Carson City area weather: Rising temperatures prompt flood watch for south Lyon County
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for West Walker River from north of Sonora Junction in Mono County to southern Mason Valley in Lyon County from Tuesday evening June 11, 2019, until the threat has passed.
Lyon County is monitoring the Walker River in coordination with the Walker River Irrigation District. Currently there are low lying areas along the Walker River in Mason Valley that are experiencing minor flooding. No homes are threatened at this time, said Lyon County Manager Jeff Page.
The river will continue to rise for the next several days. Crews will continue to monitor the river. Lyon County officials will provide updates as conditions change.
With temperatures rising well above normal through Wednesday, there will be a return to rapid melting of the high elevation snowpack. This will mean increased flows in the higher elevations and swift, cold flows for rivers and streams in the lower valleys by midweek from Lake Tahoe south through Mono County, according to the National Weather Service.
Due to the considerable snowpack remaining in the Walker River basin, minor flooding is possible later this week on the West Walker River above Topaz Lake. Below Topaz Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir, high flows are expected as well. Reservoir operations will have an influence on the flows through the Mason Valley, but current projections indicate the possibility of minor flooding near the Walker River by late in the week. Peak flows on the West Walker River are expected from late Tuesday night through early Thursday morning while peak flows farther downstream will be late in the week or next weekend.
To the north, there does not appear to be enough snowpack left to produce flooding along the unregulated portions of the Carson River system, or in the Truckee River system, but high flows are still likely for smaller streams in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The high, cold flows may affect hikers and campers in and near the Sierra. The peak flows overnight may catch those camping close to creeks and streams off guard, so campers are advised to avoid setting up camp too close to creeks and streams. Hikers should be alert for snow bridges over creeks in higher elevations.