River Notes Archive

River Notes for Tuesday, December 24, 2002

Important information about River Notes.

Is a Transformer on your Christmas list? We have new Transformers, G-Rides, GT 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, FX 5.7, Blackwaters, Sparkys, Sundances, Hulas, and Festivas in stock. Check 'em out in the New Boat Barn and Kayak Comparison Chart. We have demo boats of most models, and the river is high enough to see how they paddle. And... we're offering free demos* until the end of the year! (*Limit 2 hours, other restrictions apply, call for details.)

Southern Sierra weather for Christmas Eve, and Christmas has been trending drier with each run of the ETA and AVN computer models. The HPC 3-day precipitation forecast mirrors the models and shows limited precipitation over the next three days in the Sierra south of Yosemite and Mammoth Mountain.

Generally, the medium range models are suggesting a shift in the storm track to the northern half of California and north through the Pacific Northwest. But that's not to say the Southern Sierra won't see any snow. Ensemble forecasts maintain a chance of precipitation as impulses pass to the north, with the chance higher the further north you go. The next good chance for significant snow in the Kern River basin looks to be late Friday and into the weekend. We'll see!

The weather this Fall appears to have been increasingly influenced by El Nino. NOAA released it's latest Temperature and Precipitation Outlook on December 19th. As expected, El Nino is forecast to play an important role in the nation's Winter, with above average rainfall projected in Southern California and most of the southern tier of states.

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.)

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

River Notes for Saturday, December 21, 2002

Important information about River Notes.

Is a Transformer on your Christmas list? We have new Transformers, G-Rides, GT 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, FX 5.7, Blackwaters, Sparkys, Sundances, Hulas, and Festivas in stock. Check 'em out in the New Boat Barn and Kayak Comparison Chart. We have demo boats of most models, and the river is high enough to see how they paddle. And... we're offering free demos* until the end of the year! (*Limit 2 hours, other restrictions apply, call for details.)

Thursday night's storm added another inch water equivalent to the Kern River basin snowpack, bringing the total snowpack above 9000 ft. to about 10 inches water equivalent. The average for this time for these stations is about 5 inches. Unsettled weather is expected to continue through Christmas, with some days of rain or snow showers, and some days of sun, . The AVN medium range forecast suggests the possibility of a stronger system moving into the Southern Sierra the day after Christmas. We'll see!

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.

The weather this Fall appears to have been increasingly influenced by El Nino. NOAA released it's latest Winter Outlook yesterday. As expected, El Nino is forecast to play an important role in the nation's Winter, with above average rainfall projected in Southern California and most of the southern tier of states.

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.)

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

River Notes for Thursday, December 19, 2002

Important information about River Notes.

This morning's cold and clear skies will give way to increasing clouds today, leading to rain and snow tonight, as a another powerful Pacific system in a week long series of storms slams into the west coast and sweeps north to south through California.

Since last Saturday storms have resulted in about 3 to 6 feet of new snow in the Kern River basin. The following precipitation totals in inches liquid equivalent have been recorded by snow sensors and RAWS stations since Saturday, December 14th. UpperTyndall Creek: 4.5", Pascoes: 6.3", Casa Vieja: 3.3", Johnsondale: 3.8", and Kernville: 1.9".

At the moment. it looks like the Kern River basin could receive another 1.5 to 2.5 inches (water equivalent) of snow or more in favored locations. Current forecasts have the snow level dropping to 4000 - 5000 ft.

The weather this Fall appears to have been increasingly influenced by El Nino. NOAA released it's latest Winter Outlook yesterday. As expected, El Nino is forecast to play an important role in the nation's Winter, with above average rainfall projected in Southern California and most of the southern tier of states.

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.

Find the kayak you've been looking for on-line in our Used Boat Barn and New Boat Barn. It's probably on sale! We can ship anywhere in the US. If you need help in deciding which boat is right for you, email or call and we will be happy to offer our opinions... We have paddled all of them!

Remember to use extra caution on the River. Scout blind drops diligently. Don't assume last season's lines to be open and clear. As a result of the flood, logs or log jams may be present just about anywhere. Sediment may have changed rapids. Large boulders may have shifted, new rapids may have resulted from landslides or debris flows. Even if you did the run the day before, don't assume the line will be clean.

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.)

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

S T R E A M L I N E S News & Info for Paddlers o Comments needed for Borel hydro project. Southern California Edison has released the Draft Application for the new license for the Borel Hydropower Project on the Kern River. The new license will set instream flow conditions for the Kern River below Isabella Reservoir for the next 30 to 50 years. Your participation/comments are important. American Whitewater encourages boaters to review the license application and file comments. More: Boater Alert, www.borel.info.and Conservation. o The Sierra Club's Water Sentinels program trains volunteers to collect water samples and monitor data with the goal of getting these waterways cleaned up. They're currently working on eight projects in seven states. More: Sierra Club o Hypothermia Prevention, Recognition and Treatment. The growing popularity of outdoor recreation has resulted in greater demand for an effective on-site method for treating hypothermia. Other than for mild cases, the most effective and safest treatment for all levels of hypothermia is the addition of heat to the body core, rather than via the periphery. The most important phase of treatment is the prevention of post-rescue collapse during the first 30 minutes following rescue, and during transportation to a medical facility. More: hypothermia.org o The California Wild Heritage Campaign is a broad based coalition with only one goal - to preserve California's unprotected wilderness and wild rivers for future generations to enjoy. To achieve this goal, we need your help! Read on to find out how you can help save the last wild places in California. More: californiawild.org Splashes: Fender Bender@ 20,000 cfs - Loop Pic - Severn Bore - Snow Kayaking - Forecast ENSO Conditions

River Notes for Friday, December 13, 2002

Important information about River Notes.

A series of Pacific systems will bring very wet weather to Northern and Central California over the next several days with the storm track forecast to eventually sag southward and affect Southern California.

This morning's ETA forecast of precipitation over the next 60 hours shows large amounts occurring in northwestern California and the northern Sierra. The HPC three day QPF forecast shows as much as 14 inches of rain falling along the northwest coast over the next three days.

At the moment. it looks like the northern and central Sierra will receive the most snowfall, but by the time this series of storms is over, the Southern Sierra should have recorded significant new snow. The 10-Day Precipitation Outlook for the Conterminous U.S. shows how the wet weather is expected to shift south.

The weather this Fall appears to have been increasingly influenced by El Nino. NOAA released it's latest Winter Outlook yesterday. As expected, El Nino is forecast to play an important role in the nation's Winter, with above average rainfall projected in Southern California and most of the southern tier of states.

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.

Find the kayak you've been looking for on-line in our Used Boat Barn and New Boat Barn. It's probably on sale! We can ship anywhere in the US. If you need help in deciding which boat is right for you, email or call and we will be happy to offer our opinions... We have paddled all of them!

Remember to use extra caution on the River. Scout blind drops diligently. Don't assume last season's lines to be open and clear. As a result of the flood, logs or log jams may be present just about anywhere. Sediment may have changed rapids. Large boulders may have shifted, new rapids may have resulted from landslides or debris flows. Even if you did the run the day before, don't assume the line will be clean.

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.)

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

S T R E A M L I N E S News & Info for Paddlers o Comments needed for Borel hydro project. Southern California Edison has released the Draft Application for the new license for the Borel Hydropower Project on the Kern River. The new license will set instream flow conditions for the Kern River below Isabella Reservoir for the next 30 to 50 years. Your participation/comments are important. American Whitewater encourages boaters to review the license application and file comments. More: Boater Alert, www.borel.info.and Conservation. o The Sierra Club's Water Sentinels program trains volunteers to collect water samples and monitor data with the goal of getting these waterways cleaned up. They're currently working on eight projects in seven states. More: Sierra Club o Hypothermia Prevention, Recognition and Treatment. The growing popularity of outdoor recreation has resulted in greater demand for an effective on-site method for treating hypothermia. Other than for mild cases, the most effective and safest treatment for all levels of hypothermia is the addition of heat to the body core, rather than via the periphery. The most important phase of treatment is the prevention of post-rescue collapse during the first 30 minutes following rescue, and during transportation to a medical facility. More: hypothermia.org o The California Wild Heritage Campaign is a broad based coalition with only one goal - to preserve California's unprotected wilderness and wild rivers for future generations to enjoy. To achieve this goal, we need your help! Read on to find out how you can help save the last wild places in California. More: californiawild.org Splashes: Fender Bender@ 20,000 cfs - Loop Pic - Severn Bore - Snow Kayaking - Forecast ENSO Conditions

River Notes for Thursday, December 5, 2002

Important information about River Notes.

The higher elevation snow that accompanied the flooding rains in early November hasn't melted. Snow sensor data shows from 5 to 8 inches snow water equivalent at 10,000 ft. and above in the Kern River basin. That's about 4 to 6 feet of snow.

Long range precipitation outlooks suggest an increasing probability of rain and snow as we approach Christmas and the New Year.

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.

Find the kayak you've been looking for on-line in our Used Boat Barn and New Boat Barn. It's probably on sale! We can ship anywhere in the US. If you need help in deciding which boat is right for you, email or call and we will be happy to offer our opinions... We have paddled all of them!

Remember to use extra caution on the River. Scout blind drops diligently. Don't assume last season's lines to be open and clear. As a result of the flood, logs or log jams may be present just about anywhere. Sediment may have changed rapids. Large boulders may have shifted, new rapids may have resulted from landslides or debris flows. Even if you did the run the day before, don't assume the line will be clean.

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.)

More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.

E-STORE - NEWS - RAFTING - KAYAKING - CLIMBING- GALLERY - LINKS - MORE INFO - OUR STORE - THE RIVER - CATALOG - HOME

---

Copyright © 1996-2010 Sierra South, Inc. All Rights Reserved.