King County Flood Warning Center issues Phase 3 flood alert for Snoqualmie River, as rain continues to push flows higher

November 12, 2021

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for Snoqualmie River, with moderate flooding possible and an increased potential for road closures in low-lying areas of the Snoqualmie Valley.

Story

With significant rainfall continuing across much of the area, the King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River, with possible road closures in low-lying areas of the Snoqualmie Valley. Minor flood conditions continue along the Tolt and White rivers.

As of 6 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was flowing at 20,640 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly higher than the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 20,000 CFS for the river. At these flows, flooding of varied depths could occur in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Elsewhere, the Tolt River at Carnation remains at a Phase 2 flood alert level with flows of 4,660 CFS recorded at 6 a.m.  – well above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 3,500 CFS for that river system and approaching the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 5,000 CFS. Minor flooding is possible along the Tolt River upstream of the Carnation at these flows.

The White River is also at a Phase 2 flood alert level. As of 6 a.m., the stream gauge at Mud Mountain Dam was recording a flow of 5,860 CFS, indicating the potential for flooding near the A Street Bridge in Auburn, and near Government Canal and Butte Avenue in Pacific.

Flood Warning Center employees continue monitoring stream gauges and weather reports to 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.

Immediate notifications about pending high water are sent to email, smart phone text or voicemail, providing subscribers with the maximum amount of warning about potential high water.

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.