King County Flood Warning Center issues Phase 3 flood alerts for Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, with moderate flooding possible

January 12, 2022

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, with moderate flooding possible, including some road closures, following heavy rainfall. The Flood Warning Center opened at 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, to closely monitor rising river levels.

Story

Heavy rainfall continues to push river flows higher, and the King County Flood Warning Center issued Phase 3 flood alerts for the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, with moderate flooding possible along the rivers, including some road closures.

As of 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was flowing at 21,710 cubic feet per second (CFS) slightly higher than the Phase 3 flood alert level of 20,000 CFS. At these flows, flooding could occur at varied depths across the Snoqualmie Valley, and road closures are possible, including Neal Road, Southeast Reinig Road, West Snoqualmie River Road Northeast, Snoqualmie Meadowbrook Road, and Mill Pond Road.

Along the Tolt River, flows upstream of Carnation at 4:30 a.m. were flowing at 5,270 CFS, just above the Phase 3, flood alert threshold of 5,000 CFS. Roads that could be affected by rising floodwaters along the Tolt include portions of the 6800 block of Tolt River Road Northeast. Additionally, increased seepage and property flooding could occur along the south bank of the Tolt River between the Snoqualmie Valley Trail bridge and the State Route 203 bridge near 323rd Place Southeast.

The Flood Warning Center opened at 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, to monitor minor flooding conditions along the Snoqualmie River. The Tolt River joined the Snoqualmie at a minor flood phase about one hour later. 

King County Flood Warning Center employees are monitoring stream gauges and weather reports to provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Flood patrol crews started their shifts early this morning and are monitoring flooding from the field and reporting their observations back to the Flood Warning Center.

Find real-time river level information 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.

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

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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.