Thunderstorm chances have expand Tuesday through Friday for the Carson City area and surrounding counties, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Watch beginning Wednesday afternoon.

Lightning, new fire starts, brief heavy rain, small hail, blowing dust and gusts of 45 to 55-plus mph are possible Tuesday. Storms will return again Wednesday and Thursday with more chances of thunderstorms producing heavy rain.

Storms near the fires north of Reno could produce erratic winds, NWS forecasters said. Storm chances and flash-flood potential increase Wednesday and Thursday, prompting the Flood Watch.

NWS says flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible for western Nevada, including Reno, Sparks and Carson City as well as Lyon and Storey counties. The Flood Watch also includes the Bug and Stallion fires.

The main impacts will likely be from Wednesday afternoon through Friday, NWS forecasters said. Excessive runoff may result in rock, mud, and debris flows in and near active fire perimeters, steep terrain and poorly drained urban areas.

Sandbag locations

Credit: File photo


Carson City: Sandbags are available at the Carson City Public Works Yard, 3505 Butti Way. The sandbag location is west of the Public Works building and parking lot. Sand and sandbags are available. Bring a shovel. If there are Carson City flooding issues, contact Carson City Public Works at 775-887-2355.

Douglas County: Go here for locations and maps of sandbag stations in Carson Valley, southern Douglas and at Lake Tahoe.

Lyon County: Self-fill public sandbag locations are available across Lyon County Please bring your own shovel.

  • Central Lyon Fire Station #35 – 231 Corral Dr., Dayton
  • Dayton Senior Center – 320 Old Dayton Valley Rd., Dayton
  • City of Fernley Out of Town Park, Farm District Road and Highway 95A, Fernley, NV 89408 (East end of Rodeo Grounds)
  • Mound House Community Center – 56 Red Rock Rd., Mound House
  • Silver City Community Center – 385 High St., Silver City
  • Silver Springs JPO Office – 1075 Pyramid Ave., Silver Springs
  • Dressler Park Community Arena – 2715 Hwy 208, Wellington
  • Stagecoach Community Center – 8105 US-50, Stagecoach
  • City of Yerington Public Works 215 Towbridge Rd, Yerington (behind Raleys)
  • Lyon County Roads Yard – 18 Hwy 95A North, Yerington
  • Lyon County Fairgrounds – 100 US Highway 95A E, Yerington
  • Dayton Valley Road just East of Quail Ridge
  • Top of Seabiscuit Dr, Fernley
  • 1170 W Newlands Dr, Fernley

Residents are encouraged to visit https://perimetermap.com for a digital map the most up-to-date locations.

Storey County: The following sandbag locations are listed below.

  • Lockwood Fire Station 74, 431 Canyon Way, Sparks
  • Virginia City Highlands Fire Station 72, 2610 Cartwright Road, Reno
  • Mark Twain Community Center, 500 Sam Clemens Avenue, Dayton
  • Virginia City Ice House, 130 Toll Road, sandbags are in the shed to the left as you dip down into the lot.

Please remember: Never drive or walk through flooded roads or moving water. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.

For non-emergencies or additional preparedness information and assistance, contact Storey County Emergency Management at 775-847-3577 or visit the County’s Emergency Management FAQ here.

Washoe County: For sandbag information in Washoe County, go here.