Rivers threaten to flood areas hit hard last year

Published 7:01 pm Monday, December 3, 2007

People who were threatened by risking flood waters last year in Snohomish County need to be cautious tonight and prepare to move quickly to protect their safety, officials said this evening.

“Overnight, we expect to see a transition from urban flooding to rising rivers similar to the Election Day floods of 2006,” said Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management Director John Pennington. “Those who experienced flooding in 2006 in particular should use precaution and monitor flood gauges.”

The County is monitoring local river levels closely and has activated its flood information lines. The flood information line for the Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish Rivers phone number is (425) 388-3653. For the Stillaguamish River the number is (425) 388-3702.

A flood warning has been issued for the Snohomish River where flooding is expected to be more severe than predictions.

Last year, the Snohomish River climbed to 33.49 feet in Snohomish, just shy of 33.5 feet, the record set in 1990. National Weather Service projections now forecast the river will climb to 31.4 feet around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

“We’re progressing away from the urban flooding,” Murphy said. “(Urban flooding) is going to continue, don’t get me wrong, (but all the rain) just continues to kick these rivers up higher and higher. They’ve upped the ante.”

Flood warnings also have been issued for the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers, which drain into the Snohomish River.

Farther north, both forks of the Stillaguamish River are also under flood warnings.

The Snohomish River had reached 19 feet at Snohomish by noon today. Flood stage is 25 feet.