River Notes Archive
(Links and other information are historical in nature and may no
longer be correct. Products referenced in the archives may no longer
be available. References to products on sale do not apply.) |
River Notes for Monday, December 31, 2001
Important information about River Notes.
Don't miss out! Rebate offers on Wave Sport, Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Perception & Islander kayaks and the Great Freight Rate end today! Check out the specs and prices for the new boats in our Interactive Kayak Comparison Chart and the New Boat Barn and call 1-800-376-7303 to place your order!
Pushed by runoff from Friday evening's warm storm, the Upper Kern peaked at 2108 overnight Saturday, and remained above 1000 cfs all day Sunday. This morning it's about 900 cfs.
The latest in a series of warm storms moved in more quickly and farther to the north than earlier forecasts, but the Kern River basin still received some rain and snow. The next storm in the series is forecast to hammer Northern and Central California Tuesday into Wednesday. At the moment, the Southern Sierra is forecast to receive less precipitation than areas to the north, but as was the case with earlier storms, this could change. This morning the NWS forecast for Kernville for New Year's Day is cloudy with a chance of rain in the afternoon.
Because of its high elevation the Kern snowpack remains in great shape. The snowpack did lose a little water, but overall gained much more than it lost. Last year on this date the snow sensor at Pascoes (9150 ft.) showed about 3 inches Snow Water Equivalent (SWE). Today, Pascoes has about 19 inches SWE, which is more SWE than it had last year on April 1.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 31DEC2001 0700 | n/a | n/a | 6.07 | 908 | 422 | 112 | 310 | 105080 | n/a |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 | |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | |||
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
River Notes for Saturday, December 29, 2001
Important information about River Notes.
We're fortunate that much of the Kern River's snowpack is above 8000 ft., and that it extends to the highest slopes of the Sierra, at over 14,000 ft. This morning's sounding at Vandenberg Air Force base recorded a freezing level of over 11,000 ft., with a "wet bulb zero" of about 10,000 ft. Snow sensors in the basin have recorded nearly 2.0 inches Snow Water Equivalent with mixed rain and snow at 9000 ft. At 7:30 A.M. Johnsondale RAWS (4700 ft.) had recorded about 2.0 inches of rain, and the temperature was 36 degrees.
Rain, with snow at the highest elevations, is expected to continue in the Southern Sierra today, diminishing overnight. Sunday looks cloudy to partly cloudy, and then more wet weather forecast for Sunday night into Monday. At the moment, New Year's in Kernville expected to be partly cloudy, with a high near 60. Hmmm...
The Upper Kern at Kernville is just starting to see some of the local, low elevation runoff and at 9:00 this morning was at about 560 cfs, with more runoff and higher flows on the way.
Rebate offers on Wave Sport, Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Perception & Islander kayaks and the Great Freight Rate end in two days! Check out the specs and prices for the new boats in our Interactive Kayak Comparison Chart and the New Boat Barn.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 29DEC2001 1400 | n/a | n/a | 6.14 | 956 | 308 | 16 | 292 | 101305 | n/a |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 | |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | |||
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
River Notes for Thursday, December 27, 2001
Important information about River Notes.
Rebate offers on Wave Sport, Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Perception & Islander kayaks and the Great Freight Rate end in 4 days! Check out the specs and prices for the new boats in our Interactive Kayak Comparison Chart and the New Boat Barn.
A new boat could be a useful item if current forecasts for the Sierra verify. A sequence of warm systems and associated tropical moisture may result in a rain on snow event in the Friday to Monday timeframe. Orographic enhancement of rainfall and snow levels in excess of 8000 to 9000 ft. could produce heavy runoff and some erosion of the Sierra snowpack.
This morning's HPC quantitative precipitation forecasts showed the highest cumulative amounts in the Northern and Central Sierra and coastal mountains, with somewhat less forecast for the Southern Sierra. This afternoon's ETA-12 and HPC forecasts suggest the Central and Southern Sierra may receive the heaviest precipitation. Shifts in the axis of the moist southwesterly flow or embedded waves, vorticity, or jet dynamics could change the rainfall pattern. In any case it appears the Kern River basin should see significant precipitation, and higher flows, as we move toward the New Year.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 27DEC2001 0800 | n/a | n/a | 4.73 | 248 | 270 | 16 | 254 | 100588 | n/a |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 | |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | |||
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
River Notes for Thursday, December 6, 2001
Important information about River Notes.
FREE DEMOS IN THE PARK FOR THE REST OF DECEMBER*!!! That's right, you don't have water in your ears. We've just got in a quiver full of the NEWEST 2002 whitewater kayaks that are just cryin' to hit the water! Boats from Wave Sport & Dagger with more on the way. New boats include the Mutant, GT, GTX, RPM (for comparison only), Ace5.1, Ace4.7, Siren, GForce5.9, GForce6.3, Super EZ fat 2.0, Big EZ fat 2.0, EZ fat 2.0. Click here for a photo. (*Some restrictions apply.)
With the rebates from Watermark and Confluence lasting only through Dec 31, and the recents rains and snow bringing the base level in Riverside Park up to the 300cfs levels, it's time to get in the water! Only 25 days left to try a new whitewater boat for free and get a great rebate on a new boat! Check out the specs and prices for the new boats in our Interactive Kayak Comparison Chart and the New Boat Barn.
Dreaming of a whitewater Christmas? Check out our Holiday Gift Shop, loaded with gift ideas, sale items and new gear for your paddling friends and family. Don't know what to get? You can't go wrong with a Sierra South Gift Certificate.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 06DEC2001 0900 | n/a | n/a | 4.88 | 327 | 339 | 15 | 324 | 100714 | n/a |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 | |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | |||
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
River Notes for Tuesday, December 4, 2001
Important information about River Notes.
Wow! What a start for the Sierra snowpack and great water for the 2002 paddling season! A strong upper low and associated jet pumped moisture into the Sierra Saturday and Sunday, resulting in two to three feet of snow over much of the range. This, combined with earlier snows, has the Winter season off to its fastest start since the mid-eighties. The snow sensor at Pascoes (9150 ft. in the Kern River basin) is currently reporting 11.8 inches Snow Water Equivalent, compared to 12 inches on the same date in 1985 and 14 inches in the big year of '82. Yesterday's Summary of Snow Water Equivalents (provided by California Cooperative Snow Surveys) reported 155% of normal for the date in the Northern Sierra, 168% in the Central Sierra, and 190% in the Southern Sierra.
High pressure in the Pacific has diverted the storm track northward for a few days, with the Pacific Northwest the target of some very wet weather. There is some disagreement among the weather models in the medium range. The MRF brings impulses over the top of the high and down into California forming a cut-off low over Southern California early next week, while the ECMWF has the high further west and brings a sharp trough more directly into the coast in the Sunday-Monday timeframe. The ECMWF solution would be wetter, but NCEP Ensembles currently support the MRF forecast. We'll see!
It's a great time to buy a boat! Not only do we have a great selection of kayaks on sale, but Dagger, Perception, and Islander are offering a $50 Mail-in Rebate on new kayaks purchased by December 31, 2001; and Confluence Watersports is offering 10% cash back on new, in stock, Wave Sport and Wilderness Systems kayaks purchased by December 31, 2001; and we're shipping boats to major hubs in the Lower 48 States for only $25. (Call us for details.)
Dreaming of a whitewater Christmas? Check out our Holiday Gift Shop, loaded with gift ideas, sale items and new gear for your paddling friends and family. Don't know what to get? You can't go wrong with a Sierra South Gift Certificate.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir data. Click on "Current" to get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 04DEC2001 0700 | n/a | n/a | 4.98 | 359 | 341 | 16 | 325 | 100841 | n/a |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 | WY '99 | |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | |||
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
