Flood — Elko, Nevada

2017-02-07 to 2017-02-14 · near San Jacinto, Elko, Nevada

Event narrative

Rain on a much above normal snow pack combined with frozen ground caused extensive flooding. About 30 homes and a few businesses in both Montello and Wells were flooded along with some homes and outbuildings in rural areas. Many rural roads were damaged and had washouts. US highway 93 was closed both south and north of Wells for a time as flood waters submerged the road. Salmon Falls Creek overflowed US highway 93 and completely submerged the adjoining rest area. Extensive shoulder damage was reported along US Highway 93 mainly north of Wells. All the runoff caused the Humboldt River to rise above flood stage. This caused extensive flooding of homes and businesses along and near the Humboldt River in Elko. Interstate 80 between Elko and Wells was reduced to one lane in places due to flood waters over the road. A total of 25 homes in Elko, Wells, and Montello were totally destroyed or suffered extensive damage.

Wider weather episode

Rain on a much above normal snow pack combined with frozen ground caused extensive flooding across northern Nevada, especially across Elko county. The excessive runoff caused the Twenty One Mile dam north of Montello to fail sending flood waters 2-3 feet deep down Twenty One Mile Creek flooding buildings at the Gamble Ranch and washing out a section of State Route 233 and railroad tracks. Flooding also stopped trains traveling through northern Elko County as tracks were underwater. About 30 homes and a few businesses in both Montello and Wells were flooded along with some homes and outbuildings in rural areas. Many rural roads were damaged and had washouts. US highway 93 was closed both south and north of Wells for a time as flood waters submerged the road. Salmon Falls Creek overflowed US highway 93 and completely submerged the adjoining rest area. Extensive shoulder damage was reported along US Highway 93 mainly north of Wells. Humboldt county reported over 68 rural roads that were damaged by the flooding. Residents of Paradise Valley were inundated on at least two separate occasions as water poured off the Santa Rosa Mountains through the various creeks surrounding the town. All the runoff caused the Humboldt River to rise above flood stage. This caused extensive flooding of homes and businesses along and near the Humboldt River in Elko. Interstate 80 between Elko and Wells was reduced to one lane in places due to flood waters over the road. A total of 25 homes in Elko, Wells, and Montello were totally destroyed or suffered extensive damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.9550, -114.0601)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 681490. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.