EVERETT — Heavy rains Monday and Tuesday could cause minor flooding for county rivers.
The National Weather Service’s Seattle office issued a flood warning Monday for the Stillaguamish, Skykomish and Snohomish rivers — effective until Tuesday night.
“That just means the water would briefly go over the bank of the river,” weather service forecaster Carly Kovacik said Monday. “We’re not looking at a widespread flooding event.”
Monday’s showers across the county are expected to continue into the night and Tuesday morning. Rainfall could reach anywhere from two to five inches, Kovacik said.
Most of the rain is expected to fall in the central Cascades, but if rainfall is heavier than forecast, other rivers flowing off the mountains could also flood.
Predicting exact rain amounts is difficult, Kovacik said. That, along with different geographies, makes it harder to forecast how rivers will react.
If you live near the Stillaguamish, Skykomish or Snohomish rivers, the weather service recommends keeping an eye on the water levels. Any flooding could cause minor property damage.
The warning marks the beginning of the rainy season, Kovacik said, which is common for October.
Snohomish County officials recommend understanding your property’s risk of flooding, planning ahead for heavy rainfall and signing up for emergency weather alerts. For more resources, visit the county’s Surface Water Management, Planning and Development Services and Department of Emergency Management websites.
Similar flood watches are ongoing in King, Clallam, Jefferson and Mason counties.
Drier weather is expected to start Wednesday and could continue well into next week, Kovacik said.
“That will give us some time to recover from all the rain,” she said.
Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@herald net.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.
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