Stormy weather not waiting for Hurricane Hilary

Wednesday's sunset over the Sierra was gorgeous in this photo by Phyllis Hogan

Wednesday's sunset over the Sierra was gorgeous in this photo by Phyllis Hogan

A strong thunderstorm passed over Carson Valley bringing lightning as rescuers responded to a heart attack on the Clear Creek Trail just after 3 p.m. Thursday.

At least one lightning strike hit the mountains just south of where Douglas County Search and Rescue was working to get up to the person, who was undergoing CPR.

The weather decided not to wait on Hurricane Hillary to arrive as a flood advisory was issued until 8:30 p.m. Thuirsday for heavy rainfall in southern Alpine and northern Mono counties.

A gauge on Sonora Pass recorded a half-inch of rain from the storm. Most other gauges, including on in Markleeville recored a fifth of an inch or less. The Fish Springs Fire Station gauge recorded .47 inches.

Minden received .13 inches of rain on Thursday breaking a 55-day dry streak.

The remnants of Hurricane Hilary are expected to bring possible flash flooding from heavy rainfall, with slightly more than an inch forecast for Minden, where records have been kept since 1906.

The National Weather Service in Reno issued a statement forecasting heavy rain and potential flooding on Sunday and Monday.

Forecasters said that Hilary won't be a hurricane when it makes landfall, but it will likely generate moisture in the region.

"Remnant tropical moisture, from what is currently Hurricane Hilary, will surge into the southwest U.S. Sunday through Tuesday," forecasters said in Friday morning's statement. "How this interacts with a trough off the West Coast will have varying implications on the forecast for the eastern Sierra and Western Nevada."

A flood watch has been issued for Mono and southern Lyon and points south into southern Nevada starting on Sunday.

“We continue to keep a close eye on the latest developments regarding now category 2 Hurricane Hilary,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Tyler Salas said on Thursday afternoon. “The long-term forecast remains a tricky one as there is uncertainty in the exact trajectory of Hilary. However, there is sufficient confidence that Hilary will provide a substantial influx of tropical moisture to the region as early as Sunday that will promote widespread rainfall Sunday through Tuesday.”

According to a storm track posted by the National Weather Service, Hilary was supposed to be at the south end of Baja midnight Sunday.

It could arrive at the U.S. border of California midnight Monday.

Forecasters say the storm will likely lose most of its energy by that time.


Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment