[SIERA] Flood Watch for Carson City, NV

[Dick Flanagan]

Flood Watch
1210 PM PDT Sat may 21 2005

...A Flood Warning remains in effect until further notice for the
West Fork of the Carson River between Woodfords California and the
Centerville-Genoa Nevada area...

...A Flood Warning remains in effect until further notice for the
west Walker River near Coleville California...

...A significant rise in the mainstem Carson River from Genoa to
Dayton NV to just below flood stage...

...A significant rise on the west Walker River downstream of Topaz
Lake to just below flood stage...

...A significant rise on the mainstem Walker River to just below
flood stage...

...A significant rise on the East Fork Carson River from
Markleeville to Gardnerville to just below flood stage...

...A significant rise on the upper Truckee River near Meyers to just
below flood stage...

Flows in rivers and streams in the eastern Sierra...especially
on the Carson...Walker and Lake Tahoe basins...are expected to
gradually increase through the weekend due to warmer temperatures
and increasing snowmelt.  Minor lowland flooding is expected along
the west Walker River near Coleville and along the west Carson River
near Woodfords.

Anyone venturing near eastern Sierra rivers or streams this
weekend...such as kayakers...rafters...and anglers...should be aware
that rivers and streams are running swift...are turbulent and
extremely cold.  Keep small children well away from rivers and
streams as they can easily be swept away.

Following are forecasts...

For the West Fork Carson River at Woodfords...at 12 PM Saturday the
stage was 13.3 feet.  This is 0.7 feet below the 14.0 foot flood
stage. The river is expected to gradually rise today and reach 14.0
feet tonight before dropping to near 13.7 feet Sunday morning. The
river is expected to again rise above flood stage Sunday night to
14.3 feet.  At 14.0 feet... the flood stage.  Minor flooding begins
in the southwestern Carson Valley between Centerville and Genoa NV.

For the West Fork Walker River at Coleville...at 12 PM Saturday the
stage was 8.3 feet.  This is 0.7 feet below the 9.0 foot flood
stage. The west Walker River is expected to gradually rise today and
reach 9.2 feet tonight before briefly dropping to near 8.7 feet
Sunday morning. The river will again rise Sunday and reach near 9.4
feet Sunday night. At 9.0 to 9.4 feet...flood stage to 0.4 feet
above flood stage. Minor to moderate flooding of lowland and
agricultural areas begins in the Antelope Valley. Some flooding is
also possible of yards and driveways in lower parts of Walker and
Coleville.

For the East Fork Carson River at Gardnerville...at 12 PM the stage
was 7.2 feet.  The river is expected to rise to within one half foot
of the 9.5 flood stage.

For the East Fork Carson River at Markleeville...at 12 PM the stage
was 5.8 feet.  The river is expected to rise within one half foot of
the unofficial 7.0 flood stage.

For the Carson River at Carson City...at 12 PM the stage was 8.2
feet. The river is expected to rise to within one foot of the 10.0
flood stage.

For the upper Truckee River near Meyers...at 12 PM the stage was 6.2
feet.  The river is expected to rise to within one half foot of the
unofficial 7.0 flood stage.

Be prepared to move livestock and other valuables away from areas
subject to flooding. Stay tuned to developments by monitoring
updates from the National Weather Service at www.Wrh.NOAA.Gov/rev or
your favorite news source.

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

The next update for these locations will be issued at 11 PM
Saturday.

Expires:220700 gmt

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