King County Flood Warning Center closes as rivers impacted by powerful rainstorm stabilize

October 29, 2021

Summary

With rain diminishing and stream flows stabilizing, the King County Flood Warning Center closed at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, following slightly more than 24 hours of continuous operation to closely monitor moderate flooding along the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers. County employees will continue to monitor weather forecasts and stream conditions.

Story

The King County Flood Warning Center closed at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, after opening at midday on Thursday, Oct. 28, to monitor moderate flooding on the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers.

The Flood Warning Center opened at 1:30 p.m. as an intense rainstorm swept into the region, resulting in rapidly rising river levels across the region. The Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers each reached a Phase 3 flood level, with numerous roads closed by floodwaters. 

Flood patrols dispatched by the Flood Warning Center were in the field during the storm to closely assess conditions and to note any impacts the storm might have had on flood risk reduction infrastructure, such as levees.

Flood Warning Center employees answered questions from the public and other agencies, maintained contact with flood response workers, and kept abreast of the latest weather forecast information and dam operations.

County employees will continue to monitor stream conditions and weather forecasts to ensure public safety, and 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.

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.