King County Flood Warning Center: Green River to Phase 3 flood alert level as impacts continue from major rainstorm

March 1, 2022

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Green River, with possible moderate flooding in low-lying areas of the Green River Valley upstream of Auburn. The Flood Warning Center opened at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, to monitor minor to moderate flood conditions on rivers and streams across the county from a potent rainstorm.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Green River, where moderate flooding could occur in low-lying areas of the Green River Valley upstream of Auburn – the latest river system to experience floodwaters from a powerful rainstorm that caused flooding of various magnitudes on rivers across the county.

As of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1, the Green River at Auburn was flowing at 9,100 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly over the Phase 3 threshold of 9,000 CFS. At these flows, flooding of varied depths can occur in the Green River Valley above Auburn, as well as in the lower Mill Creek basin farther downstream. Floodwaters could overtop roads along the river, including portions of Southeast Green Valley Road and West Valley Road.

Since opening at midday on Monday, the Flood Warning Center has been closely watching floodwaters along the Snoqualmie, Tolt, Cedar, Green and White rivers, as well as Issaquah Creek. 

The Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers remain at Phase 3 flood alert levels, with moderate widespread flooding along those river systems. The Cedar and White rivers remain at Phase 2 flood alert levels, with minor and isolated flooding possible, while flows have receded along Issaquah Creek. Find real-time river level information at kingcounty.gov/flood.

King County Flood Warning Center employees will continue to monitor stream gauges and weather reports to provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Flood patrol crews are continuing their work in the field, including reporting observations to colleagues in the Flood Warning Center. 

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.