Weather service: Heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding possible this week
Abundant moisture and instability will lead to increasing chances for thunderstorms this week for the Carson City and Douglas County region, Western Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Due to light winds aloft and high moisture content, the storms may produce heavy rain and bring the potential for flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service. A Flash Flood Watch has been issued Wednesday for Douglas County in Nevada and Mono and Alpine counties in California.
Flash Flooding is possible Wednesday and Thursday, as shown in the green shaded area on the weather service map above, though a few storms will produce heavy rain beginning Tuesday.
Moisture and instability will increase over the Sierra, Western Nevada and Northeast California the next couple of days. By Wednesday, light winds aloft and abundant moisture will lead to increasing chances for slow moving thunderstorms capable of producing a flash flood, according to the weather service.
In the flash flood watch areas, the greatest risk for flooding are small creeks and streams, urban areas, and recent burn scars such as the Bison and Ray May fires in Douglas County.
Heavy rain may also lead to rock and mud slides near terrain. This may impact travel over mountain passes along highways 4, 88, 89, 108, 120, 203 and Highway 395, according to the weather service.
The threat for slow moving thunderstorms will expand northward into the Lake Tahoe Basin, Reno, Carson and as far north as Lassen County and the Surprise Valley in northeast California by Thursday.
Here are a few Flash Flood safety tips:
— Avoid flooded areas. It only takes six inches of fast moving water to sweep you off your feet.
— Turn Around Don't Drown! Most flash flood deaths occur in vehicles. Moving water 1-2 feet deep will carry away most vehicles.
— Check your phone. Flash Flood Warnings are issued when flooding is occurring, and will alarm on cell phones if enabled. Search for "FEMA WEA".
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