Like most major floods affecting the region, this event resulted from extremely heavy rain combined with unseasonably warm temperatures (a “pineapple connection”) which caused a substantial melt of a large Sierra Nevada snowpack. From December 16 to 24, 1955, precipitation at the headwaters of the principal river basins ranged from 10 to over 20 inches. The bulk of the rainfall fell from December 21 to 23. As the snow level rose to over 9,000 feet during the storm, there was an accompanying 15 inches of snowmelt.

In terms of river flow, December 1955 is the record flood on the Truckee River at Reno (20,800 cfs), and second largest (after January 1997) on the East Fork Carson (17,600 cfs at Gardnerville) and upper portion of the mainstem Carson River (30,000 cfs at Carson City). In terms of area flooded, the December 1955 flood ranks as the record for the region (since 1950), with nearly 100,000 acres flooded.

Damage was not quite as severe as that experienced in the November 1950 flood ($4.0 million in 1955 vs. $4.4 million in 1950, actual dollars), because flood mitigation and preparation measures had been put in place in the region during the intervening 5 years. The flood was forecast by the U.S. Weather Bureau after December 22, which allowed advanced preparations and close coordination between agencies which engaged in fighting the flood’s impacts.

The following description is from “Beware Floods in the Driest State” from Mic Mac Media and “Christmas Flood of 1955: "Storm of Century," Mark McLaughlin
“On December 21, 1955, after the first five days of wet weather, Weather Bureau officials were keeping a close eye on the rising Truckee River, but they stated there was still no cause for alarm. 

However, the Reno business community remembered the damaging flood from just five years before (Thanksgiving 1950) and swung into action, swearing that this time it would be different. Volunteers and National Guardsmen stacked walls of sandbags on the riverbank and in store entrances. Contractors supplied cranes to clear logjams and debris in the Truckee River. Parking meters were removed from the five downtown bridges.”

“...On the evening of December 22, the Weather Bureau changed its earlier forecast and alerted the media that a very intense storm was on the way.” “...Two days before Christmas, more than two inches of rain pounded Reno in 24 hours. Upstream, nearly every power plant and bridge was destroyed. Wet snow pulled down power lines, severing communication between western Nevada and California.”

“...at Stead Air Force Base (north of Reno), Christmas furloughs were cancelled, and hundreds of airmen with radios, jeeps, and trucks joined National Guard troops in sandbagging and policing the streets.”

“...The raging torrent (on the Truckee River) jammed massive logs against bridge supports and sent a wall of water rushing into Reno's downtown district. Many homes and buildings built within the river's floodplain were swamped. Residents were forced to flee.”

“...Giant boulders crashed down onto Highway 40 east of Truckee. Some boulders were so big that had to be dynamited before bulldozers could push the debris aside. Every highway north, south, east and west out of Reno was closed.” 

On the Truckee River, flooding was extensive. In downtown Reno, it was just as extensive as in 1950, where a strip one to two blocks wide on either side of the river from Idlewild Park to the eastern city limits was flooded. Water entered basements and buildings downtown, and streets were buried in debris. Damage in Reno and Sparks was less than half that of the 1950 flood, however, largely due to flood preparation. The Reno airport was flooded to a depth of about 4 feet, halting all air traffic from December 23 to 26. The Weather Bureau Office at the airport was also closed for the only time in its history, with the building flooded to a depth of 4 to 6 inches above the floor.

About 6,000 acres were flooded in the Truckee Meadows east of Reno and Sparks. Derby Dam, west of Wadsworth, NV, was overtopped on December 24, causing the dam to fail. Hobart Dam, at the headwaters of Franktown Creek in Washoe Valley failed and severely damaged U.S. Highway 395, the primary transportation route south of Reno.

In the Carson Valley, over 16,000 acres were flooded, about the same as during the January 1997 flood. Many families were forced to move when their homes were inundated. Lutheran Bridge over the East Fork Carson River south of Gardnerville was destroyed. On the Walker River, the 1955 flood is considered the 4th largest on record, however, damages were limited.

Much of the above was taken from: “The 1997 New Year's Floods in Western Nevada”, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 23, 1998, Rigby and others. Information on 1955 flood on page 89-90: and “Weather and Climate of the Reno-Carson City-Lake Tahoe Region: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 34, 2007, O’Hara and others. 1955 Flood Discussion on Pages 60-61:

 

“Weather and Climate of the Reno-Carson City-Lake Tahoe Region: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 34, 2007, O’Hara and others; page 60.

Reno Airport, with Weather Bureau and Civil Aviation Administration Buildings in center, December 26, 1955, Photo by Lew Gourley.

Weather Bureau and Civil Aviation Administration buildings at Reno Airport, December 26, 1955, Photo by Lew Gourley

Photos from “The 1997 New Year's Floods in Western Nevada”, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 23, 1998, Rigby and others; page 89.

Photos from “The 1997 New Year's Floods in Western Nevada”, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 23, 1998, Rigby and others; page 90.

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This was the largest flood of record on the entire Humboldt River and its tributaries, including the Reese River, in north central Nevada. The peak flow at Palisade was 17,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on February 28, and remains the record, estimated at about a 140-year flood by USGS and FEMA, a rare occurrence. For comparison, the second highest flow at Palisade since 1910 was 7,870 cfs in May 1984. This flood was also the record at Carlin, where the Humboldt crested at 15,000 cfs on the same day.

Flooding was caused by warm, heavy rain on heavy snow and frozen ground. Most bridges in the region were destroyed, as were many roads and many miles of railroad. Most tributaries to the Humboldt were inundated from the headwaters near Deeth to its terminus at the Humboldt Sink near Lovelock. The Humboldt River at Carlin was over a mile wide, and Western Pacific dynamited ice to save the Carlin bridge. Five railroad bridges at Beowawe and Battle Mountain were condemned, and the steel railroad bridge at Palisade nearly failed. Reservoirs north of Elko failed and 10 feet of water ran into town. Most ranches on the Humboldt River were flooded and the cattle were driven to the high ground, with considerable loss of livestock region-wide.

On the Mary’s River, the Western and Southern Pacific Railroad bridges near Deeth were covered with 3 feet of water. The Bullion Bridge on the South Fork Humboldt was washed out, isolating the mining camp of Bullion for almost 2 weeks; the road to Bullion had to be rebuilt. Many bridges on the South Fork Humboldt and Tenmile, Huntington and Lamoille Creeks were destroyed or severely weakened with considerable road damage.

The North Fork Humboldt joined with the Mary’s River and inflicted damage to the railroads in the Elko area. Both Maggie and Susie Creeks flooded, adding to the inundation of Carlin. In Pine Valley, nearly 30 miles of the Eureka and Palisade Railway line in lower Pine Valley were completely destroyed, causing it to be closed until May 1912. The town of Palisade south of the Southern Pacific Railroad was washed away in this flood. The remainder of the town was destroyed by a fire in July 1910 and it was never rebuilt.

The area between Beowawe and Battle Mountain became an extensive lake and in March the Humboldt River was 4 to 5 miles wide near Dunphy and Boulder Flat, and further downstream, Kelly Creek was 1.5 miles wide at its junction with the Humboldt River. The railroad between Battle Mountain and Carlin was severely disrupted from February 28 to March 9 due to washouts, and several westbound passenger trains were stalled in Palisade while eastbound trains were held up at Winnemucca and Battle Mountain. At least 12 Western Pacific bridges between Carlin and Winnemucca over the Humboldt were destroyed or greatly weakened.

The Reese River flooded along its entire length, one of the few times in recorded history that this has happened, washing out over 5 miles of Nevada Central Railroad track through Reese River Canyon, as well as 12 railroad bridges over the Reese. At Battle Mountain, the Reese formed a large lake behind the Southern Pacific Railroad Grade, flooding large portions of the town. High water from Trout and Mill Creeks in the lower Shoshone Range washed out several sections of the railroad near Battle Mountain, causing additional flooding.

On the Little Humboldt River northeast of Winnemucca, there was considerable damage with bridges and ranches washed out and freight and supply routes closed. Paradise Valley was flooded with a sheet of water at least 2 miles wide. Below Paradise Valley, Gumboot Lake formed above the Sand Dunes, which eventually broke through, sending a flood through Winnemucca to the Humboldt River, one of the few times this has happened in recorded history.

In Winnemucca, the river reached the doors of the Winnemucca Hotel on Bridge Street, and on March 1, the Bridge Street iron bridge was severely damaged. Riverside homes and businesses were flooded. On March 15, a Western Pacific train was derailed into the river east of town, and the bridge was heavily damaged.

Flooding along the Humboldt River also caused extensive damage in the Lovelock Valley in Pershing County. Nearly all of the valley’s diversion and canal systems were destroyed, including the Big Five diversion dam and reservoir, at that time the largest such structure in Nevada. All the lands downstream of these structures were inundated with flood waters.

Photos above from: “Water and Related Land Resources, Humboldt River Basin, Nevada, Report Number 12, Basinwide Report,” November 1966; The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, page 76.

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USGS describes the floods of February 10-15, 1962, as the highest known on many streams in northeastern Nevada, with about a one in 50 chance of being exceeded any year in the upper part of the Humboldt Basin. The flood was the largest on the upper Humboldt above Battle Mountain since 1910. The evnet resulted from an unusual combination of conditions: an extended period of above-freezing temperatures and prolonged rainfall, an extensive area of snow at low elevations, and deeply frozen ground. The snow at higher altitudes did not contribute to the floods.

 

Severe and widespread damages in the upper portion of the Humboldt Basin, especially on the Mary’s River, North Fork Humboldt, Maggie Creek, Susie Creek, Rock Creek and Reese River were comparable to the 1910 flood event. The 1962 flood was the worst flood of record on those basins. Damage or destruction of highway, railway, structural and other infrastructure in the region was severe. Elko received little damage due to its levee system.

Flood records from the 1962 which still stand in 2013 include: Mary’s River nr Deeth, 4,210 cfs; North Fork Humboldt near Halleck, 10,400 cfs; Maggie Creek near Carlin, 2,440 cfs; Rock Creek near Battle Mountain, 4,800 cfs.

Storms in January 1962 dumped heavy snow on northeastern Nevada. As temperatures fell, the ground froze to an unusual depth. Rains came in February, quickly running off the frozen soil, generating serious flooding on the Humboldt River and tributaries, especially in Deeth, Carlin and Battle Mountain.

Nevada Highway Department shops and many residences were flooded in Deeth. There was widespread damage to irrigation ditches, headgates, and cultivated fields on the North Fork Humboldt Basin. Many cattle drowned and the U.S. Highway 40 Bridge over the North Fork Humboldt was severely damaged. The Western Pacific Railroad Bridge at Ryndon failed due to the flood.

Portions of railyards and the lower residential areas in Carlin flooded. Both the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroad grades were weakened, hampering rail traffic. The Southern Pacific railway yard at Carlin was flooded by ice jams and high water on Maggie and Susie creeks.

Between Beowawe and Battle Mountain, some 1,500 head of cattle died from malnutrition and disease. Many diversion and irrigation structures throughout this area were damaged or destroyed.

Battle Mountain suffered most, mostly due to severe flooding on the Reese River backing up at the Southern Pacific Railroad bed and U.S. Highway 40. Heavy rain on snow and frozen ground on the Reese caused major flooding from the Antelope Valley in mid-basin north to the Humboldt. The lower Reese River formed a lake 3 miles long behind U.S. 40 southeast of Battle Mountain. Floodwaters in Battle Mountain were from 2 to 5 feet deep over 95 percent of the town by February 12. More than 200 of the town’s 700 residents had to be evacuated from their homes, causing over $1 million in damages to residences, businesses, streets and public buildings. There was one death.

The flooding in Battle Mountain was severe because the Southern Pacific’s raised track bed kept floodwaters from draining. Some Battle Mountain residents took matters into their own hands and dynamited the tracks. Railroad crews tried to seal one of the breaches with sandbags, but angry citizens blasted it open again. To avoid violence, a Reno District Court judge issued a restraining order against the railroad, preventing it from interfering with flood mitigation efforts for 15 days. The State Highway Department cut a gap in U.S. 40 to allow Reese River backwater to drain into the Humboldt, and the flooding ended in Battle Mountain after the 13th.

As a result of the flood, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a 7,200-foot long, 5-foot high levee along the eastern portion of the town from U.S. 40 (now Interstate 80) to North Battle Mountain Road to better channel the flood flows of the Reese River.

 

“Floods of February 1962 in Southern Idaho and Northeastern Nevada”; 1962: http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1962/0467/report.pdf

“Floods of February 1962 in Southern Idaho and Northeastern Nevada”; 1962: http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1962/0467/report.pdf

“Floods of February 1962 in Southern Idaho and Northeastern Nevada”; 1962: http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1962/0467/report.pdf

“Water and Related Land Resources, Humboldt River Basin Nevada, Report Number 9, Battle Mountain Sub-Basin”, October 1964, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

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El Dorado Canyon is an arid, rugged 22.9 square mile tributary to Lake Mojave on the Colorado River in extreme southern Nevada, about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. El Dorado Canyon Resort, or Nelson’s Landing, was a popular recreation attraction to water sports enthusiasts as the canyon-mouth cove provided an ideal boat landing site for Lake Mojave. However, Because most of the facilities there were in the flood plain, users were subjected to a high degree of risk during flash floods.

 

A devastating flash flood struck the canyon at about 2:30 pm on September 14, 1974. In addition to killing at least 9 people, it destroyed 5 trailer homes and damaged many others, obliterated a restaurant, destroyed 9 cabins, 38 vehicles, 23 boats, 19 boat trailers, half of the boat docking facilities and the gas dock. For safety reasons, the resort has never been rebuilt.

The flood resulted from intense basin-wide rain and hail at rain rates up to 3 inches per half hour. The peak flow was estimated at 76,000 cubic feet per second by USGS just upstream of the developed area near the mouth of the canyon. The runoff dumped about 70 thousand cubic yards (about 100,000 tons) of sediment into Lake Mojave and throughout the lower part of the canyon, and caused a rise of about 0.45 foot on the Lake.

The flood was called a “catastrophe” by Clark County Coroner Dick Mayne and other members of the search and rescue team. Known dead included four men, three women and two children. Four storm characteristics were critical to flooding and damage:

The rainfall began about 1 pm and ended about 2:30 at Nelson, NV, about 6 miles upstream from El Dorado Canyon Resort on Lake Mojave. Rainfall was heaviest from about 1:45 to 2 pm, and total amounts in Nelson were about 2 inches. Heaviest amounts were in the middle and lower parts of the basin.

“A Hydrologic Assessment of the September 14, 1974 Flood in Eldorado Canyon, Nevada”; U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 930, 1975, Glancy and Harmsen

Location of Eldorado Canyon, Nevada.

Damage to mobile home in Nelson’s Landing, University of Nevada Las Vegas Special Collections

Scuba divers searching for those lost in flood in Lake Mojave after Eldorado Canyon flash flood, University of Nevada Las Vegas Special Collections

Flood path, El Dorado Canyon, looking downstream. Lake Mojave is in background, University of Nevada Las Vegas Special Collections

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Torrential rains produced severe, unprecedented flash-flooding across the Las Vegas Valley the late morning and early afternoon of July 8, 1999. This event tied the flood of September 11, 2012, for the worst flood in modern Las Vegas. Most of the rain occurred in 90 minutes, between 10:30 am and noon. Much of the Las Vegas Valley received between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain, or from 35 to 75 percent of its annual total (about 4 inches) during this time. At McCarran International Airport, 1.29 total inches of rain fell in a little over an hour, tying the record for the sixth greatest calendar day total. Rainfall amounts exceeded an inch in all but the northeast and far northern parts of the valley and exceeded 2 inches in several south-central neighborhoods as well as parts of Summerlin.

 

Flash floods are not unusual in the Las Vegas area. The alluvial fans around the valley contain large amounts of calcium carbonate, and when it is wet and then dries, caliche is formed. Caliche is almost impervious, so when there is rainfall in the valley, almost all of it runs off into the natural waterways which drain right into the city. The combination of widespread caliche and soil moisture can result in flash flooding from relatively moderate precipitation amounts.

The resulting runoff from the torrential rain on July 8, 1999, caused widespread street flooding and record flows in normally dry washes and flood control detention basins, as well as two deaths and $25 million in damage (1999 dollars). Some 369 homes were damaged or destroyed. Sections of busy Interstates 15 and 95 resembled a lake, bringing traffic to a standstill. Most major intersections were under water.

Streets and washes quickly were overwhelmed by the tremendous runoff. Motorists and pedestrians were unprepared for the magnitude of these floods resulting in more than 200 swift-water rescues were performed by the Las Vegas and Clark County Fire Departments. In all, 275 storm-related emergency phone calls were logged by rescue officials in just 6 hours, with calls to 149 locations in a 15 minute period before noon. The floods caused severe erosion of unlined sections of some washes and damaged numerous roadways.

The Governor issued a Declaration of Emergency for the area and requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on July 15. President Clinton declared the city a disaster area on July 19.

Extensive work by Clark County Regional Flood Control District to improve the wash system and drainage basins across the valley was just in the beginning phases in 1999, and much of the rainfall this day occurred downstream of existing detention basins.

This event fell between the 50 and 100-year flood criteria along parts of the Las Vegas Wash, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Record flows occurred at several stations on Duck Creek, Flamingo Wash and the Las Vegas Wash.

Although the flood of September 11, 2012 was nearly as disastrous in the Las Vegas area, the flood of July 8, 1999, is still the record as of November 2013 at the following locations:

“Record Flash Flood of July 8, 1999: 10 Year Anniversary”; Chris Stachelski and Barry Pierce, NOAA, NWS, WFO Las Vegas

Boulder Highway destruction and debris, Photos from Clark County Regional Flood Control District.

Flooding on the Las Vegas Strip near Caesar’s Palace, 7/8/1999; photographer unknown.

Photo of Las Vegas Flood, July 8, 1999, from Las Vegas Sun website

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The January 1997 flood was result of near-record precipitation amounts and melting snow. Many locations in the region received 3–5 times their normal precipitation for December 1996 and January 1997.

Snowstorms in December dropped from 4–10 feet of snow above 6000 feet in the Sierra, with 2–3 feet in western Nevada valleys. The snow was followed by heavy rain from December 26–January 2, which also melted much of the snowpack. Precipitation amounts from December 30 to January 2, ranged from 1–3 inches in western Nevada valleys to over 22 inches in the high elevation Sierra stations.

The flooding claimed two lives: in Douglas County, a man was swept into the East Fork Carson River while operating a loader near its banks in Gardnerville on the evening of the Jan 2. In Washoe County, a man was swept into the Truckee River while retrieving personal belongings from his place of business in Sparks on January 3.

Flooding on the Truckee River destroyed or severely damaged many homes, businesses, warehouses, and roads in Placer and Nevada counties, CA, particularly in the towns of Tahoe City and Truckee. In Nevada, Washoe Clunty, Reno, Sparks, Lockwood, Wadsworth and Nixon were heavily hit and in Storey County, Lockwood was flooded. The Reno-Tahoe Airport, I-80 , and U.S. Highway 395 were closed for 2 days.

View of Sparks industrial area upstream of Vista gage looking just east of north on 1/3/1997 after flood crest on 1/2/1997. Truckee River is in bottom right, spprox. flow, 15,4000 cfs approx. stage, 21.5 feet (USGS Rating 35). Photo courtesy of Pat Glancy, USGS Carson City, NV

January 1997 floods. Reno-Tahoe International Airport flooded. Photo by Marilyn newton, Photo courtesy Reno Gazette-Journal 

Downtown Reno, January 1, 1997 Photo Courtesy of Reno Gazette-Journal

Wingfield Park, Arlington & 1st Streets, Downtown Reno, 1/2/1997. Photo Courtesy Reno Gazette Journal

Some 3,830 acres of the Truckee Meadows turned into a lake. Much of downtown Reno was flooded with several feet of water from West Second Street north of the river to Mill Street south of the river. All bridges crossing the river in downtown Reno were closed. The industrial area of Sparks was flooded with up to 6 feet of water causing extensive damage to structures and contents of warehouses.

The Federal Water Master prevented catastrophic flows on the lower Truckee River using flood control reservoirs at Stampede and Boca Dams on the Little Truckee River, and Prosser Dam on Prosser Creek. If these dams had not had storage space, the 1997 flood event would have been far worse, with peak flows 2–3 times greater than what occurred, as estimated by USGS.

On the Carson River Basin, the January 1997 floods were the worst of record with the highest stages, flows and damages. The flooding destroyed or severely damaged homes and businesses in Alpine County, CA, towns of Woodfords and Markleeville; in the Douglas County, NV, towns of Minden, Gardnerville and Genoa; in Carson City, NV; and in the Lyon County, NV town of Dayton. About 34,000 acres of the Carson River drainage was flooded. The Carson Valley in the Minden-Gardnerville-Genoa area became a lake about 15 miles long and up to 5 miles wide.

The January 1997 flooding was the worst of record on the Walker River Basin. Extensive flooding caused massive destruction in Mono County, CA, especially in Walker, Coleville, Topaz, and Bridgeport, where 111 homes and 4 businesses were destroyed; and in Lyon County, NV, including Smith, Wellington, Mason, and Yerington where nearly 300 homes received extensive damage. A 12 mile stretch of U.S. Highway 395, between Topaz and Sonora Junction CA, was washed out by the West Walker River. The highway was closed until mid-summer 1997. Also, parts of Nevada Highways 208 and 339 in Wilson Canyon were completely destroyed. Mountain areas experienced extensive mud slides and debris flows, which closed major highways into the Lake Tahoe region.

• “The 1997 New Year's Floods in Western Nevada,” Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 23, 1998, Rigby and others. Information on 1950 flood on page 87-88
• “Weather and Climate of the Reno-Carson City-Lake Tahoe Region,” Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 34, 2007, O’Hara and others. 1950 Flood Discussion on Pages 58-60
• USGS Water Data for Nevada Website
• “Flood of January 1997 in the Lake Tahoe Basin, California and Nevada,” USGS Fact Sheet 005-98, 1998
• “Flood of January 1997 in the Truckee River Basin, Western Nevada,” USGS Fact Sheet 123-97, 1997
• “Flood of January 1997 in the Carson River Basin, California and Nevada,” USGS Fact Sheet 183-97, 1997
• “Flood of January 1997 in the Walker River Basin, California and Nevada,” USGS Fact Sheet 182-97, 1997
• “Publications Document Floods of January 1997 in California and Nevada”, USGS Fact Sheet 093-98, 1998
• “January 1997 Flooding in Northern Nevada—Was This a “100-Year Flood?”, USGS Fact Sheet 077-97, 1997
• “Flood-Control Effects of Truckee River Basin Reservoirs, December 31, 1996 through January 4, 1997, California and Nevada,” USGS Fact Sheet 037-97, 1997
• “Carson River Basin Flood Chronology”, 2013
• “Heavy Precipitation Event, Southwest Oregon, Northern California, and Western Nevada, December 26, 1996-January 3, 1997”
• “The 1997 New Year's Floods in Western Nevada,” Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Special Publication 23, 1998
• “Weather and Climate of the Reno-Carson City-Lake Tahoe Region”: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 34, 2007 (1997 Flood Discussion on Pages 62-63):
• “The Flood of 1997, Final Report: An Analysis of Snow Water Content and Precipitation Changes in the Waterbasins of Western Nevada and the Effects of Runoff and Streamflows; December 16, 1996-January 6, 1997,” Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Natural Disaster Survey Report, “Disastrous Floods from the Severe Winter Storms in California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Idaho; December 1996-January 1997”
• National Climatic Data Center, Technical Report 97-01: “The Winter of ’96-’97 West Coast Flooding”