24.90 ft | on 02-08-1960 | |
| 41. | 22.60 ft | on 01-12-1959 | |
| 42. | 22.00 ft | on 02-24-1958 | 1 |
| 43. | 22.00 ft | on 02-12-1958 | 1 |
| 44. | 22.20 ft | on 01-29-1958 | |
| 45. | 24.60 ft | on 11-13-1957 | |
| 46. | 28.43 ft | on 12-22-1955 | |
| 47. | 24.00 ft | on 01-17-1953 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 32.70 ft | on 12-22-1964 | |
| 2. | 28.43 ft | on 12-22-1955 | |
| 3. | 27.26 ft | on 01-13-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 25.46 ft | on 01-01-1997 | |
| 5. | 25.40 ft | on 03-02-1972 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 32.70 ft | on 12-22-1964 | |
| 2. | 28.43 ft | on 12-22-1955 | |
| 3. | 27.26 ft | on 01-13-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 25.46 ft | on 01-01-1997 | |
| 5. | 25.40 ft | on 03-02-1972 | |
| 6. | 24.90 ft | on 02-08-1960 | |
| 7. | 24.60 ft | on 11-13-1957 | |
| 8. | 24.17 ft | on 12-30-1995 | |
| 9. | 24.00 ft | on 01-17-1953 | |
| 10. | 23.92 ft | on 02-27-2019 | |
| 11. | 23.33 ft | on 12-31-2005 | |
| 12. | 23.10 ft | on 02-18-1986 | |
| 13. | 23.00 ft | on 01-20-1964 | |
| 14. | 22.73 ft | on 01-18-2016 | |
| 15. | 22.70 ft | on 03-18-1975 | |
| 16. | 22.67 ft | on 12-02-2012 | |
| 17. | 22.60 ft | on 01-12-1959 | |
| 18. | 22.27 ft | on 12-30-2022 | |
| 19. | 22.20 ft | on 01-16-1974 | |
| 20. | 22.20 ft | on 01-29-1958 | |
| 21. | 22.00 ft | on 02-24-1958 | 1 |
| 22. | 22.00 ft | on 02-12-1958 | 1 |
| 23. | 22.00 ft | on 12-19-1981 | |
| 24. | 21.40 ft | on 01-04-1966 | 1 |
| 25. | 21.30 ft | on 12-16-1982 | 1 |
| 26. | 20.90 ft | on 03-14-2023 | |
| 27. | 20.76 ft | on 01-09-1995 | |
| 28. | 20.70 ft | on 01-13-1969 | 1 |
| 29. | 20.60 ft | on 01-20-1969 | 1 |
| 30. | 20.20 ft | on 01-24-1970 | 1 |
| 31. | 20.20 ft | on 12-05-1966 | 1 |
| 32. | 20.00 ft | on 12-02-1962 | 1 |
| 33. | 19.82 ft | on 01-11-2017 | |
| 34. | 19.56 ft | on 12-29-2010 | |
| 35. | 19.50 ft | on 12-21-1969 | 1 |
| 36. | 19.20 ft | on 01-16-1971 | 1 |
| 37. | 17.30 ft | on 11-22-1988 | 1 |
| 38. | 16.90 ft | on 01-20-1993 | |
| 39. | 16.89 ft | on 02-15-2019 | |
| 40. | 16.65 ft | on 03-30-2012 | |
| 41. | 16.65 ft | on 03-30-2012 | |
| 42. | 16.39 ft | on 02-07-2015 | |
| 43. | 14.48 ft | on 03-10-2014 | |
| 44. | 14.28 ft | on 02-15-2021 | |
| 45. | 14.10 ft | on 01-26-2020 | |
| 46. | 13.97 ft | on 02-26-2010 | |
| 47. | 13.62 ft | on 02-23-2009 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NGVD29 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 40.79 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 36.79 ft |
| minor Flooding | 34.79 ft |
| action | 27.79 ft |
| Latest Value | 23.74 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 12.79 ft |
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.