Record flooding possible in county

Published 11:05 pm Tuesday, January 6, 2009

SNOHOMISH — Record flooding is forecast for the Snohomish River this week as a warm, wet storm brings significant rain to the area.

Major flooding also is expected along the Stillaguamish River near Arlington. Officials in Gold Bar, meanwhile, are bracing for possible flooding in new areas along the Wallace River — a tributary of the Skykomish.

High water is expected to begin rising today.

This could be one of the most significant floods in a decade, said meteorologist Ted Buehner with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

The danger of avalanches in the mountains also is extremely high, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

Landslides also could be triggered by saturated soil and melting snow.

All three major east-to-west highways through the Cascade Range — I-90 Snoqualmie Pass, U.S. 2 Stevens Pass and U.S. 20 White Pass — were under extreme avalanche warnings Tuesday.

Stevens Pass was closed by an avalanche.

Up to 15 inches of rain is predicted to fall in the mountains from now until Thursday, tapering to about 3 inches in the lowlands.

The Snohomish River at Snohomish is predicted to crest at 32.7 feet Thursday morning and remain well above flood stage at least through Friday.

One major concern is a stretch of I-5 in Centralia, inundated in 2007 when a fast-rising Chehalis River crested its banks and flowed onto the road. That closed the highway for days. Forecasters say the area could again be covered in water.

The state has contacted the federal Army Corps of Engineers to prepare for the possible breaching of levees along the Chehalis if needed, Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond told a legislative committee in Olympia on Tuesday.

A large avalanche three miles west of Stevens Pass blocked both directions of U.S. 2 on Tuesday afternoon. No injuries were reported. It was not set off intentionally.

The Department of Transportation is warning motorists to anticipate delays caused by avalanche control and flooding.

Snohomish County plans to open its Emergency Operation Center this morning, said John Pennington, director of the county’s Department of Emergency Management.

Pennington urged people living in flood-prone areas to be prepared to evacuate and for others to be mindful of flood and landslide dangers.

“I don’t want people to be overconfident with floods and snow and disasters,” Pennington said. “When people get that comfortable, that’s when we have the most mistakes come up in our community.”

As rivers rise, Pennington said the county plans to have its engineers work closely with dike districts to make sure the county’s river flood-control network is working properly.

Gold Bar officials hand delivered about 60 letters to people living in and around the city, warning the river may flood in new areas. The floods of 2006 pushed debris down the Wallace River, said mayor Crystal Hill. The letters warn residents in four neighborhoods around the Wallace River to prepare for possible flooding, even if their homes weren’t affected in the past.

In November’s flooding, a dike in the area near the Wallace River overtopped where it never had before, Hill said.

The Skykomish River is expected to reach flood stage around 10 a.m. today in Gold Bar and officials will decide then if they need to take additional measures.

Those living in flood-prone areas should take special precautions, including moving livestock to the Monroe Fairgrounds, she said. Sand and bags are available across the street from City Hall at 107 Fifth St. and at Fire Station 54 on U.S. 2. In Sultan, sand bags are available at Third and Main streets and at the back of the public works area on 703 First St., said Connie Dunn, Sultan public works director.

Dunn planned to spend most of Tuesday night monitoring the roads and around the city for flooding. On Tuesday, water already was over the road in several places, including Sultan Basin Road south of 132nd Street, 139th Street on Rice Road, and on one lane on Old Owen Road just behind the Red Apple market.

“When it floods our town comes to life,” Dunn said. “Everyone is anxious to see what’s going on.”

Reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report.

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.