Eighteen rivers are forecast to reach major flooding levels across Western Washington through Friday, including four expected to shatter records. It could mean extensive inundation, property damage and even evacuations.
An atmospheric river system is bringing a second push of moisture Wednesday with heavy rainfall expected throughout the day, said National Weather Service meteorologist Anna Lindeman. That means a “sharp rise” to area rivers, which is already happening Wednesday morning.
The third day of the powerful atmospheric rivers started with major flooding in the Puyallup River near Orting, Pierce County. Waters will reach a peak of 12.5 feet around 10 a.m., which is more than two feet above what’s considered flooding at the river and is above the record level, before receding. Waters will rise again Thursday morning.
Lowland areas could receive an inch to 3 inches of rain throughout Thursday morning, while the Olympic and Cascade mountains could get 4 to 8 inches, perhaps more in the central and southern Cascades, Lindeman said. On top of that, gusts of up to 45 mph could whip the wider region.
All that rain over the last couple of days means “almost every river in Western Washington is flooding,” Lindeman said.
Flooding is predicted to reach record-breaking levels at five locations this week.
The Skagit River near Concrete, Skagit County, is predicted to rocket into the major flooding stage Wednesday night into Thursday morning with a water level of 47.68 feet, surpassing its record water height of 42.2 feet. Twenty-eight feet would be considered a flood.
Record-breaking water heights are also expected during major flooding on the Elwha River at McDonald Bridge near Port Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, the Snohomish River at Snohomish and Monroe on Thursday night, and the Skagit River at Mount Vernon on Thursday night into Friday morning.
The rain will begin to taper off Thursday, and Friday may even be dry, but that won’t mean an end to the flooding, Lindeman said. “The rivers take a little bit to respond,” so elevated flows can be expected through the remainder of the week and possibly the weekend as the rivers move the heavy rainwater all the way out.
Major flooding is also expected over the next couple of days at North Fork Stillaguamish River at Arlington, Skykomish River near Gold Bar, Tolt River near Carnation, Snoqualmie River near Carnation and Snoqualmie Falls, Cedar River at Renton and Landsburg, Wenatchee River at Peshastin in Chelan County, Carbon River near Fairfax in Pierce County, Nisqually River near National, and Cowlitz River at Packwood and Randle in Lewis County.
