Carson River Basin
January 1862
Rain-on-Snow on Frozen Soils Event
Heavy snow fell on December 20, 1861, resulting in 2 feet of accumulation on the valley floor. This was followed by a period of extreme cold and a 3 day rain starting on December 25, 1861. Flooding began on January 2, 1862 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1973). The January 1862 flood was a continuation of flooding that began in December 1861 in Carson Valley from a series of storms that impacted the upper Carson River basin. Heavy wet snow fell leaving up to 2 feet of snow on the valley floors, followed by a period of very cold temperatures which froze the snow. By January 2, 1862, the town and area surrounding Dayton had flooded.
Selected Streamflow Peaks
No hydrologic data available.
Photos
No photos available.
