Update Flood watch canceled for Douglas

The National Weather Service cancelled the flood advisories and warnings for Douglas County.

Most of Wednesday's storm remained in the Pine Nuts with Pine Nut Creek receiving some substantial rainfall, according to Weather Service gauges.

There were no reports of serious flooding in the county. 

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A flash flood warning has been issued for Douglas County through 8 p.m. by the National Weather Service in Reno.

At 5:10 p.m. Doppler radar indicated heavy thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the Pine Nut Mountains, according to the warning. 

“Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.  Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow moving through the Numbers Burn area,” forecasters said. “The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.”

Flash flooding could occur on small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

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Only a few clouds were drifting over Carson Valley at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, but skies may darken as the day progresses, according to a flood watch issued by the National Weather Service.

“Today is expected to have the most widespread coverage of

thunderstorms with the most abundant push of moisture, (with precipitable water values between 0.90-1.25 inches), including more areas of Western Nevada,” National Weather Service Reno Meteorologist Mark Deutschendorf said early Monday. “It will be the final chance for the main urban areas including Reno-Sparks, Carson City and Minden to get appreciable rain through at least the remainder of July.”

Rain wasn’t expected to arrive until around lunchtime on Wednesday, and National Weather Service radar showed a cell down near Coleville around 11 a.m.

“Convergence along the afternoon zephyr, outflow boundaries and terrain features will provide multiple focus areas for repeated formation of cells, which may train over the same locations and bring longer periods of enhanced rainfall rates, especially where the flood watch is in effect,” Deutschendorf said.

While radar showed lots of lightning and several storm cells on Tuesday, Deutschendorf observed most of the rain missed the ground-based gauge and observation sites.

That included the official site in Minden, which hasn’t recorded measurable rainfall since May 14.

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Several lightning strikes were recorded in eastern Carson Valley on Tuesday as thunderstorms streamed north from the Sierra.

At 3:54 p.m., the National Weather Service reported that Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Between 0.8 and 1.2 inches of rain have fallen.

Some locations that could experience flooding include Mount Siegel, Pine Nut Creek, and the southern Pine Nut Mountains.

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A flood advisory through 4:15 p.m. has been issued by the National Weather Service in Reno due to excessive rainfall in southern Douglas and Lyon counties.

At 2:39 p.m. Doppler radar showed heavy rain from thunderstorms.

“Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area,” forecasters said. “Between .6 and one inch of rain has fallen.”

Areas affected by the rain include Wellington, Smith, Highway 208 at the Lyon-Douglas County line.

A report of a lightning strike and tree on fire in the Sweetwater Mountains was confirmed by East Fork firefighters from Topaz Ranch Estates Station 4.

A flood watch is in effect through 8 p.m. Wednesday for Mono, Mineral and southern Lyon.