River Notes Archive

River Notes for Friday, November 30, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

All signs point to a major snow event for the Sierra Nevada this weekend and lasting into Monday or perhaps Tuesday. Snowfall amounts will likely be measured in feet rather than inches. If current model forecasts verify, a potent 1-2 punch, combined with good dynamics, orographics and moisture will result in copious snowfall throughout the range.

The system that moved through the area Wednesday afternoon into Thursday resulted in another good shot of snow for the Kern River basin. The following preliminary storm totals are from automated sensors. (Amounts for snow sensors are inches liquid equivalent.) Upper Tyndall Creek 1.7, Pascoes 2.8, Johnsondale 1.26, and Kernville 0.69.

Medium range models and ensemble forecasts suggest that we may see a respite from the current wet pattern following this next series of storms 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.)

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

River Notes for Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Boaters got in good runs on Limestone, Brush Creek and Powerhouse on Sunday before the flow returned to a more usual Winter level. With the ground saturated and base flow higher, it won't take as much runoff to bring the river up over 500 cfs again.

It looks like we could get more rain and snow in the Southern Sierra Wednesday night into Thursday. As with last weekend's storm, orographic enhancement is expected to increase snowfall in the Sierra. Current HPC QPF forecasts suggest 1.5 to 2.0 inches (Snow Water Equivalent) could be added to the pack in higher elevations of the Kern River basin.

Medium range models and ensemble forecasts suggest a continued wet pattern for the West Coast. Today's models forecast another system in the Sunday-Monday timeframe, and yet another next week. 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.)

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

River Notes for Sunday, November 25, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Go skiing? ...Or go boating? It may be one of those Winters! Last night the Upper Kern peaked at over 1400 cfs! This morning it's still above 900 cfs. What yesterday's storm lacked in duration, it made up for in intensity. Based on preliminary snow sensor and RAWS data, higher elevations of the Kern River basin received 2-3 ft. of snow, and lower elevations a lot of rain. Upper Tyndall Creek (11,400 ft.) recorded about 1.7 inches Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), Chagoopa Plateau (10,300 ft.) recorded 2.6 inches SWE and Pascoes (9,150 ft.) recorded 3.7 inches SWE. At lower elevation Kernville RAWS (2720 ft.) reported about 1.0 inch, and Johnsondale RAWS (4700 ft.) recorded a whopping 3.8 inches.

Ensemble forecasts suggest a continued wet pattern for the West Coast and northern California over the next two weeks, but medium range models have been waffling on the southern extent of the systems and associated precipitation. In the short term, a weak system could produce some light mountain snow on Monday, and later in the week a stronger system could bring a better chance of snow. 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.)

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

River Notes for Saturday, November 24, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Computer models say the Sierra is going to be hammered Saturday into Sunday by an incoming mid-latitude Pacific system. A combination of favorable orographics, moisture, jet stream and vorticity maxima could produce substantial precipitation. One limiting factor is the system is expected to move through the area relatively quickly. With the inflow of warm air preceding the system, the snow level is expected to rise to around 7500-8500 ft. in the Southern Sierra on Saturday, before plummeting to 4000 - 5000 ft overnight Sunday. The HPC QPF forecast for the 24 hr. period ending 4:00 am Sunday morning shows as much as 3.5 inches of precipitation along the spine of the Sierra, suggesting that higher elevations could receive as much as three feet of snow.

Ensemble forecasts suggest a continued wet pattern for the West Coast and California over the next two weeks, but medium range models have been waffling on the southern extent of the systems and associated precipitation. 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.)

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

River Notes for Friday, November 16, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Thanksgiving Day is less than a week away! The date has changed over the years. According to Thanksgiving in American History, days of Thanksgiving have been proclaimed in April, July, December and other months. Our modern celebration is due in part to the efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale reportedly "labored for decades" for the "return to the morality and simplicity of days gone by," and in 1863 President Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. Later it was changed to the next-to-the-last Thursday of November by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and then back again a couple of years later. In 1941 Congress set the date to the fourth Thursday in November; where it remains today.

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.)

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

River Notes for Monday, November 5, 2001

Important information about River Notes.

Been boating lately? Some paddlers don't let a little low water slow them down. In October of 1999 we posted some of Dave St. Aubin's low water boating photos. A couple of weekends ago, when the flow was about 150 cfs, kayakers were spotted running the Forks below Four Mile. "Where there is a will, there is a way," and creative boaters are finding runs to paddle and playspots to wheel in, even if the water is low.

Sierra South's very own store dude/instructor/guide, 300+ days-a-year boater Paul Armes, and local Kernville boaters Tracy Vietta and Mike Spradlin have been staying wet. They've found playspots at just about any flow. Today's RiverPhoto (by Mike Spradlin) is of Paul Armes in a Dagger Ego at Lower Bailmore. Rumor has it that Paul got 33 ends on one of his rides! Check out our Low Water Kayaking on the Kern River page for additional info and pics.

The NCEP Week 2 Precipitation Forecast centered on November 16 is suggesting the possibility of some more wet weather and today's 10-Day Precipitation Outlook for the Conterminous U.S. also suggests some wet weather could be on the way.

All of kayaks from this season's fleet have been posted to the Used Boat Barn, and there are still some great deals on new boats in the New Boat Barn. Also be sure and check the Used Paddling Gear section in the Used Boat Barn, with great prices on used paddles, helmets, PFDs and more!

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 © 1996-2008 Sierra South, Inc. All Rights Reserved.