Flood Watch
Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon (California)
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
200 PM PDT WED MAY 10 2006
...ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND MELTING SNOW CAUSING HIGHER
WATER LEVELS ON THE UPPER MERCED RIVER...
.HIGHER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ARE
CAUSING A MORE RAPID MELTING OF THE SNOW PACK IN THE SOUTHERN
SIERRA...LEADING TO INCREASED WATER LEVELS IN AREA RIVERS AND
STREAMS. WATER FROM THE MELTING SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
EACH AFTERNOON FLOWS DOWN THE UPPER MERCED RIVER AND CAUSES THE
RIVER STAGE AT POHONO BRIDGE TO PEAK DURING THE LATE NIGHT HOURS.
THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CREST NEAR FLOOD STAGE OF 10 FEET BY
FRIDAY MORNING. EVEN IF THE MERCED RIVER REMAINS BELOW FLOOD
STAGE...THERE ARE DANGERS POSED BY THE HIGHER RIVER LEVELS DUE TO
THE FAST FLOWING COLD WATER.
CAZ096-110530-
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SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
200 PM PDT WED MAY 10 2006
...FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING...
THE FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR
* A PORTION OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
AREA...IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO
KINGS CANYON.
* FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
* THE COMBINATION OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND MELTING SNOW
OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WILL CAUSE A GRADUAL RISE IN WATER
LEVELS ALONG THE UPPER MERCED RIVER DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE MERCED RIVER AT POHONO BRIDGE
WILL REACH FLOOD STAGE DURING BY EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
* RESIDENTS...CAMPERS...AND HIKERS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR WATER
LEVELS ALONG THE MERCED RIVER AND HEED THE ADVICE OF PARK
OFFICIALS WHEN AND IF EVACUATIONS BECOME NECESSARY.
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE
ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO
FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING
DEVELOP.
$$
DS