Phase III flood alert level on Snoqualmie River as King County continues to monitor high flows

Continued rainfall throughout Saturday lifted the Snoqualmie River into a Phase III flood alert level, while the Tolt River continues to flow at the higher Phase IV flood alert level, according to the King County Flood Warning Center.
At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the sum of the Snoqualmie River’s three forks was 21,310 cubic feet per second (cfs), above the 20,000 cfs threshold for a Phase III flood alert level. At these flows, flooding of varied depths can be expected throughout the Snoqualmie Valley.

Meanwhile, the Tolt River has remained at a Phase IV flood alert level for much of the afternoon. At 6:30 p.m., the Tolt was flowing at 7,530 cfs; a Phase IV flood alert is issued for the Tolt River when flows exceed the 7,000 cfs level. Roads are closed along both rivers because of water over the roadways. Motorists are advised to never drive through standing water or around barricades; this is how most lives are lost during flooding.

The Flood Warning Center opened at 5:30 a.m. Saturday to closely monitor flows as several bands of heavy rain moved through eastern King County. The center dispatched a flood patrol crew late Saturday morning to more closely monitor conditions. Flood Warning Center staff will continue to monitor stream gauges and weather reports and provide updated information on river conditions as necessary.

Real-time river level information is available online by visiting: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/flood.htm. 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.

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.