King County Flood Warning Center issues minor flood alert for Snoqualmie River as rainfall continues across region

January 7, 2022

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas along the river. The Flood Warning Center opened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, to closely monitor rising flows on Issaquah Creek and the Tolt River.

Story

Persistent rainfall has led to a Phase 2 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas along the river, according to the King County Flood Warning Center, which opened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, to monitor minor flood conditions along Issaquah Creek and the Tolt River.

As of 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was flowing at 12,090 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly higher than the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 12,000 CFS. At these flows, minor flooding is possible along the river, including some road closures. 

Issaquah Creek flows at the stream gauge near Hobart have subsided since their peak late on Jan. 6, when the stream easily surpassed the Phase 2 flood alert threshold. For assistance with drainage and flooding problems within the City of Issaquah, call 425-837-3470. More information is also available by calling the City of Issaquah’s Emergency Information Line, 425-837-3028.

Flows on the Tolt River remain above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold. As of 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, the Tolt River at Carnation was flowing at 4,370 CFS, well above the Phase 2 threshold of 3,500 CFS, and with minor impacts to travel possible in low-lying areas along the river upstream of Carnation. 

King County flood patrol crews have been traveling throughout impacted areas, checking conditions and reporting their findings back to employees at the King County Flood Warning Center, who are monitoring stream gauges and weather reports to provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. 

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.

Find real-time river level information at kingcounty.gov/flood.

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.

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

RELEVANT LINKS
• Sign up for flood warnings and alerts
• King County Flood Control District

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Doug Williams, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 206-477-4543

# # #

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.