Carson River Basin
February 1963
Rain/Rain-on-Snow Event
An unseasonably warm and intense rainstorm began on January 28 and continued through February 1,1963. Precipitation varied from 5 inches to more than 13 inches (Rigby and others, 1998). The National Weather Service (NWS) Woodfords precipitation gage reported over 7 inches. The air temperatures at the Woodfords precipitation gage were well above freezing as well as for most of the watershed up to 8,000 feet and occasionally as high as 11,000 feet (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1973, 1977). Woodfords reported more than 7 inches of rain, and the freezing level was above 8,000 feet during most of the storm and as high as 11,000 feet at times, hence most precipitation was in the form of rain. Flooding was severe, irrigation systems were destroyed, and the abutments of one bridge in Carson Valley were washed away.
Selected Streamflow Peaks
| Site ID | Gaging Station | Peak (cubic feet per second) |
|---|---|---|
| 10309000 | East Fork Carson River near Gardnerville, Nev. | 13,400 |
| 10310000 | West Fork Carson River at Woodfords, Calif. | 4,890 |
| 10311000 | Carson River near Carson City, Nev. | 21,900 |
| 10312000 | Carson River at Fort Churchill, Nev. | 15,300 |
Photos
No photos available.
