Carson Valley rainfall approaches 2 inches in storm's first 12 hours

The first 12 hours of an atmospheric river brought early morning power outages to Lake Tahoe on Friday as 60 mph winds howled through Carson Valley.

The outage occurred at 2:44 a.m. Friday affecting 243 homes and businesses, according to NVEnergy.com

A spot along Highway 88 between Mottsville and Centerville saw a 61 mph wind gust at 2:40 a.m. Friday followed by a 60 mph gust at 2:50 a.m.

The two separate outages were anticipated to be restored at 4:30 a.m.

The brunt of the storm arrived around 4 p.m. Thursday when rain started falling in Minden.

By 4 a.m., 1.92 inches of rain was recorded in Sheridan with 1.71 inches of rain falling in Genoa.

In Ruhenstroth, where work on drainage at Highway 395 and Rock Bottom Road was expected to resume on Monday, a solid inch of rain fell, according to the National Weather Service.

Nevada Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meg Ragonese said that depending on the weather, that work might be delayed.

A 45 mph wind gust was recorded at the airport at 2:55 a.m. after a night that saw sustained winds of 20-30 mph.

Sheridan saw a peak wind gust of 49 mph at around 2:40 a.m. Friday.

The storm brought with it very warm temperatures for winter, with the airport weather system recording 43 degrees at 3:35 a.m. just two degrees shy of Thursday’s high of 45.

Warm temperatures and rain brought rises on both the East and West forks of the Carson River.

The East Fork below Markleeville was at 4.44 feet at 3:20 a.m., up from its usual 3 feet and a little ahead of the forecast. The West Fork at Woodfords, which is fed by higher-elevation snowpack, has barely started to rise around the same time.

An advisory for urban and small stream flooding is in effect through 11 a.m. Sunday.

A wind advisory is scheduled to take effect at 10 p.m., with a flood advisory replacing a flood watch at 1 p.m. Thursday.

The East Fork of the Carson River at Horseshoe Bend is forecast to crest at 14.1 feet at 1 a.m. Saturday, reaching the minor flooding stage. The West Fork at Woodfords is expected to rise to 11.8 feet around 8 p.m. Friday, short of the 12.5-foot action stage.

In a statement issued 1 p.m. Thursday, National Weather Service in Reno said minor to moderate flooding along creeks and streams as well as in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

“Expect rapid rises on mainstem rivers to minor flood stage,” forecasters said.

Snow levels are forecast to rise rapidly to around 8,500 feet Thursday night into Friday morning and then drop closer to 6,000 feet Friday afternoon or evening. The heaviest precipitation is expected Thursday night into Friday morning which will affect areas with poor drainage.

More than 2 inches of rain is expected to fall in Minden over the course of the storm starting around 4 p.m. today and lasting through Saturday morning.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the 40s all night and through Friday before dipping into the upper 30s early Saturday morning.

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Carson Valley residents took advantage of some mild weather to fill sandbags in preparation for the possibility of flooding.

Alpine View resident Brian Shaw said the sand was frozen in places as he shoveled it into one of the bags provided by the county at the fire station off Jacks Valley Road.

Work filling sandbags was hindered by Thursday afternoon as the wind arrived ahead of a front forecast to bring inches of rain to Carson Valley and feet of snow to the High Sierra.

The wind’s opening salvo was a 41 mph gust at Minden-Tahoe Airport at 1:55 p.m.

High winds played pranks of people, slamming and locking a car door at the Clear Creek Plaza as a woman was trying to load her groceries and locking someone out of a home.

A wind advisory is scheduled to take effect at 10 p.m., with a flood advisory replacing a flood watch at 1 p.m. Thursday.

The East Fork of the Carson River at Horseshoe Bend is forecast to crest at 14.1 feet at 1 a.m. Saturday, reaching the minor flooding stage. The West Fork at Woodfords is expected to rise to 11.8 feet around 8 p.m. Friday, short of the 12.5-foot action stage.

In a statement issued 1 p.m. Thursday, National Weather Service in Reno said minor to moderate flooding along creeks and streams as well as in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

“Expect rapid rises on mainstem rivers to minor flood stage,” forecasters said.

Snow levels are forecast to rise rapidly to around 8,500 feet Thursday night into Friday morning and then drop closer to 6,000 feet Friday afternoon or evening. The heaviest precipitation is expected Thursday night into Friday morning which will affect areas with poor drainage.

More than 2 inches of rain is expected to fall in Minden over the course of the storm starting around 4 p.m. today and lasting through Saturday morning.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the 40s all night and through Friday before dipping into the upper 30s early Saturday morning.