Officials brace for widespread flooding in Reno area

RENO - Gov. Brian Sandoval toured sandbag stations Saturday as officials and residents prepared for a powerful storm that stoked fears of widespread flooding in the Reno area.

Officials braced for major flooding this morning around Truckee, Calif., and for minor to moderate flooding today and Monday around Reno after the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the length of the Truckee River.

The Truckee, which flows more than 100 miles from Lake Tahoe to Nevada's Pyramid Lake, was expected to crest above flood stage after heavy rains hit the region Saturday night and this morning. The weather Saturday included high winds that prompted more than a dozen flight cancellations at the Reno airport.

New rainfall amounts were expected to range from 1 to 2 inches around Reno and 3 to 5 inches around Tahoe. Over the past two or three days, up to 6.41 inches of precipitation fell around Tahoe and 1.44 inches of rain was reported around Reno.

Northern Nevada authorities declared a state of emergency Friday after forecasters said heavy rain and a melting Sierra Nevada snowpack would send the Truckee over its banks for the first time since a January 2006 flood.

Forecasters were calling for minor flooding in the downtown Reno casino area and for moderate flooding in the nearby Sparks industrial area, whose hundreds of businesses have 20,000 to 25,000 employees.

Sandoval was briefed Saturday afternoon on the area's flood preparation efforts.

Winds of up to 140 mph over the Sierra crest prompted at least 16 flight cancellations and several delays Saturday at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, spokesman Brian Kulpin said.

MARTIN GRIFFITH/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS