By Cathy Logg
Herald Writer
Warmer temperatures and rain sent lots of water into rivers, causing some flooding and subsequent road closures today in Snohomish County.
Six to 10 homes on the 17800 block of 116th Street near Chappel Road had 4 to 5 feet of water in their basements, Snohomish County Fire District 17 Chief Rick Hjelle said.
“We’ve got water over the road in a couple of places. We’ve got some homes that are susceptible to flooding that are having some problems,” he said.
There was 4 to 5 inches of water across the road at 192nd Drive NE and Burgen Road.
At midday, no one had been evacuated, and fire district personnel were out surveying the area to see if the flooding was increasing.
The problem areas are the north fork of the Stillaguamish River in the Arlington area, which was to crest about a foot above flood stage around 1 p.m., and an area of the south fork near Granite Falls, where water was flowing over the banks, possibly from a backup of the north fork, Snohomish County Emergency Management Director Roger Serra said.
The Stillaguamish was to crest at around 17 feet this afternoon. There has been some flooding along Norman and Florence roads and Marine Drive.
The closures include: 300th Street NE (just north of Highway 530); Oso Loop Road from Highway 530 to Entsminger Road; Norman Road from Marine Drive to Miller Road; Hevly Road; Pioneer Highway from 212th Street NW to Norman Road; Boe Road at Marine Drive; and Engebretson Road from 172nd Avenue NE to Burn Road.
The Stillaguamish is on a flood watch and the Skykomish River, near Gold Bar, is on a flood warning, Serra said. Flood stage at Gold Bar is 15 feet, and the river was at 14 feet about noon. It’s expected to crest at 15 feet about 8 tonight, then begin falling below flood stage into Saturday.
Serra predicted that water would cover Ben Howard Road and some low pastures along the river.
Meanwhile, U.S. 2 at Stevens Pass reopened in both directions about 11:30 a.m. after crews cleared away large amounts of snow that buried the highway during avalanche control work early this morning, said Victoria Tobin, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman.
More snow than expected came down during the avalanche control work about eight miles east of Skykomish at Scenic and on up to the summit, she said.
“It was a big buildup. There was a lot of snow up there,” she said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
