Flood Facts
A Resource Library for Flood Awareness in the Truckee Meadows
Nevada experiences three types of dangerous floods.
Main Channel Flooding Near Rivers.
If you live near a river, check if you are in a floodplain
Flash Floods & Alluvial Fan Flooding
On roads, at the foot of mountains, large hills, in small creeks, and dry washes
Debris Flows
Rock & mudslides on steep slopes in the mountains.
Floods are a year-round hazard in the Truckee Meadows and can occur with little or no warning.
Learn more about Flooding in Nevada
Nevada Flood Awareness Week is the second week of November every year.
Flooding on the Truckee River
Don’t fall prey to flood amnesia! The Truckee River floods seasonally, in the winter and early spring, usually after rain from an atmospheric river melts a heavy snowpack in the mountains. If you see a news forecast saying there will be an “Atmospheric River” or “Pineapple Express” over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you should be on the lookout for a possible flood event.
Flash Flood & Debris Flows
Flash Floods are fast, powerful, and deadly! They can occur with little or no warning. Most flood fatalities occur in flash floods, and most of those deaths result from vehicles getting inundated or swept away by floodwater. Summer thunderstorms can bring more water than the ground can absorb, causing flooding on roads, mountainsides, and dry creek beds.
Rockslides and mudslides occur on steep slopes when heavy rain or water makes the ground unstable. These are extremely dangerous and can destroy and block roads, crush vehicles, and destroy homes.
WashoeLife
Check out this award-winning podcast from WashoeLife about Atmospheric Rivers.
Flash Floods strike without warning at any time of year.
They are fast, powerful, and deadly! Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and two feet can sweep away most vehicles. Never try to cross flooded roads. Most flood deaths are due to flash floods, and most fatalities occur in vehicles. Whether you are walking or driving, stay clear of floodwater.
