[pct-l] ...WARMER WEATHER TO BRING AN INCREASE IN MOUNTAIN STREAM FLOWS..

[Bill Person]

A posting from NWS.

SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
...WARMER WEATHER TO BRING AN INCREASE IN MOUNTAIN STREAM FLOWS..

A TRANSITION FROM NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO MUCH WARMER WEATHER
WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS OVER CENTRAL CALIFORNIA.

ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE MUCH WARMER IN ALL AREAS...THE MAIN CONCERN
FROM THIS WARM UP WILL BE AN INCREASE IN SNOW MELT...AND THE RISE
IN WATER LEVELS OF MOUNTAIN CREEKS AND STREAMS. ALTHOUGH FLOODING
CONDITIONS ARE NOT ANTICIPATED...MOST STREAMS AND RIVERS WILL
EXPERIENCE MUCH HIGHER FLOWS. THIS WILL CREATE A CONCERN FOR
PEOPLE VENTURING INTO THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...INCLUDING THE
KERN RIVER...THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT EVEN THOUGH A STREAM OR RIVER LOOKS COOL AND
INVITING DURING WARM WEATHER...THE WATER IS ACTUALLY VERY COLD
AND MAY BE DANGEROUSLY FAST. OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS ARE ADVISED TO
USE EXTREME CAUTION IN AND NEAR STREAMS AND RIVERS. IF YOU ARE
BOATING OR RAFTING...ALWAYS WEAR LIFE JACKETS OR VESTS...AND KEEP
OTHER FLOTATION GEAR HANDY.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON CAMPING NEAR STREAMS...REMEMBER THAT THE
HIGHEST WATER LEVELS OCCUR AT NIGHT...USUALLY WITHIN AN HOUR OR
TWO EITHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT. A CAMPGROUND MAY LOOK PERFECTLY DRY
AND SAFE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON...BUT CAN QUICKLY TAKE ON WATER AT
NIGHT.