Odds are against Carson Valley seeing a third straight day of flooding from thunderstorms, but the possibility remains in today’s forecast.
The National Weather Service is calling for a diminishing likelihood of thunderstorms this afternoon, and then some drier weather into the weekend.
A second straight day of heavy rain on Thursday resulted in road closures and flooding in Johnson Lane.
Unlike Wednesday’s flooding, only a little rain actually fell in Johnson Lane. However, .59 inches of rain was reported falling over a large area of the Pine Nuts.
The first sign of trouble was a special report issued by the National Weather Service at 10:55 a.m. A deputy confirmed water was rushing past East Valley Road north of Stephanie Way shortly before noon. Closures of Stephanie at Vicky, Johnson Lane at Vicky and East Valley Road at Eldon quickly followed.
While Thursday’s storm was more focused, Wednesday’s thunderstorm affected a broad section of Carson Valley with rain and hail falling from Gardnerville north to Indian Hills.
Nearly an inch of rain had fallen in two hours at the top of Downs Drive, bringing enough flooding to prompt Douglas County commissioners to declare a disaster.
The Minden-Tahoe Airport reported nickel-sized hail and .88 inches of rain.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Hydrologist John Cobourn has lived in northern Carson Valley for more than a quarter century, and said the flooding was as big or bigger than the ones in 1992 and 1994.
“The floods were the biggest I’ve seen in 25 years,” he said. “It was actually similar to the two big ones in 1992 and 1994 with both washes running high.”
Sheriff’s Sgt. Pat Brooks said flooding undermined several miles of county roads, and residents should watch out for steep embankments and loose road edges.
According to the county, 141 homes were reported with possible water and structural damage from Wednesday’s storm. There was additional damage to homes in Thursday’s storm, though no figures were available.
There were no reports of injuries from the flooding. An unknown number of homes in the area suffered landscape damage.
County officials set up an office in the Johnson Lane Volunteer Fire Department on Stephanie Way for residents to report damage. Damage may also be reported by calling the county hotline at 782-6262 or residents may email douglasflood2015@gmail.com to report damage.
Brooks said the Nevada Department of Emergency Management State Damage Assessment team was on the ground Thursday assessing the damage and collecting data. The state’s emergency operation center has been activated and is working closely with the Douglas County emergency manager and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in compiling the data that’s being collected and providing resources as needed.
Residents who are concerned floodwaters may have compromised their wellheads, should contact Nevada State Health Laboratories at (775) 688-1335. The address is 1660 N. Virginia St., Reno 89503.
Any resident having issues with sewer contamination or septic system exposure, should contact the Douglas County Building Department, Valerie Nunes at 782-6222.
For information about what areas are most at risk of flooding, how to prepare, what to do and what not to do during a flood, visit www.NevadaFloods.org.
The Weather Service reports Minden has received 1.14 inches of rain in July.
