Flooding

With a variety of winter weather conditions occurring across Nevada and Eastern California, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest would like to remind visitors to be extra careful while recreating this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and throughout winter.

Carson City is taking the current break in winter weather to address the recovery process. Public Works is leading Damage Assessment teams, which are comprised of Public Works, Parks, Recreation & Open Space, Fire Department and State Division of Emergency Management assessors to evaluate the damage inflicted across the city. Parks, homes, trails and infrastructure, like sidewalks and roads, were impacted.

The Carson City Landfill is closed until Monday, Jan. 16, due to flooding as a result of the recent storms.
If you have any questions or concerns please call Carson City Public Works at (775) 887-2355.

MINDEN — With two months of extreme freeze-thaw cycles with above average moisture in Douglas County, many of the roads such as Jacks Valley and Waterloo Lane have experienced an increase in potholes.

With snow falling on and off and slushy road surfaces turning to ice, driving conditions around Carson City will become especially difficult for the afternoon and early evening commute. Motorists are advised to be extremely careful and to drive slow for the commute home.

I hope everyone enjoyed the few hours of sunshine Wednesday, because we’re in for it now. Hopefully, the snow won’t cause as much flooding. I feel compelled to include the disclaimer that all of the following events are subject to change: this storm has the potential to wreak some havoc, so stay safe out there. Kids with cabin fever will enjoy story time at the Carson Library. Adults, get out of the house and enjoy some live music at Living the Good Life or Sassafras. Local McDonald’s restaurants hope to see you this evening: a fundraiser for the family of Ashley Bursey runs from 4 p.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – In just the first days after several northwestern Nevada state roads were damaged by flooding, the Nevada Department of Transportation has let out emergency contracts and contractors are already being dispatched to repair erosion and other flood-related roadway damage. The repairs follow tours of the damage taken by Governor Sandoval and local officials both before and after the flood.

Severe weather, high winds, heavy rain, snow and flooding are causing multiple outages throughout northern Nevada including Carson City, Douglas County and Lake Tahoe.

Motorists can expect a breezy and wet commute Wednesday morning into and out of Carson City, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno reports.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the NWS said, and a flood advisory continues for the area until 10 a.m.

UPDATE 722AM: Heavy rains have caused significant mud flow and standing water on the majority of the County Roads in central Lyon County.

Pottassi Road and Rancho Road in east Dayton Valley have significant water flowing down them with numerous structured threatened. Central Lyon Fire is attempting to evacuate a family who's home is reportedly taking water.

Flash floods early Wednesday morning prompted the Carson City Emergency Management Operations Center to reactivate, officials said.

Carson City Fire Department, Sheriff's Office and Public Works have responded to multiple areas where flash flooding is underway, said Fire Chief Bob Schreihans. The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Flash Flood Warning until 5:45 a.m. Wednesday for Carson City and Douglas County.

Major flooding from run-off west of Curry Street in South Carson City has resulted in some damage to the Nevada State Railroad Museum property, said NSRM Curator of History Wendell Huffman.

Students in Carson City returned to class Tuesday for the first time in 2017 after a three-week winter break.

The first day of classess immediately followed area flooding over the weekend that continues to affect some parts of the city.

A flood advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno remains in effect for the area.

Flooding along the Carson River around Carson City appears to have peaked in some areas earlier today hitting major flood stage and may be receding some this afternoon. Other areas like Deer Run Road show water levels still rising and peaking as of 3:30 p.m., according to USGS hydrologists.

UPDATE 1:50PM: The Dayton Bridge is open and there is NO intent or need to close the bridge, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office. There is a member of the Lyon County Roads Department on site to monitor the debris flowing under the bridge.
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Lyon County Emergency Management has opened a temporary shelter at Dayton High School, 355 Dayton Valley Road. The Carson River reached major flood status this morning in Carson City and will reach this status in Lyon County overnight.

UPDATE 4PM: All roads in Douglas County, including Highway 395 through Carson Valley are open except for State Route 207 Kingsbury Grade.
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Carson City residents are waking up to a drier morning on Tuesday; however the Carson River has risen overnight to Major flood status. The river is running fast and high, at approximately 11 feet.

These photos of the Carson River were taken Monday afternoon along Golden Eagle Lane east of the Northern Nevada Correctional Center off Snyder Avenue.

As of 9:03 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has reported that the Carson River near Carson City has now crested above its flood stage of 10 feet, reaching 11.04 feet, which qualifies as a major flooding event.

After a brief pause in the rain yesterday, the storm has returned. I write this list with trepidation, as localized flooding is still affecting homes and businesses around town. Everything on this list is subject to cancellation. It’s back to school for the kids of Lyon County and Carson. Jacks Valley Elementary is closed, but all other Minden/Gardnerville students are headed back. Stay safe out there, and thank you to all the city and state staff, volunteers, and good neighbors that are working hard to keep the damage to a minimum.

TUESDAY:

8AM TUESDAY: From Nevada Highway Patrol: Highway 395 southbound lane in Carson Valley from Sunridge to Stephanie now open in the No. 1 (left) lane. Traffic now running both north and south.
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UPDATE 6:08AM TUESDAY: Highway 395 through the Carson Valley remains closed southbound, but open northbound, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation, NDOT. Southbound detour at Jacks Valley Valley Road to Foothill.
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UPDATE 5:15PM: Traffic continues to crawl along Jacks Valley Road and Foothill due to the Highway 395 closure.
One lane of Highway 395 northbound has reopened at Stephanie. Southbound is still closed.
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UPDATE 2:45PM: Both the northbound and southbound lanes on Highway 395 are closed due to flooding along the Cradlebaugh Bridge in Carson Valley, said Carson City Undersheriff Steve Albertsen. Southbound Highway 395 motorists are advised to take Jacks Valley Road and connect to Foothill Road. The Nevada Highway Patrol is turning people around at the RV park, he said.
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Cradlebaugh Bridge near Stephanie Way in Carson Valley is beginning to flood into the southbound lanes of Highway 395. Traffic controls on Highway 395 are in effect and a portion of the road is now closed.

The recent flooding was devastating for some, inconvenient for others. What was the difference? Of course, flood zoning played a large role. But even those in flood areas were better off because of a single mindset, preparedness.
I was personally impressed by the local response.

Here is the Lyon County Emergency Management situation status report for late Monday morning: The Emergency Coordination Center is open. There have been no injuries or fatalities in the flooding events. There have been 25 confirmed structures damaged, with 200 to 400 structures threatened. Road closures and stats:

Rain is forecast to turn to snow Monday as a cold air front moves into Carson City and Northwestern Nevada, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno reports, helping to reduce the flood threat from excessive snow melt and run-off.

This is a hard list to write when all of the area is in a state of emergency, as Governor Sandoval declared Saturday. We have not seen the worst of the flooding yet. Due to flooding, everyone is encouraged to limit their driving when possible.

Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell and Carson City Fire Department Chief Robert Schreihans provide a Sunday evening update regarding the flooding today and more flooding expected Monday in Carson City.

Due to heavy rains, area flooding, and a State of Emergency the Carson City Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 9.
Carson City is encouraging all residents to stay safe and stay off of Carson City streets until rain showers and flooding as subsided.

Due to heavy rains, area flooding, and a State of Emergency, all Carson City Parks and Recreation facilities, sports leagues, and before and after school care programs (Kids Klub) will be closed Monday.

Carson City emergency managers are asking residents to avoid driving on the following roadways due to water over roadways causing dangerous driving conditions:

UPDATE 6:05PM: All schools in the Lyon County School District will be closed Monday, according to the district's Facebook page.
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Due to the continuing heavy rains and local flooding, Lyon County Manager Jeff Page is asking for Dayton residents to stay home as much possible and off the roads. There are a number of current road closures throughout the area, and the weather conditions are expected to get worse throughout Sunday night.

Governor Brian Sandoval today directed non-essential State employees in Northwest Nevada region dealing with the inclement weather system and flooding and under a State of Emergency to stay home from work and off of the roadways on Monday, January 9, 2017.

The expected weekend storm hit early Sunday morning bringing the expected rain. As of 2 p.m. this afternoon the following areas in Dayton are flooded due to debris and slushy snow clogging local drainage: