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Soquel Creek at Soquel

Highest listed crest 22.33 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft9 crests since 1955

The Soquel Creek at Soquel crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 9 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1955 to 1997. The highest, 22.33 ft on December 23, 1955, was major flooding, 6.33 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
22.33 ft
December 23, 1955; 15,800 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 22.0 ft
Crests at major
1
33rd of 106 gauges in California
Most recent flood crest
January 9, 1995
17.93 ft, minor flooding
Location
Santa Cruz County
Near Santa Cruz (4.5 mi), Scotts Valley (5.4 mi), Watsonville (11.2 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Soquel Creek at Soquel
Action stage13.04Jan 1, 1997The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.02Jan 9, 1995Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.01Jan 4, 1982Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage22.01Dec 23, 1955Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

9 crests from 1955 to 1997. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Soquel Creek at Soquel, 1955 to 1997 12141618202224ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 22.0 ft Dec 23, 1955: 22.33 ft, major flooding; 15,800 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1963: 16.27 ft, minor flooding; 7,950 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 1982: 21.85 ft, moderate flooding; 9,700 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 1983: 15.05 ft, action stage; 7,290 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 1986: 15.68 ft, action stage; 8,900 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 1995: 17.93 ft, minor flooding; 7,370 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1995: 12.89 ft, below flood stage; 4,620 cubic feet per secondDec 10, 1996: 15.80 ft, action stage; 6,000 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1997: 15.10 ft, action stage Highest, 22.33 ft, Dec 23, 1955 1960197019801990

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Soquel Creek at Soquel 1950s: 1 1 1960s: 1 1970s: 0 1980s: 1 1990s: 1 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Soquel Creek at Soquel
1Dec 23, 195522.33+6.33Major15,800
2Jan 4, 198221.85+5.85Moderate9,700
3Jan 9, 199517.93+1.93Minor7,370
4Jan 31, 196316.27+0.27Minor7,950
5Dec 10, 199615.80−0.20Action6,000
6Feb 17, 198615.68−0.32Action8,900
7Jan 1, 199715.10−0.90Action—
8Jan 24, 198315.05−0.95Action7,290
9Mar 10, 199512.89−3.11Below flood stage4,620

Other gauges in Santa Cruz County

Flood gauges in Santa Cruz County
Big Trees16.524.54 ft, Jan 9, 20233

Santa Cruz County: every hazard · River floods across the country · California

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge SOQC1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.