Carson City area weather: NWS issues flash flood watch Wednesday and Thursday for region
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 08/03/2022 - 10:59am
UPDATE 5PM: From the National Weather Service, a flash flood emergency is in effect for the Tamarack burn scar area including the Markleeville area. Roads in and out of Markleeville are closed due to slides.
***
UPDATE: The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Douglas County in Nevada, Alpine County and Northern Mono County in California until 5 p.m.
At 3:03 p.m. Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. The expected rainfall rate is 0.25 inches in 15 minutes.
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly, according to the weather service. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Topaz Lake, Alpine Village, Woodfords, Grover Hot Springs, Mesa Vista, Alpine County Airport, Indian Creek Reservoir, Junction CA 89 And CA 4, Indian Creek Campground, Turtle Rock Campground, Markleeville and Holbrook Junction.
Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow moving through the Tamarack burn scar. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
A Flash Flood Warning for a recent burn area means that flooding and/or debris flows are imminent or occurring. Residents living in or immediately downstream should take immediate precautions to protect life. Quickly move away from the burn area only if it is safe to do so, otherwise shelter in place and move to a second story or the highest location in your home to stay out of the path of fast-moving water and debris flows.
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe.
Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely.
***
Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Watch for portions of western Nevada, Lake Tahoe and along the Sierra front.
The flash flood watch area includes the greater Reno, Carson City and Carson Valley (Minden and Gardnerville) areas, the greater Lake Tahoe area, Mono County, Mineral and Southern Lyon counties.
The weather service advises the most serious impacts if flash flooding was to happen would be in the Caldor, Numbers, Tamarack, Mountain View, Slink and Boot wildfire burn scars. Also in and near steep terrain and poor drainages.
The watch is from noon Wednesday through Thursday evening. Forecasters advise heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas and debris flows in and near recent burn scars, according to the weather service.
Residents and those recreating in and immediately next to recent burn scars should prepare for potential flooding impacts. Be ready to act and move to higher ground should a Flash Flood Warning be issued for your location.
Areas impacted will be the Caldor, Numbers, Tamarack, Mountain View, Slink, and Boot burn scars and areas in steep terrain/poor drainage mainly south of US-50. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas and debris flows in and near recent burn scars. Residents and those recreating in and immediately next to recent burn scars should prepare for potential flooding impacts. Be ready to act and move to higher ground should a Flash Flood Warning be issued for your location. For additional safety information, visit: weather.gov/safety/flood.
