King County Flood Warning Center: Moderate flooding on Snoqualmie, Tolt rivers; Minor flooding on Issaquah Creek, White River

February 28, 2022

Summary

Rivers and streams across King County continue to rise as a result of heavy rainfall throughout the region, and the King County Flood Warning Center has issued Phase 3 flood alerts for the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, with moderate flooding possible; and a Phase 2 flood alert for Issaquah Creek, where minor and localized flooding could occur. The Flood Warning Center opened at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, to closely monitor rising flows on rain-swollen rivers.

Story

With heavy rainfall continuing across the region, King County’s Flood Warning Center has issued Phase 3 flood alerts for the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, with moderate flooding possible along those rivers – including possible road closures. Issaquah Creek joins the White River at a Phase 2 flood alert level, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas.

As of 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was flowing at 21,520 cubic feet per second (CFS), slightly higher than the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 20,000 CFS for that river. At these flows, flooding of varied depths could occur throughout the entire Snoqualmie Valley, and numerous roads could be affected by rising water. 

Meanwhile, the Tolt River was flowing at 5,430 CFS at 6 p.m. on Monday, exceeding the Phase 3 flood alert threshold of 5,000 CFS. The 6800 block of Tolt River Road Northeast could experience deepening water over the roadway, and levees along the south bank of the Tolt River could see increased seepage resulting in backyard flooding between the Snoqualmie Valley Trail bridge and the State Route 203 bridge near 323rd Place Southeast.

As of 6 p.m. on Monday, the stream gauge at Issaquah Creek near Hobart reached 7.52 feet, slightly higher than the Phase 2 flood alert level of 7.5 feet at that gauge. Minor flood impacts could be expected in low-lying areas along the creek.

Finally, the White River remains at a Phase 2 flood alert level, with some minor flooding possible upstream of the A Street Bridge in Auburn, and in the City of Pacific near Government Canal and Butte Avenue. High water could also occur along the temporary flood protection barriers in Pacific.

King County Flood Warning Center employees are monitoring stream gauges and weather reports to provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Find 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.

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.