Kayak Love

California · river

Santa Ana River below Prado Dam

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

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Santa Ana River below Prado Dam
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — -CALIFORNIA-L-0013- Santa Ana River flood (50391174282).jpg by WaterArchives.org from Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

9 mph

gusting to 9 mph

Air temp

95°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

83.8 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Saturday · 77

  • Today

    49

  • Thu

    40

  • Fri

    74

  • Sat

    77

    Best

  • Sun

    74

  • Mon

    75

  • Tue

    75

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)
11a33
12p1011
1p910
2p1213
3p1416
4p1620
5p1620
6p1520
7p1420
8p1321
9p1220
10p712

Is this flow normal for August 19?

Today's 83.8 cfs is 7% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 78 cfs, across 84 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind9 mph — noticeable but manageable-5
  • Heat95°F — bring more water than you think-8

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