One of the outlets from the Dangberg Reservoir is full of flood water in this photo taken by East Valley resident Thor Teigen.
Genoa, Nev. — It was relatively quiet on my foray onto East Valley Road after the county announced the possibility of flooding from the big Dangberg Reservoir on Sunday. Water has been running over Buckeye Road since Friday morning. The reservoir is backed up behind a “high hazard dam.”
If we’re lucky it will be quiet today as people gear up for the next atmospheric storm. Looking at the river forecasts, this one isn’t predicted to be quite as aggressive as Friday’s, but there’s a lot of snow on the ground at lower elevations, so expect melt off in the creeks.
Flood and high wind watches kick in 5 a.m. Tuesday with the wind dying back around 11 p.m. and the flood watch lasting until 11 p.m. Wednesday. There’s a possibility that could be extended, just as Sunday’s was. Take a bit to clear the drainages today, if you can.
An avalanche closed Highway 395 between Sonora Junction and Eastside Lane, according to the California Highway Patrol. That’s just added to the woes experienced by Mono residents all up and down the 395 corridor.
Highway 88 continues to be closed near Kirkwood. Trucks are being inspected to ensure they have “maximum chains” to use either Interstate 80 or Highway 50 through the Sierra. Highway 50 is requiring chains or snow tires and four-wheel drive, as is most of Kingsbury.
It’s raining lightly out this morning, which should clear around lunchtime. The next round doesn’t get started until closer to midnight tonight and is forecast to really get rolling on Tuesday morning, with around three-fifths of an inch through Wednesday morning.
It’s snowing above 6,000 feet this morning, but that could rise to 6,500 feet this afternoon. Expect mostly sunny skies later in the day with a high near 50 degrees. The south wind will be 10-15 mph, gusting to 25 mph.
Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 775-782-5122.
