Heavy rain may cause minor flooding heading into the weekend

EVERETT — Wet weather is on the way and it could cause minor flooding heading into the weekend.

Heavy rain is expected to move through the area late Thursday and into Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. Light wind may also breeze through the lowlands, and snowfall is anticipated in the mountains.

Minor flooding is predicted Friday afternoon on the Stillaguamish River near Arlington. People may see “water where water normally isn’t,” said Matthew Cullen, a meteorologist for the weather service.

“It’s definitely going to be a rainmaker,” he said.

He warns people to never walk or drive through water on roads.

From Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning, rainfall could reach 2 to 3 inches, with the heaviest showers south of Snohomish County.

“Generally the amounts of rain will be a little bit lower as you head more north in the county,” Cullen said.

Floods could always be more severe than initially predicted, so it’s a good idea to continually check weather forecasts to be prepared, he said.

This year flooding began in October, which is typical, according to the weather service. In Silvana, Pioneer Highway was covered in water.

“That wasn’t what I would consider a real bad flood,” said Darlene Strotz, a longtime resident and member of the Silvana Community Association. “We had water in Viking Hall, the streets of Silvana were under water, and the old fire station probably had a couple of feet of water in it.”

Some years there could be three floods and others there are none, she said.

Temperatures are expected to stay in the 40s the next few days. Gusts of wind may reach about 40 mph Thursday and Friday, but likely won’t be strong enough to cause any damage.

Starting Wednesday and stretching into Saturday morning, 2 to 4 feet of snow may fall across the Cascade Range. No flurries are expected closer to sea level.

Enough snow had fallen at Stevens Pass in recent weeks that it opened for the season on Wednesday. The resort saw nearly 2 feet in the past week.

“Folks who are traveling across the Cascades should prepare and check conditions before they depart,” Cullen said.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.