[CVRC] Flood WARNING for Truckee River

[Dick Flanagan]

Flood Warning
350 PM PST Fri Dec 30 2005

...A Flood WARNING has been issued for the Truckee River from Sparks
downstream to Nixon Nevada...

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Truckee
River from Sparks downstream to Nixon Nevada...minor flooding is forecast.

Heavy rain expected Friday evening through Saturday afternoon
combined with saturated soils...will cause a large rise on the
Truckee River.  Minor flooding is expected on the Truckee River from
Sparks downstream to Nixon.  Four to six inches of rainfall is being
forecast over portions of the Truckee and Carson River basins during
this period...with locally higher amounts.  Snow levels are expected
to be as high as 8000 feet through Saturday morning before beginning
to fall to near 5000 feet by Saturday evening.  Runoff is expected
to decrease after that time.

Following are the forecasts.  All stages are in feet...

Truckee River at...     Farad       Reno       Vista

monitor stage...        10.0         9.0       13.0
flood stage...          11.0        11.0       15.0
observed stage           5.0         6.5        7.2
at...                  3 PM Fri    3 PM Fri   3 PM Fri

forecast stages for...
   05pm Fri               5.8         6.8        8.9
   08pm Fri               6.1         7.2        9.7
   11pm Fri               6.4         7.6       10.5
   02am Sat               6.7         7.9       11.3
   05am Sat               6.9         8.3       12.2
   08am Sat               7.2         8.7       13.0
   11am Sat               7.5         9.1       14.0
   02pm Sat               7.7         9.5       15.0
   05pm Sat               7.7         9.5       15.5

for the Truckee River at Farad...at 3 PM Friday the stage was 5.0 feet.
This is 6.0 feet below the 11.0 foot flood stage.  No flooding is forecast.
A maximum stage of 7.7 feet is forecast for Saturday afternoon...which
is 3.5 feet below flood stage.

For the Truckee River at Reno...at 3 PM Friday the stage was 6.5 feet.
This is 4.5 feet below the 11.0 foot flood stage.  No flooding is forecast.
A maximum stage of 9.5 feet is forecast for tomorrow early afternoon...
which is 1.5 feet below flood stage.

When the Reno gage is at 9.5 feet...no flooding from Mogul to Hwy
395...including Reno.  This is maximum safe channel capacity below U.S.
Hwy 395...about 6000 cfs.  Releases from Prosser...Stampede...and Boca
reservoirs are cut by the U.S. Water master to maintain less than 6000
cfs at Reno.

For the Truckee River at Vista...minor flooding is forecast.  A
maximum stage of 15.5 feet is forecast for Saturday afternoon...which
is 0.5 feet above the 15.0 foot flood stage.  The stage will rise above
the 15.0 foot flood stage Saturday afternoon and will fall below flood
stage Saturday evening.  At 3 PM Friday the stage was 7.2 feet.  This
is 7.8 feet below the 15.0 foot flood stage.

When the Vista gage is at 15.5 feet...minor flooding begins below Hwy
395 through Sparks...downstream to Lockwood...Tracy...Wadsworth and
Nixon.  Below Hwy 395...Reno Hilton rv park...Truckee River bike
path...and Parks along river begin flooding.  Below east mc
carran...the Sparks Industrial area...University farm...Boynton
Slough...Rosewood lakes Golf course...and river bike path flood.  Water
up to a foot deep in lowest streets of Sparks.  Near 7500 cfs...about a
10 percent chance any year...or a 10 year flood.  This crest compares
to a previous crest of 15.5 feet on may 18 1996.

These river forecasts are based on forecast rainfall and temperature
conditions at time of issuance.  If actual conditions vary from these
forecasts...river conditions will vary accordingly.  River forecasts
include current and planned Reservoir releases.

Be alert for heavy rain upstream of your location which could cause
additional rapid rises on rivers and streams.  Valuables should
moved away from areas subject to flooding.  Never drive through
flooded areas. Follow the directions of emergency officials.
Stay tuned to latest developments by listening to NOAA Weather
Radio...or your favorite news source.

Real-time stage and flow information for many rivers and streams in
eastern California and Nevada is available from USGS on the internet
at: http://waterdata.USGS.Gov/nwis/ ...in lower case.

The next forecast update for these locations will be issued Friday
evening.


Expires:311128 gmt

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc at arrl.org