Snoqualmie River up to moderate flood phase as King County Flood Warning Center monitors rivers swollen by heavy rain

January 31, 2020

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, with an increased likelihood of widespread flooding along the river. County crews are assessing conditions along rivers that have been rising throughout the day as a result of heavy rainfall.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, warning of possible widespread flooding in low-lying areas along the river. The Flood Warning Center opened at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, to monitor and coordinate the county’s response to rising river levels from a powerful winter storm that swept significant rainfall across western Washington.

As of 4:30 p.m., the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was at 20,950 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly higher than the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 20,000 CFS. At these flows, widespread flooding could occur in low-lying areas of the Snoqualmie Valley – including possible road closures.

The Tolt River remains at a Phase 3 flood alert level, with moderate flooding possible along the river upstream of Carnation. As of 4:30 p.m., the Tolt River was flowing at 5,990 CFS, well above the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 5,000 CFS.

The Flood Warning Center will remain open overnight and into the weekend, as additional heavy rain could affect river levels. Flood Warning Center employees will continue to 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 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.