Heavy rain triggers flood alerts for Tolt, Snoqualmie rivers; King County activates Flood Warning Center

Heavy rain triggers flood alerts for Tolt, Snoqualmie rivers; King County activates Flood Warning Center

Heavy rain moving through Western Washington has river levels on the rise and has prompted King County to issue a Phase Two flood alert for both the Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers this morning.

King County activated its Flood Warning Center at 6 a.m. and is closely monitoring both the Tolt and Snoqualmie river conditions. A Phase Two flood alert means minor flooding can be expected in low-lying areas with the possibility of road closures.

At 6:30 a.m., the Tolt River near Carnation was flowing at 3,450 cubic feet per second (cfs) and climbing; a Phase Two alert is triggered at 2,500 cfs on the Tolt. The Snoqualmie River was flowing at 14,930 cfs at the Sum of the Forks. A Phase Two flood alert is triggered at 12,000 cfs for the Snoqualmie. These flows will cause only minor flooding. Real-time river level information is available online by visiting: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/flood.htm.

Minor flood flows are also expected on the Green and White rivers, which are all below Phase Two warning levels but are continuing to rise. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates flood control dams on both rivers and has advised that Phase Two flows are expected this morning.

King County is advising residents living or traveling in flood-prone areas to continue to monitor weather conditions and be on the look out for road closures. No major problems have been reported and road closures are not currently in effect. Motorists are reminded never to drive through standing water or around barricades; this is how most lives are lost during flooding.

A Phase Two alert on any major King County river is the level of the county's four-phase warning system at which the Flood Warning Center is activated to monitor lowland flooding. It will remain open and continue to monitor the river flooding until conditions improve.

Residents in affected areas can get updated information on flooding on the King County Web site at www.metrokc.gov, or can visit RPIN, the area's regional Web site at www.govlink.org. A recorded flood-information hotline is also updated each hour for citizens wanting information in flood areas. The number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263. Citizens who need help interpreting flood information should call 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932. Problems on county maintained roads can be reported by calling 206-296-8100 or 1-800-KC-ROADS.