If you drive by it regularly, you know the Snoqualmie River has been running high for a few days. Heavy rain, for what seems like days on end, in both the mountains and lowlands, has pushed the river to levels not seen since last year.
Saturday brought record-level rain to the Puget Sound region
Remnants of Typhoon Faxai were imbedded in the storm that rolled through March 8, 2014, and brought all-time record rainfall to Sea-Tac Airport, which recorded 1.27″ of rain for the day. Even more rain hit the mountains, melting the snowpack and pushing the Snoqualmie River higher than it’s been in some time.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) , up to three inches of rain fell in a 12-hour period over the Central Cascades, resulting in a flood warning for the Snoqualmie River near the Falls until later Sunday evening, March 9, 2014. The heaviest rainfall occurred at Snoqualmie Pass.
At 8:15AM, March 9th, the river flow was at 25,300 CFS. A phase 3 flood alert (for minor flooding) is issued when the flow hits 20,000 CFS. At this level, NWS says the Snoqualmie River will have “widespread flooding of pasture lands and some roads along the river from historic Snoqualmie through Fall City.
Roads that might become flooded include Fall City/Carnation Road, Tolt Hill Road and Novelty Flats Road. So far, King County Roads Service Division lists SE 24th St between 309th Ave SE and West Snoqualmie River Rd SE in Fall City as closed due to water over the roadway.
The Snoqualmie River in Carnation had reached 53.52 feet as of 7:30AM.
The worst rain is over for now. The heavy, widespread deluge of Saturday is expected to transition to scattered showers today, with sunbreaks even possible. Once we hit Tuesday, thing dry out for a few days, with mid 50’s and sunshine predicted.
If you live here, you’re used to the river rising this time of year and know – it should be a great few days to visit the Snoqualmie Falls! I hope to get down there later today and update this picture with a real-time one!
