River Notes Archive

River Notes for Thursday, February 22, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

An upper level low and associated front are resulting in snow in the Central Sierra again today. The system is expected to weaken as it moves south, but there is a chance of some light rain or showers in the Southern Sierra this afternoon into Friday with some snow in the higher elevations.

A water vapor satellite photo from this morning shows a very impressive fetch of moisture associated with a large mid-Pacific storm. Computer models say this system will eventually shear apart, but some of this moisture looks like it could be entrained in a system that is currently forecast to affect Southern California Saturday night into Monday. At the moment, HPC is forecasting an inch or more of snow in the Southern Sierra for the 48 hour period beginning Sunday morning. This is another one of those cases where the details of how the storm evolves, and the path that it follows, could dramatically affect the amount of precipitation in the Kern River basin. There are significant differences among the models at this point. A few more models runs should make it clearer. We'll see!

Check out the new Dagger CFS and Super Ego. Designed for creeks, the CFS is 7'9" and has a quick surfacing 75 gallons. Safety features include a combination minicell/polyethylene bow wall, stainless steel grab handles/extraction bars, and ergonomics that allow for a "no-hands" exit The Ego and SuperEgo are super-loose freestyle kayaks with features that include adjustable thighbraces, adjustable seat, backband, and pre-cut hip bolsters. Here's what the hulls look like. Click on the following links to select these boats in the New Boat Barn: Ego - Super Ego - CFS

The Kern Festival is April 20-22, the Friday-Sunday after Easter. There will be kayak demos and other activities all week, April 14-22. This year, in addition to the TJ Slalom Classic, NOWR Rodeo, and Downriver Race, a Raft Race and unique Head-to-Head Kayak Race are planned! The Western Regionals team trial qualifier slalom is also scheduled. TEVA is putting up $5000 in prize money for the rodeo, as part of the TEVA Cup Series. For information see the Kern Valley River Council website.

Want to sell your old boat in our Used Boat Barn? Contact the store at 1-760-376-3745 for information.

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 Friday, February 16, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

There's snow on Brush Creek now, but it won't be long and it'll be water in the creek! A couple of days of warm weather and sunshine and it could be runnable. There is an unofficial gage on the bridge at the parking lot take-out that boaters use for a reference. What a particular reading means varies a lot from boater to boater, but basically under 1 is very boney; 2 is low runnable; 5 is high; anything above 5 is very high. This is a steep creek. At any level things happen fast and good judgement and paddling skills are required. We sell a Brush Creek video if you want to check out some of the drops.

It looks like the wet pattern is going to continue for California with an emphasis on the northern two-thirds of state. The first of a series of systems forecast to affect the state over the next 10 days is expected to move into the Southern Sierra Saturday afternoon or evening, with a second possibly stronger storm to follow Monday, and then more wet weather later in the week.

The Kern Festival is April 20-22, the Friday-Sunday after Easter. There will be kayak demos and other activities all week, April 14-22. This year, in addition to the TJ Slalom Classic, NOWR Rodeo, and Downriver Race, a Raft Race and unique Head-to-Head Kayak Race are planned! The Western Regionals team trial qualifier slalom is also scheduled. TEVA is putting up $5000 in prize money for the rodeo, as part of the TEVA Cup Series. For information contact Terry at KernRvr@ix.netcom.com.

Want to sell your old boat in our Used Boat Barn? Contact the store at 1-760-376-3745 for information.

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 Monday, February 12, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Our Friday-Saturday system didn't produce much snow, but yesterday's system more than made up for it, and it looks like the wet pattern may continue.

This GOES-10 Water Vapor satellite photo shows the position of the low at 3:00 yesterday afternoon. An MPEG clip from the same period shows the moist WSW flow impinging on the Central and Southern Sierra. This nearly perpendicular flow was ideal for orographic enhancement, and moderate to heavy snowfall resulted. In the 24 hours ending about 7:00 this morning, snow sensors in the Kern River basin recorded the following (preliminary) Snow Water Equivalents: UTY 1.4, CHP 2.0, PSC 3.2, WTM 2.1, CSV 1.3, BCH 1.6 inches. It's still snowing and HPC predicts up to 2 more inches SWE over the next 48 hours. This may be optimistic, but we'll take what we can get.

At the moment it looks like there will be a bit of break Wednesday through Friday, but with a lingering chance of showers. Medium range models differ in timing, but suggest the development of high latitude block in the Eastern Pacific that would divert the storm track into California. Ensemble forecasts imply this block could result in additional rain in the Saturday, Sunday or Monday timeframe, with (perhaps) more storminess to follow.

The Kern Festival is April 20-22, the Friday-Sunday after Easter. There will be kayak demos and other activities all week, April 14-22. This year, in addition to the TJ Slalom Classic, NOWR Rodeo, and Downriver Race, a Raft Race and unique Head-to-Head Kayak Race are planned! The Western Regionals team trial qualifier slalom is also scheduled. TEVA is putting up $5000 in prize money for the rodeo, as part of the TEVA Cup Series. For information contact Terry at KernRvr@ix.netcom.com.

Want to sell your old boat in our Used Boat Barn? Contact the store at 1-760-376-3745 for information.

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 Wednesday, February 7, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Following a couple of days of near summer-like temperatures, Winter has returned with cool blustery weather today, and downright cold temps tonight. A cold upper level low is moving through Southern California today and is resulting in widely scattered showers and snow flurries.

It appears a pattern change is in the works, and more snow is on the way for the Sierra. At the moment HPC is forecasting up to 1.5 inches in the Northern and Central Sierra for the 24 hour period ending Saturday morning and the storm is currently forecast to last through the day on Saturday. Not as much snow is forecast in the southern part of the range, but about an inch Snow Water Equivalent through Saturday afternoon is plausible. The system does not look very wet and the details of how it evolves could significantly affect the precipitation amounts in the Southern Sierra.

NCEP Ensemble Forecasts suggest continued cool and unsettled weather the next two weeks. There has been a lot of day to day variation in the computer models recently but in general they have been trending toward a wetter pattern for the West Coast.

The Kern Festival is April 20-22, the Friday-Sunday after Easter. There will be kayak demos and other activities all week, April 14-22. This year, in addition to the TJ Slalom Classic, NOWR Rodeo, and Downriver Race, a Raft Race and unique Head-to-Head Kayak Race are planned! The Western Regionals team trial qualifier slalom is also scheduled. For information contact Terry at KernRvr@ix.netcom.com.

Want to sell your old boat in our Used Boat Barn? Contact the store at 1-760-376-3745 for information.

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.

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