Minor flooding possible on Tolt, White rivers as King County Flood Warning Center monitoring rising flows from heavy rain

November 12, 2021

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Tolt and White rivers, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas along those rivers.

Story

With a strong storm continuing to bring heavy rain across much of the region, the King County Flood Warning Center has issued Phase 2 flood alerts for the Tolt and White rivers, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas along those two rivers.

As of 2:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, the Tolt River at Carnation was flowing at 3,660 cubic feet per second (CFS) – just above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 3,500 CFS for that river system. At this flow, some minor flooding could occur along the river upstream of Carnation.

The White River also reached a Phase 2 flood alert level at about 2:30 a.m., with flows from Mud Mountain Dam recorded at 5,520 CFS, slightly higher than the 5,000 CFS for a Phase 2 flood alert on that river system. At this flow, overbank flooding could occur upstream of the A Street Bridge in Auburn, and near Government Canal and Butte Avenue in Pacific.

The Snoqualmie River is also at a Phase 2 flood alert level because of heavy rainfall. As of 2:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was recorded at 15,150 CFS, well above the threshold of 12,000 CFS for a Phase 2 flood on that river.  

Flood Warning Center employees are monitoring stream gauges and weather reports to 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.