Published: Saturday, November 15, 2008
County floodwaters recede, but landslides likely next threat
The area's rivers have receded and floodwaters are soaking into the ground, but there's still a major threat to Snohomish County residents: landslides.
Several roads are closed in King County because they're now covered with mud, said Kirby Cook, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The same thing could easily happen in Snohomish County, so drivers should be cautious on roads that are steep or are near steep inclines, Cook said.
"Landslides can occur anytime after the heavy rain has stopped," he said. "You have to get rid of all that moisture in the soil, and that takes a while."
Though most of the region's flooding is over, people who live and work in the Monroe and Snohomish areas still should beware of standing water. The Snohomish River was still in flood stage at both places Friday, Cook said.
The Snohomish River at Snohomish crested at nearly 30 feet on Thursday, and on Friday was still at nearly 28 feet. Experts at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the river would likely stay above flood stage of 25 feet for several days as floodwater from the river system's upper basin continues to drain down.
In Monroe, the Snohomish River hovered at 15.4 feet Friday, just above flood stage of 15 feet, Cook said. The river there was expected to fall below flood stage sometime late Friday.
The weekend will bring dry weather for most of the region, Cook said. Mild drizzle expected to sprinkle British Columbia and Washington's northwestern-most points could drift into Snohomish County, but that's not likely, he said.
"Otherwise, we're going to stay dry, and maybe even have some sunbreaks," he said.
Daytime temperatures aren't expected to move out of the mid-50s, he said.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
Several roads are closed in King County because they're now covered with mud, said Kirby Cook, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The same thing could easily happen in Snohomish County, so drivers should be cautious on roads that are steep or are near steep inclines, Cook said.
"Landslides can occur anytime after the heavy rain has stopped," he said. "You have to get rid of all that moisture in the soil, and that takes a while."
Though most of the region's flooding is over, people who live and work in the Monroe and Snohomish areas still should beware of standing water. The Snohomish River was still in flood stage at both places Friday, Cook said.
The Snohomish River at Snohomish crested at nearly 30 feet on Thursday, and on Friday was still at nearly 28 feet. Experts at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the river would likely stay above flood stage of 25 feet for several days as floodwater from the river system's upper basin continues to drain down.
In Monroe, the Snohomish River hovered at 15.4 feet Friday, just above flood stage of 15 feet, Cook said. The river there was expected to fall below flood stage sometime late Friday.
The weekend will bring dry weather for most of the region, Cook said. Mild drizzle expected to sprinkle British Columbia and Washington's northwestern-most points could drift into Snohomish County, but that's not likely, he said.
"Otherwise, we're going to stay dry, and maybe even have some sunbreaks," he said.
Daytime temperatures aren't expected to move out of the mid-50s, he said.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
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