Measuring water level and flood risk at low-water crossings

Compact, rugged hydrostatic pressure sensors undisturbed by turbulence, long-term contact in wastewater or saltwater, or atmospheric pressure changes

In a National Hydrologic Warning Council webinar, NOAA’s Jon Gottschalck delivered the 2026-2027 NOAA Winter Outlook, equipping flood monitoring professionals with a variety of forecasts ahead of a “Super El Niño.”

As the Chief of Subseasonal-to-Seasonal S2S Outlook Unit for the Extended Prediction Division of the Water Prediction Center, the meteorologist explained El Niño as warm subsurface water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that eventually affect atmospheric conditions. Warmer air temperatures are anticipated across North America. However, heavy rainfall is expected over the southern half of the contiguous United States — from Southern California to south Georgia and Florida.

Over past months, snow telemetry and rain gauge network operators have been ordering instruments and spare parts to prepare for heavier precipitation, as early as December and extending through March.

While public works and transportation departments have been mounting non-contact radar sensors, jurisdictions with low-water crossings over lakes and rivers are deploying submersible hydrostatic pressure sensors.

Water temperature and pressure data

HyPremo units transmit both water temperature and pressure measurements based on the weight of water above the submerged sensor at specific depths. The combination of parameters is especially helpful for multidisciplinary analysis of water quality and aquatic ecology.

Durable design and self-diagnostics

Designed for long-term immersion, the compact (4 in x 1 in) device has no moving parts to wear out or fail. It is insensitive to foam and turbulence in the water. Built-in barometric, temperature and gravity compensation mitigate drift while self-diagnostics maintain the probe’s reliability when data collection is most important.

Suitable monitoring sites

In addition to freshwater stream beds, corrosion-resistant materials make the sensor suitable for monitoring wastewater or salty tidal riversas well as inaccessible groundwater monitoring wells, at risk for saltwater intrusion.

In particular, the reference pressure inside the HyPremo is vented to the atmosphere, so atmospheric pressure changes are compensated in the data. The instrument is also insensitivity to humidity. Thus, vented pressure sensors are ideal for open sewage or water storage tanks.

Have a water level monitoring site and curious about which type of sensor to deploy? Explore our portfolio of water level products on send us a consultation request.