The National Weather Service (NWS) Sacramento office provides crucial river forecast guidance for Northern California. This information, produced in conjunction with the California Department of Water Resources, aids in planning and preparedness for potential flooding events. These forecasts are for guidance only. For official public issuances of hydrologic watches, warnings, statements, and advisories, consult the official NWS products.
Understanding NWS Sacramento River Forecasts
The NWS Sacramento offers various resources to understand current and predicted river conditions.
Graphical River Forecast Products
These products present observed and forecast data in hydrograph format, visually depicting water level fluctuations. They also include a graphical representation of the “Rain + Melt” input used in the hydrologic model, averaged for upstream basins.
Figure 1: NWS Sacramento River Forecast Map showing current conditions.
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River Forecast Points Status
The NWS Sacramento monitors numerous river forecast points across the region. The current status of these points is summarized in a table, indicating whether conditions are normal or if specific flood stages (action/monitor, minor, moderate, major) are forecast. This allows for quick assessment of potential flood risks. As of February 27, 2025, the majority of gauges (98.04%) indicated normal conditions.
Figure 2: Button to select official river forecast products.
Detailed Forecasts for Specific Locations
Users can access detailed graphical river forecasts for individual locations by selecting the corresponding NWS ID from a provided table. This table includes information on action/monitor stages, flood stages, latest observed stage and flow, and maximum forecast stage and flow. This granular data enables close monitoring of specific rivers and creeks. For instance, the Sacramento River at Tisdale Weir had a latest observed stage of 44.59 feet with a flow of 468 cfs on February 27, 2025, at 2:15 PM PST.
Regional Forecast Group Bulletins and Updates
The NWS Sacramento issues river guidance forecast bulletins for different geographic regions. These bulletins provide detailed textual forecasts and are updated regularly. Access to these bulletins is available through links organized by forecast group (e.g., North Coast, Upper Sacramento, San Joaquin). Issuance and next update times are also provided for each forecast group. The Upper Sacramento River bulletin, for example, was issued on February 27, 2025, at 1:05 PM PST, with the next update scheduled for February 28, 2025, at 9:00 AM PST.
Accessing Tide Information from NWS Sacramento
While the NWS Sacramento previously provided tide tables, the 2024 publication was the last issued by the agency and the California Department of Water Resources. For current and future tide information, users are directed to the official NOAA tide data resources. Links to NOAA’s tide predictions home page, map, user guide, and vertical datum transformation tools are provided for convenient access.
Historical River Forecast Data
The NWS Sacramento also offers access to historical graphical river forecast data for verification purposes. This historical data can be accessed through a dedicated interface or by selecting a location from the map and using the date selector. This feature enables analysis of past forecast accuracy and provides valuable context for current predictions.
Conclusion
The National Weather Service Sacramento provides a comprehensive suite of resources for monitoring and understanding river conditions in Northern California. From graphical forecasts and detailed bulletins to historical data and links to official tide information, the NWS Sacramento empowers individuals and communities to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of potential flooding. Remember to always refer to official NWS products for confirmed warnings and advisories.
