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Snohomish County Prepares For Flooding

Posted: 4:28 pm PST January 6, 2009

From the executive's office of Snohomish County:

In preparation for mid-week flooding, the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management will staff its emergency operations center beginning Wednesday morning, Jan. 7.

National Weather Service forecasts call for 5 to 10 inches of rain throughout Snohomish County, creating the likelihood of flooding on all major river systems in the county Wednesday night through Thursday evening.

Snow melt during past weeks has inundated soils and could exacerbate conditions.

Residents in low-lying areas - especially those cut off by flood waters in November 2006 and November 2008 - should expect similar conditions. Those residents should prepare accordingly with supplies or consider voluntary evacuation until flood waters recede, which is expected Thursday evening.

The Skykomish River at Gold Bar is forecast to crest above flood stage late Wednesday night followed by crests on the Snohomish River in Monroe and Snohomish on Thursday morning and late afternoon respectively.

The South Fork of the Stillaguamish River near Granite Falls and the North Fork near Arlington are expected to crest above flood stage Wednesday night.

In addition to river flooding, there is risk of rain-induced landslides.

DEM will continue to monitor river conditions until river levels recede.

Should flooding occur, citizens are urged to stay away from rising waters and not to drive through areas of flowing or standing water or around road-closure barriers.

Road flooding should be reported to the municipality where it occurs. Flooding on county roads can be reported to the Public Works Department at 425-388-7500 or contact.pwrm@snoco.org.

Road closure lists and flood updates can be found at http://www.snoco.org. Additional flooding issues can be reported to Emergency Management at 425-388-5060.

Snow Storm Damages For Snohomish County Due This Week

Damages from snow, ice and winds occurring between Dec. 13 and 26, 2008, need to be reported to the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, according to a press release from the executive's office in Snohomish County.

The damage assessments from residents, businesses, farmers and government agencies will be used to determine and justify the need for possible state and/or federal assistance.

DEM has collected information on more than $8.5 million in damages, with the majority coming from public agencies.

The Snohomish County Public Utility District's initial estimate totals about $6.5 million in damages and repairs to utility infrastructure. Reports from Snohomish County Public Works signal another $1.5 million in damages to public roads and infrastructure.

The remainder is from reported damages to individual residences, businesses and farms. However, some damages may not be eligible for any assistance that might be made available.

With the potential for flooding this week, it is important to keep damages from different events separate.

Residential, agricultural and business damages can be reported by calling the DEM office at 425-388-5060 or by filling out and returning a damage-assessment form found at www.snoco.org/departments/emergency_management.

Individuals must to provide an address where the damage occurred, the amount and type of damage, primary and secondary insurance information as well as deductible amounts. All damages should be documented with photographs if possible. Damages also should be reported to private insurance providers.

Farmers should also report all damages and losses to the Farm Service Agency by calling 425-335-5634, extension 2.

Snohomish County departments, municipalities and public agencies should complete and return PA-1/2 forms to the county DEM.

DEM staff is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to assist or answer questions. They can be reached at 425-388-5060.

5-Day Forecast

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Rebecca Stevenson
Rebecca Stevenson is Chief Meteorologist for KIRO 7 Eyewitness News. Stevenson holds the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association.
Meteorologist Profile

Weather to Expect:

Numerous showers and a risk of thunderstorms in western Washington tonight as a trough of low pressure moves through.
Showers will continue overnight into Saturday morning, temperatures will be chilly in the morning in the low to mid 30s. The showers will be locally heavy within a convergence zone which poses the risk of wet snow mixing with rain within the zone. The snow level is near 1,500 feet so that it would not be difficult for a heavy shower to bring wet snow as low as 1,000 feet. That would bring the potential to locations like Cougar mountain, Issaquah Alps and Tiger mountain through early Saturday morning. Accumulation is not expected but it would make for slippery roads in the higher elevations.
A new frontal system, storm #5, will bring increasing rain and breezy winds Saturday afternoon and evening. The storm will not be as powerful as the last 4 but will make itself known with more rain on top of already saturated soils. Highs will be cool in the 40s.
Sunday will begin with scattered showers which will decrease through the afternoon. More sunbreaks are expected and highs will be in the mid 40s.

Be prepared for winter driving in the passes. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Cascades through 6am as snow showers will bring an additional 6-10" of snow overnight....especially in the convergence zone between Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass. ~Rebecca

3 - Day Forecast
Sat
Rain
45
Sun
Showers
47
Mon
Wind and Rain
48
Seattle Metropolitan Area
Weather to Expect:

Numerous showers and a risk of thunderstorms in western Washington tonight as a trough of low pressure moves through.
Showers will continue overnight into Saturday morning, temperatures will be chilly in the morning in the low to mid 30s. The showers will be locally heavy within a convergence zone which poses the risk of wet snow mixing with rain within the zone. The snow level is near 1,500 feet so that it would not be difficult for a heavy shower to bring wet snow as low as 1,000 feet. That would bring the potential to locations like Cougar mountain, Issaquah Alps and Tiger mountain through early Saturday morning. Accumulation is not expected but it would make for slippery roads in the higher elevations.
A new frontal system, storm #5, will bring increasing rain and breezy winds Saturday afternoon and evening. The storm will not be as powerful as the last 4 but will make itself known with more rain on top of already saturated soils. Highs will be cool in the 40s.
Sunday will begin with scattered showers which will decrease through the afternoon. More sunbreaks are expected and highs will be in the mid 40s.

Be prepared for winter driving in the passes. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Cascades through 6am as snow showers will bring an additional 6-10" of snow overnight....especially in the convergence zone between Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass. ~Rebecca