Carson River Basin
December 1964
Rain-on-Snow Event
Flooding in the Carson River Basin was caused by an unseasonably warm storm with torrential rain that melted part of the snowpack. In Carson Valley, 13,500 acres of agricultural land flooded. Warm winds and heavy rain, with more than 14 inches at Woodfords, melted most of the new snow at lower elevations and compacted snow at higher elevations. The National Weather Service Woodfords precipitation gage reported over 14 inches of precipitation from December 19, 1964, through January 7, 1965, with an intermittent warm period from December 21 to December 26, 1964.
Selected Streamflow Peaks
| Site ID | Gaging Station | Peak (cubic feet per second) |
|---|---|---|
| 10309000 | East Fork Carson River near Gardnerville, Nev. | 8,230 |
| 10310000 | West Fork Carson River at Woodfords, Calif. | 3,100 |
| 10311000 | Carson River near Carson City, Nev. | 8,740 |
| 10312000 | Carson River at Fort Churchill, Nev. | 7,220 |
Photos
