Summary

Issaquah Creek reached a Phase 4 flood alert with significant flood impacts along its course through Issaquah early on Thursday, Feb. 6, while the Green River reached a Phase 3 flood alert level, with the potential for flooding of varied depths in the valley upstream of Auburn. The King County Flood Warning Center opened at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5 to monitor flooding from the second major winter rainstorm in less than one week.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 4 flood alert for Issaquah Creek with significant flooding along its course through the City of Issaquah, while the Green River has climbed to a Phase 3 flood alert, with flooding of varied depths in the Green River Valley upstream of Auburn.

As of 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, Issaquah Creek had surpassed the 9.0-foot mark on the gauge near Hobart, indicating a major flood event for the creek with numerous road closures.

For the Green River, flows at the Auburn gauge exceeded the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 9,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) shortly after midnight on Feb. 6. At these flows, flooding can occur in numerous locations upstream of Auburn and in the lower Mill Creek Basin. 

The Cedar River is also at a Phase 3 flood alert level, with flows continuing to slowly climb. As of 1:30 a.m., the Cedar River at Landsburg was flowing at 4,580 CFS – well above the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 4,200 CFS. At these flows, roads near the Cedar River could overtop and close, including roads that provide access to neighborhoods can become trapped and require evacuation.

The White, Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers remain at Phase 2 flood alert levels, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas along those rivers.

The Flood Warning Center opened at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, as several rivers that were still running high following last week’s widespread flood event began to rise with fresh rainfall.

The Flood Warning Center will remain open as long as flood conditions persist. Employees will monitor stream gauges and weather reports and will provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Real-time river level information is available online at kingcounty.gov/flood.

During river flooding events, King County serves as a clearinghouse for information on flood conditions, operating a recorded message center with continuous updates of river gauge readings and flood phases and other related information. Reach the Flood Warning Center at 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263. Interpreter assistance in multiple languages is available.

King County offers everyone free access to KC Flood Alerts, an automated system that allows subscribers to receive customized email, text or voicemail alerts of potential flooding for any or all of King County’s seven major river systems.

Find the KC Flood Alerts link at kingcounty.gov/flood. This website is a valuable preparedness resource, with all of the latest information about river levels and road conditions, plus weather reports and other critical links.

Questions or assistance with flooding on smaller streams or urban drainage problems can be called in to 206-477-4811 during business hours, or 206-477-8100 after hours or on weekends.

Problems on County maintained roads can be reported by calling 206-477-8100 or 1-800-KC-ROADS.

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The King County Flood Control District is a special purpose government created to provide funding and policy oversight for flood protection projects and programs in King County. The Flood Control District’s Board is composed of the members of the King County Council. The Water and Land Resources Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks develops and implements the approved flood protection projects and programs. Information is available at kingcountyfloodcontrol.org.