King County Flood Warning Center issues Phase 2 flood alert for Tolt River - minor flooding possible from heavy rain

January 12, 2022

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Tolt River, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas upstream of Carnation because of heavy rainfall. The Flood Warning Center opened at 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, to closely monitor rising flows on the Snoqualmie River.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Tolt River at 2:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, indicating that minor flooding is possible along the river upstream of Carnation. The Flood Warning Center opened at 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, to monitor minor flooding conditions along the Snoqualmie River.

As of 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, the Tolt River near Carnation was flowing at 3,870 cubic feet per second (CFS), exceeding the Phase 2 flood alert level of 3,500 CFS for that river. At these flows, some minor flooding could be expected along the river east of Carnation, with minor impacts to private property. 

Meanwhile, flows continue to the rise along the Snoqualmie River, where the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was recorded at 15,680 CFS at 2:30 a.m., comfortably higher than the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 12,000 CFS.

King County Flood Warning Center employees are monitoring stream gauges and weather reports to provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Find 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.

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.