King County Flood Warning Center: Phase 3 flood alert for Tolt River - moderate flooding possible as rainfall continues

January 20, 2022

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Tolt River at 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20, with moderate flooding possible in areas along the river upstream of Carnation. The Flood Warning Center has been open since 8:30 a.m. Thursday to monitor flooding along the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers from heavy rainfall.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Tolt River, with moderate flooding possible along the river east of Carnation. The Snoqualmie River remains at a Phase 2 flood alert level with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas near the river. Heavy rainfall across eastern King County is keeping river flows elevated

As of 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20, the Tolt River near Carnation was flowing at 5,020 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly higher than the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 5,000 CFS for the Tolt River.

At these flows, floodwaters could start to cross pavement in the vicinity of the 6800 block of Tolt River Road Northeast. Additional floodwater seepage and backyard flooding could occur along the river’s south bank between the Snoqualmie Valley Trail Bridge and the State Route 203 Bridge near 323rd Place Southeast. 

Minor flood flows are continuing along the Snoqualmie River, with the sum of the river’s three forks registering 15,610 CFS at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday – well above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 12,000 CFS for the Snoqualmie. 

The Flood Warning Center has been operating since 8:30 Thursday morning to closely monitor river flooding and help ensure public safety. 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.