Web Portal Changes: The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS), with a target of Spring 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS. The NWS is now accepting feedback on NWPS. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information.

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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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 West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage) are issued routinely year-round.

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Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 7.3 Moderate Flood Stage: 6.5 Flood Stage: 6 Action Stage: 5.5 Low Stage (in feet): 0 Historic Crests (1) 9.99 ft on 01/02/1997 (P) (2) 7.85 ft on 11/20/1950 (P) (3) 7.65 ft on 12/11/1937 (P) (4) 7.33 ft on 12/23/1955 (P) (5) 7.02 ft on 05/16/1996 (P) Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 6.57 ft on 06/19/2023 (P) (2) 5.94 ft on 10/25/2021 (P) (3) 5.89 ft on 06/07/2019 (P) (4) 6.09 ft on 04/08/2018 (P) (5) 7.02 ft on 06/20/2017 (P) Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records (1) 0.99 ft on 09/11/1977 (2) 1.04 ft on 08/29/1977 (3) 1.06 ft on 01/08/1977 Show More Low Water Records 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:14 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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10.5	Incredible flood disaster in excess of January 1997 event.
10.25	Flood of record. Highway 395 in West Walker River Canyon closed for months. Massive destruction to infrastructure and economy including transportation, power, water, homes, businesses, etc. Area isolated. At this stage in January 1997 a 6.5-mile stretch of Highway 395 completely scoured with debris from canyon deposited in the town of Walker.
9.5	Near record flooding. Area cut off as most transportation routes into area destroyed/flooded. Massive destruction of infrastructure and economy including Utilities, roads, business, homes, etc.
8.8	Flood disaster from Walker River Canyon to Antelope Valley/Topaz Lake. Widespread flood damage to roads, bridges, homes and structures along river. Severe damage to Highway 395 in W Walker River Canyon with the highway probably closed. Historically this flow has been exceeded only once in January 1997.
8.25	Flood disaster in the West Walker River Canyon and in the Antelope Valley. Widespread flood damage to roads, bridges, homes and structures along river. Severe damage to Highway 395 in Walker Canyon, with highway likely closed. Historically this flow has been reached or exceeded only once in January 1997.
8	Flooding near disaster levels in the West Walker Canyon and in Antelope Valley-Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Numerous structures flooded and roads washed out. Many sections of Highway 395 destroyed in West Walker Canyon. Major damage to agricultural land due to erosion and destroyed facilities, diversion dams, headgates, canals, levees.
7.5	Major flooding in the West Walker Canyon and in Antelope Valley-Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Many buildings, roads flooded and washed out. Major damage to agricultural lands. Extensive sandbagging required to protect property. Transportation affected. Severe damage to Highway 395 in West Walker Canyon.
7.3	Major flooding in the West Walker River Canyon and in Antelope Valley-Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Many buildings, roads flooded and washed out, with major damage to agricultural lands. Extensive sandbagging required to protect property. Transportation affected. Severe damage to Highway 395 in West Walker Canyon possible.
7	Significant flooding of lowlands, agricultural land, yards, basements and rural roads in the West Walker River Canyon and in Antelope Valley including Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Flooding of structures limited although some sandbagging necessary Roughly similar to May 1996 flood, and slightly in excess of June 2017 peak.
6.5	Moderate flooding of lowlands, pastures and some rural roads from the West Walker River Canyon to Topaz Lake .including Walker Coleville and Topaz California. Similar to peak of June 2011, and slightly below the peak of June 2017.
6	Flood stage. Minor flooding of lowlands pasture & rural roads in West Walker River Canyon and Antelope Valley including Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Roughly similar to late May 2005, and slightly below peaks of June 2010 and May 2006.
5.5	Monitor Stage, No flooding in reach from West Walker River Canyon through Antelope Valley CA including Walker, Coleville, Topaz CA.
Photos (1) Downstream view from gage site, 5/5/2005, about 840 cfs. (2) Upstream view; confluence of Little Walker River (left) with West Walker River. 5/5/2005, 840 cfs (3) Gage house; West Walker River below Little Walker River gage.

About This Location

Latitude: 38.379722° N, Longitude: 119.449167° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 6 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 6591.39 6597.39 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 Coleville (Upper Gage)

Additional Information

Reported historic crest estimates have been normalized using USGS Rating 28.0 (as of 10/24/2023) 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=10293500

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