[SIERA] Flood Watch for Carson City, NV

[Dick Flanagan]

Flood Watch
315 PM PST sun Jan 1 2006

...A Flood WARNING remains in effect for the mainstem Carson River
in Carson City and Lyon counties Nevada...for The Pit river in
Lassen County California...and for the Truckee River below Nixon
Nevada in Washoe County Nevada...

For the mainstem Carson River...including Carson City...Empire...
Dayton...fort Churchill and weeks...major flooding is expected to
continue through Monday evening.

For The Pit river in Lassen County...including Bieber and
Nubieber...moderate flooding is forecast through Thursday.

For the Truckee River...including Nixon Nevada...moderate flooding
is expected to continue through Sunday evening.

The flood crests from the new years eve floods were making their way
downstream on New Years Day.  As of 3 PM Sunday...the flood crest on
the Carson River was near Carson City...on the Truckee River it was
near Nixon...and on The Pit river it was between Alturas and Canby.
Flooding should end on the Carson River above Lahontan Reservoir by
Monday evening...on the Truckee by Sunday evening...and on The Pit
in Lassen County by Thursday.

Following are the forecasts for the Carson River...

For the Carson River near Carson City...at 2 PM the stage was 12.4
feet and falling slowly.  This is 2.4 feet above the 10.0 foot flood
stage.  Major flooding is occurring.  At Carson City the river
crested at 12.6 feet at about noon Sunday.  It is expected to fall
below the 10.0 foot flood stage by early Monday morning...and
continue to fall to below 8.0 feet by late Monday morning.

For Carson City at 12.5...extensive flooding with major damage.
Many roads in valley areas flood making transportation difficult.
Some homes and buildings along the river flood...with some
evacuations necessary.  Extensive damage to agricultural areas.
About 14600 cfs. This crest compares to a previous crest of 12.8
feet on Nov 22 1950.

For the Carson River at Dayton...at 2 PM the stage was 22.0 feet and
was nearing its crest.  This is 2.5 feet above the 19.5 foot
unofficial flood stage.  Major flooding is occurring.  It is
expected to rise slightly to near 22.5 feet by late Sunday
afternoon.  It is then expected to begin receding Sunday
evening...and continue to fall to below flood stage by noon Monday.

For Dayton at 22.5 feet...extensive flooding with major damage.
Many roads in valley areas flood making transportation difficult.
Some homes and buildings along the river flood...with some
evacuations necessary.  Extensive damage to agricultural areas.
About 12200 cfs.

For the Carson River at fort Churchill...at 1 PM the river was at
9.1 feet and rising.  This is 0.9 feet below the unofficial 10.0
foot flood stage.  The river is expected to continue to rise to near
12.5 feet by early Monday morning.  This is 2.5 feet above the
unofficial flood stage.  Major flooding is expected.  It is then
expected to recede to below flood levels by late Monday evening.

For fort Churchill at 12.5 feet...extensive flooding with major
damage.  Many roads in valley areas flood making transportation
difficult.  Some homes and buildings along the river flood...with
some evacuations necessary.  Extensive damage to agricultural
areas.  About 13000 cfs.  This compares to a previous crest of 15300
cfs on February 2 1963.

Following are the forecasts for The Pit river...

For The Pit river near Canby California...at 2 PM Sunday the stage
was 8.7 feet and rising.  This is 0.2 foot above the unofficial 8.5
foot flood stage.  At Canby the river is expected to continue to
rise to near 9.5 feet by Monday afternoon...about 4700 cfs.  It is
the expected to recede to below unofficial flood stage by late
Tuesday.

At beiber and nubeiber in Lassen County...the river was near flood
levels on Sunday afternoon.  It is not expected to fall to below
flood levels until Thursday.  Moderate to significant flooding is
expected in beiber and nubeiber and throughout northwest Lassen
County through Thursday.

Following are the forecasts for the Truckee River...

For the Truckee River at Reno...at 2 PM Sunday the stage was about
7.6 feet and falling...this is 3.4 feet below the 11.0 foot flood
stage. It is expected to fluctuate between 6.0 and 6.5 feet through
Sunday evening...then fall to near 5.5 feet near noon Monday.  No
further flooding is expected. At Reno the river crested near 13.8
feet Saturday afternoon.  This is 1.8 feet above the 11.0 foot flood
stage.

For the Truckee River at Sparks...at 2 PM Sunday the stage was 8.8
feet and falling.  This is 2.2 feet below the unofficial 11.0 foot
flood stage.  No further flooding is expected.  At Sparks the river
crested near 16.4 feet at 1030 Saturday morning.  This was 5.4 feet
above the unofficial 11.0 foot flood stage.

For the Truckee River at Vista...at 2 PM Sunday the stage was 13.1
feet and falling.  This is 1.9 feet below the 15.0 foot flood.  The
stage is expected to continue falling to near 11.5 feet late Sunday
evening...then rise to near 12.5 feet early Monday morning...with no
further flooding expected.  At Vista the river crested near 20.3
feet Saturday evening.  This is 5.3 feet above the 15.0 foot flood
stage.  It fell below flood stage Sunday morning.

For the Truckee River at Wadsworth...at 2 PM the stage was 12.9 feet
and falling...which is 0.1 foot below the unofficial 13.0 foot flood
stage.  The stage is expected to continue falling with no further
flooding expected.  At Wadsworth the river crested near 17.0 feet
Saturday evening.  This is 4.0 feet above the 13.0 foot flood
stage.  It fell below flood stage late Sunday morning.

For the Truckee River at Nixon...at 2 PM the stage was 11.9 feet and
falling...which is 1.4 feet above the unofficial 10.5 foot flood
stage.  Moderate flooding is occurring.  The stage is expected to
continue to fall to below flood stage by Sunday evening.  At Nixon
the river crested near 12.6 feet early Sunday morning.  This is 2.1
feet above the 10.5 foot flood stage.

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.

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 Sunday
evening.

Expires:021900 gmt

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