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Surface Water Data Portal

Readings as of July 28, 2026 at 4:53 PM PT ยท not current conditions

Lower Peninsula watershed

Palo Alto Flood Basin

Reading -1.20 ft and 0 cfs. That is 4.50 feet below the first flood threshold.

Palo Alto Flood Basin plotted at latitude 37.4555 and longitude -122.1007 over Valley Water's published major-watershed layer.
Palo Alto Flood Basin at 37.4555, -122.1007, exactly as positioned in Valley Water's sensor feed. Valley Water publishes San Francisquito, Adobe, Permanente as a major watersheds here. The eleven published boundaries do not line up exactly with the five watershed groupings used here, and not every named creek has one.
  • Stream gauge

-1.20 ft

Captured February 10, 2026 at 8:45 AM PT

  • Sensor ID 7040
  • 37.4555, -122.1007
  • Included in Valley Water's flood watch
  • Reporting

What Floods at Each Level

These descriptions are Valley Water's own, quoted exactly as published for this gauge.

Threshold 1 · 3.3 ft

4.50 ft above the current reading

Watch Level.

Valley Water, threshold 1 description for Palo Alto Flood Basin

Threshold 2 · 5.3 ft

6.50 ft above the current reading

Flood Basin stage is high. If tributary inflow from Adobe, Matadero, and Barron Creeks are extreme, basin may overflow.

Valley Water, threshold 2 description for Palo Alto Flood Basin

Threshold 3 · 6.3 ft

7.50 ft above the current reading

Flood Basin stage is very high. High flow in tributaries may cause overtopping on East Bayshore Road and area south of Embarcadero Road.

Valley Water, threshold 3 description for Palo Alto Flood Basin

Threshold 4 · 7.3 ft

8.50 ft above the current reading

Flood Basin stage is extremely high. Flooding is likely in the aforementioned areas. If tributary inflows are also very high, flooding is possible for the Palo Alto Airport, US-101, and towards neighborhoods in Palo Alto.

Valley Water, threshold 4 description for Palo Alto Flood Basin

Places This Gauge Covers

Streets and landmarks named in the threshold descriptions above.

Sensor Notes

Palo Alto Flood Basin Stage. Data collected by City of Palo Alto and forwarded to Valley Water.

Valley Water, sensor notes for Palo Alto Flood Basin