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

October 28, 2021

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Tolt River at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct 28, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas. The Snoqualmie River remains at a Phase 2 flood alert level, as heavy rainfall continues pushing river levels higher.

Story

Heavy rain in northeast King County has pushed the Tolt River to a minor flood alert level according to the King County Flood Warning Center, which opened early on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 28, to monitor minor flooding along the Snoqualmie River.

As of 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, the Tolt River was flowing at 3,790 cubic feet per second (CFS), well clear of the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 3,500 CFS. At these flows, minor flooding could be expected in low-lying areas upstream of Carnation.

The Snoqualmie River is also at a Phase 2 flood alert level, with minor flooding possible. As of 3:45 p.m. Thursday, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was flowing at 16,960 CFS, far above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 12,000 CFS and approaching the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 20,000 CFS.   

The Flood Warning Center opened at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday to closely monitor flood conditions. Flood Warning Center employees continue operating remotely as part of COVID-19 safety precautions and will monitor 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.