King County Flood Warning Center: Minor flooding possible in low-lying areas along Snoqualmie River due to heavy rainfall

January 20, 2022

Summary

The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase 2 flood alert for the Snoqualmie River with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas as a result of heavy rainfall across the Cascade foothills.

Story

King County’s Flood Warning Center says minor flooding in low-lying areas along the Snoqualmie River is possible following several hours of heavy rainfall across eastern portions of the county. The Flood Warning Center opened at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20, to monitor potential minor flooding along the Tolt River, and to keep an eye on rising river flows across the county.

As of 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was flowing at 14,890 cubic feet per second (CFS), significantly exceeding the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 12,000 CFS for the Snoqualmie River. At these flows, scattered road closures are possible as a result of rising floodwaters.

The Tolt River remains at a Phase 2 flood alert level at midday Thursday, with a flow of 3,920 CFS recorded at the stream gauge near Carnation – well above the Phase 2 flood alert threshold of 3,500 CFS for the Tolt River. Floodwaters could overtop roads in low-lying areas along the Tolt River east of Carnation. 

Flood Warning Center employees are monitoring conditions to help ensure public safety. Find real-time river level information 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.