Flood — Washoe, Nevada

2005-12-31 · near Verdi, Washoe, Nevada

Event narrative

A levee along Steamboat Creek failed and flooded the University of Nevada - Reno agricultural farm in east Reno. Around 1,800 animals were evacuated to higher ground, but 344 sheep drowned in the floodwaters. The Industrial Area in east Sparks suffered flooding, with an estimated 900 business reporting damage. Greg Street was impassable in many locations. Some areas near Glendale Avenue were covered with four feet of floodwater. A health hazard was created when raw sewage contaminated floodwaters in the Spice Island Drive area of Sparks. In downtown Reno all bridges across the Truckee River were closed. Flooding also occurred at the base of Mt. Rose Highway at its intersection with U.S. Highway 395. The Toll Road area near Steamboat was flooded, and Nevada Highway 341 (Geiger Grade) was closed.The rain-saturated soil caused trees to topple onto power lines in Incline Village. Sierra Pacific Power Company reported that around 3,000 people were without power on December 31st.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.5167, -120.0000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5482287. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.