Rain, Snowmelt Cause Flooding Washington Rivers Predicted To Surpass Flood Stage
Rain and snowmelt swelled rivers across Western Washington on Sunday, with at least nine major streams predicted to rise above flood stage before receding.
Some low-lying country roads, including several in east King County, were closed by high water in the Puget Sound region.
While some homes were cut off and some cars conked out as drivers tried to forge through the floodwaters, there were no major problems due to flooding reported by late Sunday.
U.S. 101, the main route along the west side of Hood Canal, was closed north of Shelton at Elgin by a slide for a time.
Sunday evening, flood warnings were in effect for the Klickitat, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Cedar, the lower Cowlitz, Satsop, and Skokomish rivers.
Less-urgent flood watches were posted for the Skookumchuck and Chehalis rivers.
The most serious threats appeared to be posed by the Snoqualmie and Snohomish rivers.
The Snoqualmie near Carnation was forecast to crest about 2-1/2 feet above flood stage Monday, causing some flooding along the Snoqualmie Valley.
The Snohomish was expected to crest about 3 feet above flood stage at Monroe and Snohomish Sunday evening, also causing some flooding.
The rising water was caused by warm, moist air flowing across the state, dumping rain as it went.
One reporting station in the hills near Aberdeen reported 5.30 inches in 24 hours, the National Weather Service said.
The weather will slowly become dryer and cooler over the next several days, the weather service said.
xxxx FLOOD WARNINGS The weather service gave these accounts of other rivers: The Cedar at Renton was forecast to crest about a foot above flood stage Sunday evening. The Satsop near Satsop was expected to crest less than a foot above flood stage Sunday. The Skokomish near Potlatch was about a foot above flood stage Sunday afternoon, and was forecast to remain at or above flood stage through Monday. The Chehalis at Centralia was predicted to crest about a half foot over flood stage Monday. The Skookumchuck at Centralia was predicted to crest at flood stage Monday morning. The Klickitat near Pitt was expected to crest about a foot above flood stage late Sunday evening. Flood warnings for the Nooksack and Skagit rivers in northwest Washington were canceled. The Nooksack crested half a foot below flood stage at Deming Sunday morning, while the Skagit was forecast to crest about a foot below flood stage near Mount Vernon late Sunday night. The Stillaguamish and Skykomish rivers crested less than a foot above flood stage Sunday and were falling.