Kayak Love

California · river

Pontiac Canal near Yuma, Az

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

77of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Pontiac Canal near Yuma, Az
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Paradise Casino.jpg by Toohool, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

10 mph

gusting to 11 mph

Air temp

109°F

2% chance of rain

River flow

27.4 cfs

very high for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 77

  • Today

    66

  • Thu

    77

    Best

  • Fri

    71

  • Sat

    73

  • Sun

    42

  • Mon

    56

  • Tue

    74

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
2p1011
3p1011
4p1011
5p1011
6p1011
7p1014
8p918
9p718
10p714
11p511
12a48
1a310

Is this flow normal for August 19?

Today's 27.4 cfs is 222% above the median for this date — which counts as very high water here.

The median flow on this date is 9 cfs, across 37 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind10 mph — noticeable but manageable-8
  • Heat109°F — bring more water than you think-15

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in California