Snohomish, Skykomish rivers may see major flooding Friday
Published 6:02 pm Thursday, November 11, 2021
EVERETT — Snohomish County rivers were expected to swiftly swell above major flood stage Friday, leading to an alert from the National Weather Service.
A 48-hour flood watch went into effect Thursday evening as forecasts intensified for the Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers, as well as others around the region.
With an “atmospheric river” hitting the region, meteorologists believe heavy rain will pummel the Puget Sound lowlands and foothills, only tapering off late Friday.
A Snohomish County flood watch website is updated every five minutes. Residents should keep tabs on it. You don’t want to become a cautionary tale.
“People need to be paying attention to what’s going on around them,” said Scott North, a spokesperson for the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management. “If you see water on a road, don’t drive on it. Most people who die in floods tried to drive through them.”
The Snohomish River was forecast to start flooding near Monroe and Snohomish by the late afternoon Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The Snohomish was expected to keep rising into the night. Meteorologists predicted it would hit major flood stage in the early morning hours Saturday in the river’s namesake city.
Major flood stage is 29 feet. The forecast called for water levels above 30 feet, as of Thursday evening.
If that forecast holds, it could lead to potential closures of roads near the river, according to a flood safety guide created by Snohomish County.
The Skykomish was expected to hit minor flood stage early Friday morning, then surge to moderate flood stage, with water levels peaking around 19 feet, the line where it’s considered a major flood.
Sultan could have it “the worst,” since it’s at the confluence of its namesake river and the Skykomish, said Snohomish County Fire District 26 Chief Eric Andrews.
Andrews said water can be “deceptive.” He urged residents to stay 10 feet back from the banks of the county’s rivers. Those banks can quickly erode and sweep people away.
Rain will continue to move inland through the morning hours. Showers will begin to taper off into the afternoon and evening, but don't expect the break to last. More is on the way Saturday into Sunday. #wawx pic.twitter.com/P8gX7z6Iqh
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) November 12, 2021
The Stillaguamish River was predicted to come close to moderate flood stage Friday afternoon at Haller Park in Arlington.
The Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers feed the Snohomish from the Cascade Range in King County. They’re expected to reach minor flood stage Friday morning, then swell over subsequent hours. Both rivers were forecast to easily eclipse major flood stage, and Snoqualmie Falls will be raging.
Meanwhile, in Skagit County, the Skagit River could approach record-breaking floods on separate days — Saturday and Tuesday — in Mount Vernon, according to the National Weather Service.
Seattle meteorologist Steve Reedy said a flood watch means conditions are ripe for rivers to overflow.
“What really happens will depend on how much rain we get,” Reedy said. “Typically we don’t see these major flood type of events very often.”
Two 24-hour flood information hotlines provide updates about specific rivers.
For information about the Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Snohomish Rivers, call 425-388-3653.
For information about the Stillaguamish River, call 425-388-3702.
The following safety tips came from the Snohomish County flood safety guide:
• If you have time before evacuating, turn off all utilities with the main power switch.
• Do not touch electrical equipment unless it is in a dry area.
• Do not try to walk, wade or drive through flooded areas.
• If you cannot safely leave your house, bring your family, pets and supplies to the second floor or the roof of your house and call 911 for help.
Herald writer Jake Goldstein-Street contributed to this report.
Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; edennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen
