San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman flow report

California, USA USGS #11273400 ↗

As of July 13, 2026, San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman is flowing at 127 cfs with a gage height of 48.36 ft, rising 23% over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #11273400, refreshed throughout the day.

Stale data This gauge hasn’t reported in days (last reading unknown). The readings below may not reflect current conditions.
Today high
--
Tonight low
--
Streamflow
--
Gage height
--
Loading current conditions…
Next 24 hours
Loading next 24 hours…
Right now · latest observation
San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman
USGS gauge #11273400
127 cfs streamflow
Latest reading from this gauge.
Gage height
48.36ft
Water temp
--
% of median
Since yesterday
↑ 23%
Loading streamflow history…
Conditions summary

San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman at a glance

How San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.

San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman is flowing at 127 cfs, with the water sitting 48.36 ft at the gage. Flow is up 23% since yesterday — a rising hydrograph.

This is USGS gauge #11273400 in California. Over the past 10 days the average has been 109 cfs, peaking at 133 cfs.

Over the next 5 days, San Joaquin R Ab Merced R Nr Newman Ca is expected to hold near today's 103 cfs, toward roughly 95 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 17-545 cfs) -- drier than normal for the date.

For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the California flow report.

San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman on the map Open map →
Site IDUSGS 11273400
Last updated2026-07-13
Gage height, ft48.36 ft
Chlorophyll a, estimated, water, in-situ, in-vivo fluorescence (IVF), relative fluorescence units (RFU)5.71 RFU
Chlorophyll a, estimated, water, in-situ, in-vivo fluorescence (IVF), concentration estimated from reference material, micrograms per liter7.47 ug/l
Streamflow, ft³/s127.0 ft3/s
Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per centimeter at 25°C1550.0 uS/cm @25C
Dissolved oxygen, water, unfiltered, mg/L5.4 mg/l
Turbidity, water, unfiltered, monochrome near infra-red LED light, 780-900 nm, detection angle 90 ±2.5°, formazin nephelometric units (FNU)16.4 FNU
pH, water, unfiltered, field, standard units7.6 std units
Temperature, water, °C24.4 deg C
Stream water level elevation above NAVD 1988, in ft50.91 ft
Max recorded2,500 cfs
Streamflow outlook

Streamflow Forecast

Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.

Loading flow outlook…
Historical context

How does this compare to past years?

Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.

Detailed forecast

Weather Forecast

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

Loading hourly forecast…
Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
Loading detailed forecast…
Long-term outlook

15-day forecast

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.

Loading 15-day outlook…
About this location

San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman

The river is fed by several tributaries, including the Merced River, and is regulated by several dams, including the Friant Dam. Seasonally, the river experiences high flows during the winter months due to snowmelt and lower flows during the summer months. One interesting fact about the San Joaquin River is that it was once one of the most productive salmon fisheries in the world, but due to water diversions and other factors, the salmon population has drastically declined.

Regional streamflow

Nearby streamflow levels

Cross-check San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.

Regional snowpack

Nearby snowpack data

Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.

SNOTEL stationSnowpack
Knights Ferry 5.2 Wsw 0 in
Nearby recreation

Plan a trip

Reservoirs, boat launches, river runs, and fishing spots within driving distance of San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman.

Nearby reservoirs

See all →

River levels & flood safety

Read the level before you go
A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
Respect cold water
Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
Watch for swiftwater hazards
Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
Mind flash floods & releases
Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.

Track San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman in the Snoflo app

Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.

FAQ

About San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman

Where does the streamflow data for San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman come from?

Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 11273400. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.

How often is the report updated?

USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.

What's the difference between discharge and gage height?

Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.

How is "percent of median" calculated?

Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.

What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?

Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.

Can I get alerts when San Joaquin River Above Merced River Near Newman rises?

Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.