San Francisco flood history
292 days with roads at risk since 1996
Record high water
8.38 ft
Feb 6, 1998 · 22 roads at risk
Days a year, then vs now
8 → 14
1996–2005 vs 2016–2025
Most recent
Sep 30, 2026
7.19 ft · 2 roads at risk
On the map
The biggest days
Feb 6, 1998: 22 roads at risk8.38 ft at the San Francisco gauge · 2.2 ft above the tide tables · deepest: Likely · model estimate
Estimates, not records of actual flooding. Each day is NOAA's verified high water at the tide gauge, run through FloodRoute's flood model on today's roads and elevations, in dry weather. Drains, levees, tide gates, rain, road changes and elevation error all mean real conditions differed. Not for property, real-estate, insurance, lending, engineering or legal decisions.
1996–2026
Days with roads at risk, by year
Since 1996
Highest water
| Date | High water · San Francisco | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.38 ft | +2.21 ft | 22Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.38 ft | +1.25 ft | 22Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.14 ft | +1.22 ft | 18Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.12 ft | +1.01 ft | 18Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.12 ft | +1.05 ft | 18Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.09 ft | +1.13 ft | 14Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.09 ft | +0.92 ft | 14Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.07 ft | +0.96 ft | 14Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.02 ft | +1.40 ft | 14Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street | |
| 8.00 ft | +1.10 ft | 13Likely | Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive, Channel Street |
Latest verified
Most recent days
| Date | High water · San Francisco | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.19 ft | +0.86 ft | 2Possible | Townsend Street | |
| 7.37 ft | +0.63 ft | 2Possible | Townsend Street | |
| 7.47 ft | +0.52 ft | 2Possible | Townsend Street | |
| 7.46 ft | +0.50 ft | 2Possible | Townsend Street | |
| 7.38 ft | +0.54 ft | 2Possible | Townsend Street |
Every day, every year
Browse by year
About this data: method, sources and free downloads
Since 1996, NOAA's San Francisco tide gauge has recorded water high enough for FloodRoute's model to put at least one San Francisco road at risk on 292 days, about 9 a year. The highest water was 8.38 ft on Friday, February 6, 1998, 2.21 ft above the tide tables; at that level the model estimates 22 San Francisco roads were at risk, including Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive and Channel Street. Those days have become more common: about 8 a year in 1996–2005, versus 14 a year in 2016–2025.
For every day since 1996 we take NOAA's verified highest observed water at the tide gauge, adjust it to the town's prediction station exactly as the live forecast does (the gauge's departure from the tide tables, minus the departure already built into our calibration), and run FloodRoute's flood model on today's road network and street elevations. A day counts when at least one road in the town is at or below that water level by the model's rules. Rain is not included, so wet days were likely worse.
Gauge: NOAA 9414290 (San Francisco). Heights are feet above MLLW.
Free to use under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. Credit: FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS. Please describe it as estimates, never as observed flooding.
Cite as: FloodRoute (2026). San Francisco, CA king tide flood history (model estimates). https://floodroute.com/ca/san-francisco/history. Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0.
FAQ
San Francisco flood history: questions, answered
How often do roads flood at high tide in San Francisco?
By FloodRoute's estimate, at least one San Francisco road was at risk on 292 days between 1996 and Sep 30, 2026, about 9 a year. Those days have become more common: about 8 a year in 1996–2005, versus 14 a year in 2016–2025. Most of those days are shallow water on a few low streets; the biggest days put dozens of roads at risk.
What was the highest tide in San Francisco since 1996?
Friday, February 6, 1998: NOAA's San Francisco tide gauge recorded 8.38 ft (MLLW), 2.21 ft above the tide tables. At that level FloodRoute's model estimates 22 San Francisco roads were at risk, including Townsend Street, Mission Bay Drive and Channel Street.
When did a high tide last put San Francisco roads at risk?
The most recent day in the verified record is Wednesday, September 30, 2026: 7.19 ft at the San Francisco gauge, 2 roads at risk. NOAA verifies data with a lag of a month or two; the live forecast covers today and the weeks ahead.
Is this a record of actual flooding in San Francisco?
No. Estimates, not records of actual flooding. Each day is NOAA's verified high water at the tide gauge, run through FloodRoute's flood model on today's roads and elevations, in dry weather. Drains, levees, tide gates, rain, road changes and elevation error all mean real conditions differed. Not for property, real-estate, insurance, lending, engineering or legal decisions. Neighbor flood reports in the FloodRoute app are the ground truth we use to check and improve the model.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Download it as CSV or JSON under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0, with attribution to FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS. Please describe it as estimates, never as observed flooding. More on the open data page.