# San Rafael, CA king tide and flood history since 1996

> Since 1996, NOAA's San Francisco tide gauge has recorded water high enough for FloodRoute's model to put at least one San Rafael road at risk on 1,972 days, about 64 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 86 San Rafael roads were at risk, including Sonoma Street, Dolores Street and Du Bois Street. Those days have become more common: about 52 a year in 1996–2005, versus 80 a year in 2016–2025.

**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.

- Gauge: NOAA 9414290 (San Francisco), verified data Jan 1, 1996 – Sep 30, 2026
- Tide tables: NOAA 9414806 (Sausalito)
- Live forecast: [San Rafael flood forecast](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael.md)

## The biggest days

| Date | High water (San Francisco gauge, ft MLLW) | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Severity | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8.38 | +2.21 ft | 86 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 3, 2026 | 8.38 | +1.25 ft | 86 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 8, 2005 | 8.14 | +1.22 ft | 80 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Dec 24, 2003 | 8.12 | +1.01 ft | 80 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Dec 14, 2024 | 8.12 | +1.05 ft | 80 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 8.09 | +1.13 ft | 80 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 2, 2026 | 8.09 | +0.92 ft | 80 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 10, 2001 | 8.07 | +0.96 ft | 76 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 7, 2005 | 8.02 | +1.40 ft | 76 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 1, 2006 | 8.00 | +1.10 ft | 76 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Feb 3, 1998 | 7.98 | +2.02 ft | 76 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Jan 4, 2026 | 7.94 | +1.02 ft | 74 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |

## Most recent days

| Date | High water (San Francisco gauge, ft MLLW) | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Severity | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2026 | 7.19 | +0.86 ft | 65 | Severe | Sonoma Street, Dolores Street, Du Bois Street |
| Sep 29, 2026 | 7.11 | +0.80 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 28, 2026 | 6.77 | +0.59 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 6.63 | +0.67 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 15, 2026 | 6.47 | +0.71 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 14, 2026 | 6.65 | +0.76 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 13, 2026 | 6.48 | +0.55 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 12, 2026 | 6.51 | +0.61 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 11, 2026 | 6.76 | +0.71 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |
| Sep 9, 2026 | 6.99 | +0.71 ft | 2 | Severe | Bahia Way |

## Days with roads at risk, by year

| Year | Days | Highest water at the gauge (ft) | Most roads at risk | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [1996](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/1996.md) | 33 | 7.53 | 67 | full |
| [1997](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/1997.md) | 79 | 7.70 | 69 | full |
| [1998](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/1998.md) | 76 | 8.38 | 86 | full |
| [1999](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/1999.md) | 25 | 7.19 | 65 | full |
| [2000](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2000.md) | 38 | 7.24 | 65 | full |
| [2001](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2001.md) | 43 | 8.07 | 76 | full |
| [2002](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2002.md) | 55 | 7.46 | 67 | full |
| [2003](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2003.md) | 51 | 8.12 | 80 | full |
| [2004](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2004.md) | 60 | 7.41 | 67 | full |
| [2005](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2005.md) | 56 | 8.14 | 80 | full |
| [2006](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2006.md) | 82 | 8.00 | 76 | full |
| [2007](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2007.md) | 45 | 7.10 | 2 | full |
| [2008](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2008.md) | 54 | 7.40 | 67 | full |
| [2009](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2009.md) | 59 | 7.42 | 67 | full |
| [2010](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2010.md) | 70 | 7.62 | 67 | full |
| [2011](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2011.md) | 64 | 7.67 | 69 | full |
| [2012](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2012.md) | 51 | 7.63 | 67 | full |
| [2013](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2013.md) | 32 | 7.28 | 65 | full |
| [2014](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2014.md) | 74 | 7.77 | 70 | full |
| [2015](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2015.md) | 99 | 7.58 | 67 | full |
| [2016](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2016.md) | 76 | 7.56 | 67 | full |
| [2017](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2017.md) | 58 | 7.64 | 67 | full |
| [2018](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2018.md) | 66 | 7.49 | 67 | full |
| [2019](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2019.md) | 99 | 7.54 | 67 | full |
| [2020](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2020.md) | 85 | 7.27 | 65 | full |
| [2021](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2021.md) | 66 | 7.45 | 67 | full |
| [2022](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2022.md) | 59 | 7.54 | 67 | full |
| [2023](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2023.md) | 129 | 7.66 | 69 | full |
| [2024](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2024.md) | 28 | 8.12 | 80 | partial |
| [2025](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2025.md) | 82 | 7.60 | 67 | full |
| [2026](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history/2026.md) | 78 | 8.38 | 86 | partial |

## Method

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.

Data: [CSV](https://floodroute.com/data/history/ca/san-rafael.csv) · [JSON](https://floodroute.com/data/history/ca/san-rafael.json) · Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 (https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/) · Credit: FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS · [All towns](https://floodroute.com/data.md)

## Frequently asked questions

### How often do roads flood at high tide in San Rafael?

By FloodRoute's estimate, at least one San Rafael road was at risk on 1,972 days between 1996 and Sep 30, 2026, about 64 a year. Those days have become more common: about 52 a year in 1996–2005, versus 80 a year in 2016–2025. Most of those days are shallow water on a few low streets; the [biggest days](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history) put dozens of roads at risk.

### What was the highest tide in San Rafael 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 86 San Rafael roads were at risk, including Sonoma Street, Dolores Street and Du Bois Street.

### When did a high tide last put San Rafael roads at risk?

The most recent day in the verified record is Wednesday, September 30, 2026: 7.19 ft at the San Francisco gauge, 65 roads at risk. NOAA verifies data with a lag of a month or two; the [live forecast](https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael) covers today and the weeks ahead.

### Is this a record of actual flooding in San Rafael?

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](https://floodroute.com/data/history/ca/san-rafael.csv) or [JSON](https://floodroute.com/data/history/ca/san-rafael.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](https://floodroute.com/data).

**Forecasts are estimates, not guarantees.** Never drive or walk through flood water: according to the National Weather Service, a foot of moving water can carry away most cars. Turn around, don’t drown. Always follow local authorities and official warnings.

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Web version: https://floodroute.com/ca/san-rafael/history · Site index for AI agents: https://floodroute.com/llms.txt · Every page is available as Markdown: add `.md` to its URL.

FloodRoute provides estimates only. Never drive or walk through flood water. © Axiomic, LLC · contact@axiomic.ai