Water from the Carson River's West Fork is halfway across Mottsville Lane this morning as warm temperatures begin to chip away at the snowpack. The eastbound lane was under water.
The highest flows will be on the Carson and Walker rivers and along small streams feeding Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake and the upper Owens River.
"Warming daytime temperatures and mild overnight lows will accelerate snowmelt through the Sierra into this weekend," according to the statement. "Increased flows will cause rises on the rivers and small streams with the highest flows at night."
The Weather Service isn't anticipating any serious flooding, but there will be some overflow in low-lying areas near river banks.
Peak flows are expected in the next week.
There is a chance flooding could develop if more rain develops in the Sierra than is expected, or it gets a lot warmer.
The National Weather Service is warning people to be careful around streams and rivers swollen by meltoff.
People can get hypothermia quickly in cold fast-moving streams.
Signs include uncontrolled shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. Hypothermia can occur faster in children than adults.
Because the highest water levels are at night, campers who set up near a river or stream in the afternoon on an apparently dry spot can find themselves flooded at night.
