King County Flood Warning Center: Tolt River hits Phase 3 flood alert, Snoqualmie to Phase 2

January 31, 2020

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Tolt River, with moderate widespread flooding possible; and a Phase 2 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River, where minor flooding in low-lying areas is also possible. The Flood Warning Center opened at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, to monitor river levels that are being pushed higher by a significant winter rainstorm.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 3 flood alert for the Tolt River at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, with widespread moderate flooding possible along the river east of Carnation. The Flood Warning Center has also issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River with minor flooding possible, as heavy rainfall from a strong winter storm continues to push area river flows higher.

As of 10:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, the Tolt River was flowing at 5,090 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly higher than the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 5,000 CFS. At these flows, floodwaters could flow across Tolt River Road Northeast, and minor levee seepage could occur in isolated places. 

The Snoqualmie River reached a Phase 2 flood alert level at about 10:30 a.m. on Friday, when the sum of the river’s three forks reached 13,010 CFS – slightly above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 12,000 CFS for that river. Minor flooding in low-lying areas along the Snoqualmie River could occur at these flows.

Heavy rain is causing swift increases to river levels and flows this morning, leading to the possibility of more rivers reaching minor and moderate flood phases before the rainfall eases and river levels begin to drop. 

The King County Flood Warning Center will remain open as long as flood conditions persist. Flood Warning Center employees will monitor stream gauges and weather reports and will provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. 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.

Find the KC Flood Alerts link at kingcounty.gov/flood. This website is a valuable preparedness resource, with all of the latest information about river levels and road conditions, plus weather reports and other critical links.

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

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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.