Home News 

Story

Relentless Rain Leaves Many Areas Flooded

Posted: 7:16 am PST November 7, 2008Updated: 6:46 pm PST November 7, 2008

The relentless rain over Western Washington have left roads flooded, river banks overflowing, and flood warnings and watches all over the region.

Upload your rain or flood photos at iSpot.

KIRO 7 Chief Meteorologist Rebecca Stevenson said there is another round of rain through Saturday afternoon before the showers begin to taper down. Showers should gradually diminish through Monday and then another series of storms, with more rain and wind, will arrive next week.

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings until Saturday morning for the Skykomish River near Gold Bar, Snoqualmie River near the falls, and the Tolt River near Carnation.

Flood warnings until Saturday night are for the Snohomish River near Monroe and the Snoqualmie River near Carnation.

Until Sunday morning, flood warnings have been posted for Snohomish River at Snohomish.

Flood watches are in effect for other rivers around Puget Sound.

Rain guages at 5 p.m. Friday showed rain totals in the past 48 hours as follows:

Forks – 6.25"
Bremerton – 5.49"
Olympia – 3.42"
Tacoma – 2.83"
Seattle – 3.06"
Everett – 1.41"
Bellingham – 2.18"

In the North Sound the Sultan River is out of its banks and threatening homes in the low-lying neighborhood. Flood waters are deep enough to make it dangerous for cars and trucks, but no evacuations have been ordered.

The water was rising so fast it swept away a homeless woman camping nearby. Read Story.

Almost 20 roads through Whatcom County were closed or restricted and the heavy rains caused flooding on the roadways.

A flood warning issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect for the Nooksack River at North Cedarville until Saturday afternoon.

In eastern King County, fast rising river water in Fall City shut down roads, and spilled into yards and near houses.

VIDEO: Fall City Residents Say They've Seen Worse

In Carnation, the Tolt River was swollen with rainwater, steadily rushing, and as it moved it collected trees and logs in its current.

The Fall City Fire Department advised 73 families that they may want to move because of the rising Tolt River. Read Story.

The Snohomish River has also taken a hard hit by this November storm. A huge amount of water is falling over Snoqualmie Falls – which is a sure sign of flooding below in the Snoqualmie Valley.

RAW VIDEO: Chopper 7 Over Raging Snoqualmie Falls
SLIDESHOW: Rivers Flood Snoqualmie Valley

Residents near Monroe and Snohomish were advised to prepare for moderate flooding Friday afternoon in low-lying areas near the river, said Christopher Schwarzen of the Executive's Office of Snohomish County.

No evacuations have been issued, but residents living near these rivers are urged to use caution through Saturday afternoon when rivers are expected to begin returning to normal levels.

Flooding is also causing headaches in the South Sound as drivers have to dodge salmon crossing the road near Shelton.

VIDEO BACKSTORY: Documenting Annual Salmon Crossing The Road

On the Olympic Peninsula the National Weather Service continues to issue a flood warning for the Skokomish River near Potlatch until Saturday evening as the river is at 16.9 feet Friday afternoon, almost one foot above flood stage.

Major flooding is occurring in the area and the river will continue to rise and crest near 17 feet, the NWS said. The river is not expected to fall below flood stage until Saturday afternoon.

The flooding Skokomish River brings the fish on the road, fills the fields and get awfully close to some homes in the valley.

The Skokomish is expected to crest sometime Saturday.

It's not just rivers and streams that are spilling over their banks. The rain has fallen so hard, and so fast, that in some cases, storm drains can't keep up with the flow.

Ohashi said a driver in Kent had to be rescued Friday morning when he drove onto a flooded roadway in an industrial area at 220th Street Southeast and 76th Avenue South. Water flooded his vehicle and firefighters had to rescue the man where he was stranded on the roof of his car. See Raw Video

SLIDESHOW: Rain Floods Roads In Kent Valley

Because it's difficult to gauge how much water is on a roadway, drivers are advised to stop and turn around when coming to flooded roads rather than trying to make it through. Water can be considerably deeper than it appears and the roadway underneath could be damaged or washed away, Kyle Ohashi from the Kent Fire Department said.

More Headlines

Fun Slideshows

Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road. View Images ››


Images In The News

A man breaks into an excavator in the middle of the night and goes on a destructive rampage. View Images ››


SeattleInsider

From ex-lovers taking revenge, to disastrous photoshop mistakes, click to be impressed, amazed and maybe even horrified all at the same time. Full Story ››