Re: Hydrologic Outlook For Upcoming Storm(s)

HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK
CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-160000-

HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
344 AM PST WED DEC 15 2010

...HEAVY PRECIPITATION IS LIKELY FROM THE SOUTHERN CASCADES SOUTH
TO THE CENTRAL SIERRA IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...AND IN
FAR WESTERN NEVADA...FRIDAY THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY...

...THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING FROM SOUTHERN CASCADES TO THE
CENTRAL SIERRA AND FAR WESTERN NEVADA SATURDAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF NEXT WEEK...

HEAVY PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN FRIDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY
NEXT WEEK FROM THE SOUTHERN CASCADES TO THE SOUTHERN SIERRA...AND
IN FAR WESTERN NEVADA. THE TIMING OF THE PRECIPITATION...LOCATION
OF THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS...AND SNOW LEVELS ARE UNCERTAIN AT THIS
TIME.

HOWEVER...

1. HEAVY PRECIPITATION IN THIS AREA IS ALMOST CERTAIN.
2. SNOW LEVELS COULD BE AS HIGH AS 7500 TO 9000 FEET DURING THE
HEAVY PRECIPITATION...ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY AND EARLY NEXT
WEEK.
3. SOILS ARE SATURATED DUE TO WELL ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION
SINCE OCTOBER.
4. SIGNIFICANT SNOWPACK EXISTS ABOVE ABOUT 5000 FEET IN THE SOUTHERN
CASCADES AND ABOVE 7500 FEET IN THE CENTRAL SIERRA.

THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE REGION DURING THIS
PERIOD.

THE LOCATION AND SEVERITY OF ANY FLOODING WHICH MAY OCCUR DUE TO
THESE STORMS IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...URBAN AREAS AND
UNCONTROLLED RIVERS AND STREAMS HAVE THE HIGHEST LIKELIHOOD OF
FLOODING SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A HIGHLY CONTROLLED RIVER
LIKE THE TRUCKEE RIVER WOULD HAVE A LOWER LIKELIHOOD OF FLOODING
DUE TO SIGNIFICANT FLOOD CONTROL STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE. HIGHER
SNOW LEVELS COULD RESULT IN MORE SERIOUS FLOODING.

WHILE THERE IS UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE IMPACT OF RAINFALL FROM
THIS UPCOMING EVENT...ANYONE WITH INTERESTS AROUND RIVERS OR
CREEKS SHOULD TAKE PRELIMINARY STEPS TO MITIGATE DAMAGE IF
FLOODING OCCURS. THIS INCLUDES...CLEANING LEAVES AND DEBRIS FROM
STORM DRAINS AND GUTTERS...AND KEEPING AWARE OF THE LATEST
FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

CURRENT STAGE...FLOW AND RIVER FORECAST INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FOR
MANY RIVERS AND STREAMS IN EASTERN CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA ON
THE INTERNET AT WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS2 AND CLICKING ON THE AREA OF
INTEREST. CURRENT RIVER STAGE AND FLOW DATA IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM
USGS IN CARSON CITY AT WATERDATA.USGS.GOV/NV/NWIS/RT AND CLICKING ON
STREAMFLOW TABLE.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

I wonder if the valley will flood...

Quote
hotrod4x5
I wonder if the valley will flood...

Yeah, I was wondering that. Remember the storm in 97 (or was it 98)? What a mess that was. Looks like similar conditions settin' up.

Old Guy,
Me tinks u pulling a chick-on.

---

Quote
chick-on
Old Guy,
Me tinks u pulling a chick-on.

Who? Me???

Quote
chick-on
Old Guy,
Me tinks u pulling a chick-on.

Oh...I see whatcha mean. (takes a while sometimes)
No...that is not my intention. In fact, I don't believe it's possible. chick-on is one of a kind.

In 1997 during those January rains the snow level from those storms was about 10,000 feet. They are predicting 7,000 feet for these storms. Hopefully that 3,000 foot difference will significantly lessen the danger of another valley flood like they had in 1997. Yet it looks like there is a significant amount of precipitation on its way for many days. Hunker down!

Right mtn man, I remember that now, it was a warm storm and rain fell at much higher elevations.

They've made this into a Winter Storm Watch.