King County Flood Warning Center closes as Tolt River levels drop

King County closed its Flood Warning Center at 6 a.m. this morning following a brief period of high flows in the Tolt River.

The Flood Warning Center was opened at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, so staff could closely monitor flooding conditions in the Tolt. A concentration of heavy rain in the upper watershed yesterday brought the Tolt River up quickly, climbing more than 600 cubic feet per second (cfs) in just one hour by midnight and leading to some minor flooding in lowland areas. After peaking at over 3,300 cfs early this morning, by 6 a.m. river levels had dropped back under the county’s Phase II flood alert level of 2,500 cfs.

Staff will continue to monitor stream gages and weather reports and provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Real-time river level information is available online at www.kingcounty.gov/flood.

Updated information on flooding will also be posted on the King County Web site at www.kingcounty.gov, and via RPIN, the area's regional public information Web site, at http://www.rpin.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.

Anyone who needs help interpreting flood information during a Flood Warning Center opening can 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.

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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 http://www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/.

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Flooding services and information

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King County Flood Control District

King County Water and Land Resources