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Experimental National Water Center Products: Flood Inundation Mapping services are now available for 10% of the U.S. population. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information. The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via the URL above, as described in the StoryMap here.

Weather Forecast Office Reno, NV

California Nevada River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Inundation Mapping

Probability Information Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental)

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (PST) Datum: NGVD29 Metadata

NOTE: Stage may be affected by ice during winter months. NOTE: Reported historic crests have been estimated using recent ratings due to previous channel, location and/or datum changes. USGS observed crests can be found at: waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt Please also see Additional Information tab at the bottom of this page. Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions NOTE: Forecasts for the Carson River near Carson City are issued routinely year-round.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 11 Moderate Flood Stage: 10.5 Flood Stage: 10 Action Stage: 8 Low Stage (in feet): 0 Historic Crests (1) 19.19 ft on 01/03/1997 (2) 19.04 ft on 12/24/1955 (P) (3) 16.46 ft on 02/01/1963 (P) (4) 13.97 ft on 11/22/1950 (P) (5) 12.90 ft on 02/18/1986 (P) Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 8.80 ft on 05/23/2023 (P) (2) 9.28 ft on 03/11/2023 (P) (3) 11.48 ft on 02/11/2017 (P) (4) 10.24 ft on 01/10/2017 (P) (5) 12.24 ft on 12/31/2005 (P) Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records Currently none available. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map? Possible reasons: There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Note: Your zoom level may have changed. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers.

Zoom Level:16 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

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18	Incredible flood with damage previously unknown from the Carson Valley to Fort Churchill, including the Carson City and Dayton areas. About 34000 cfs, with about a one in 100 chance of occurring any year.
17	Record flooding. All towns along the Carson River above Lahontan Dam are cut off, with bridges and roads destroyed, and heavy damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure. About 30000 cfs with about a one in 85 chance of occurring any year.
16	Near record flooding with massive destruction of homes and infrastructure from Genoa to Fort Churchill, including Carson City and Dayton. Most towns isolated...transportation nearly impossible. Carson Valley has become a lake 3 miles wide by 12 miles long, the river is over a half mile wide in places. Thousands of acres of farmland flooded. About 26000 cfs, about a one in 65 chance of occurring any year.
15	Major flood disaster with widespread destruction throughout reach from Genoa to Fort Churchill, including Carson City and Dayton, Nevada. Transportation extremely difficult, with severe damage to infrastructure, agricultural areas. About 22200 cfs with about a one in 50 chance of occurring any year.
14	Flood disaster from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Transportation extremely difficult. Very large number of structures affected with severe damage to infrastructure (roads, bridges, power, water, communications). Most cultivated fields underwater with large livestock losses. About 19000 cfs, with about a one in 35 chance of occurring any year.
13.5	Flood disaster from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Transportation extremely difficult. Large number of structures affected with severe damage to infrastructure (roads, bridges, power, water, communications). Most cultivated fields underwater with large livestock losses. About 17400 cfs, with about a one in 30 chance of occurring any year.
13	Near flood disaster from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Transportation extremely difficult. Large number of structures affected with severe damage to infrastructure (roads, bridges, power, water, communications). Most cultivated fields underwater with large livestock losses. About 16000 cfs, with about a one in 25 chance of occurring any year.
12.5	Extensive flooding with major damage to roads, bridges and structures from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Almost all roads in valley areas flooded making transportation very difficult. Massive erosion with large agricultural losses, possible livestock drownings if they have not been moved to high ground. About 14600 cfs with about a one in 22 chance of occurring any year.
12	Extensive flooding with major damage to roads, bridges and structures from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Almost all roads in valley areas flooded making transportation very difficult. Massive erosion with large agricultural losses, possible livestock drownings if they have not been moved to high ground. About 13300 cfs with about a one in 20 chance of occurring any year.
11.5	Major flooding with significant damage to roads, bridges and structures from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Most roads in valley areas flooded making transportation very difficult. Massive erosion with large agricultural losses, possible livestock drownings if they have not been moved to high ground. About 12100 cfs with about a one in 18 chance of occurring any year.
11	Major flooding. Many roads, highways, homes and structures flooded from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City, Stewart, Empire and Dayton. Tranportation becoming difficult, and US Hwy 395 is closed. Massive bank erosion possible with capability of washing away buildings, roads, heavy machinery. River channel begins to move around laterally. About 10900 cfs, with about a one in 15 chance of occurring any year.
10.5	Moderate flooding from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. Damage to roads, bridges, crops, irrigation systems and buildings in lower areas. Several homes and businesses flood in lower parts of Genoa, Carson Valley, Stewart and Dayton. Transportation begins to be affected, with water flowing over US Hwy 395 in places. About 9800 cfs, with about a one in 12 chance of occurring any year.
10	Flood stage. Minor flooding of lower portions of flood plain from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. River begins to go out of banks at this stage. Several homes begin to have flood problems in Genoa, Carson Valley, Stewart and Dayton. Minor to moderate damage to agriculture. About 8800 cfs with about a one in 10 chance of occurring any year.
9.5	Minor lowland flooding in flood prone areas along river from Genoa to Fort Churchill, Nevada, including Carson City and Dayton. About 7800 cfs with about a one in 8 chance of occurring any year.
9	Minor lowland flooding in lower reaches from Genoa to Fort Churchill, including Carson City and Dayton, Nevada. Sandbagging necessary in some of the lowest areas, though most flooding limited to pasture areas along river. About 6900 cfs with about a one in 7 chance of occurring any year.
8.5	Very minor lowland flooding from Genoa to Fort Churchill, including Carson City and Dayton, Nevada. Sandbagging necessary in Willow Bend area near Genoa or flooding of homes may occur. About 6000 cfs with about a one in 6 chance of occurring any year.
8	Monitoring stage. Flood threat and localized overbank flows begin in lowest areas from Genoa to Fort Churchill, including Carson City and Dayton along the Carson River. Especially flood prone areas include: lower Carson Valley, the Willow Bend area of Genoa; the Empire, Stewart, and Mexican Dam areas, Pinion Hills and Brunswick Canyon. Preparations for flooding should begin in these areas if river forecast to exceed flood stage. About 5200 cfs with about a one in 5 chance of occurring any year.
Photos (1) Downstream View from gage at 2.52 feet - taken 10/28/2008 (2) Upstream View from Gage at 2.52 feet - taken 10/28/2008

About This Location

Latitude: 39.107687° N, Longitude: 119.713233° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 10 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 0) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 4620.48 4630.48 Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other Not Available Not Available   Current/Historical Observations: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Carson City

Additional Information

Historic crests stages have been estimated using USGS Rating 19.0 (as of 10/18/2023) due to previous channel, location and/or datum changes. For observed crests please go to: https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/peak/?site_no=10311000

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary California-Nevada River Forecast Center Homepage USGS Real-Time Hydrologic Data for Nevada USGS Real-Time Hydrologic Data for California NWS Climate Prediction Center: Outlook Maps, Graphs & Tables NV NRCS Snow Program Inundation Mapping Locations California Data Exchange Guide to NWS Hydrologic Information on the Web

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management NWS Headquarters, Silver Spring MD NWS Western Region Headquarters, Salt Lake City UT Western Regional Climate Center, Reno NV NWS Forecast Office Homepage, Reno NV NOAA Snow Information Center Flood Smart Web Page FEMA Flood Insurance Program FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps Interface

Collaborative Agencies The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here. NWS Information National Weather Service Reno Weather Forecast Office 2350 Raggio Pkwy Reno, NV 89512-3900 (775) 673-8100 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:27 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities