More Flooding Info From David Cameron

Ed,
At this point the problem primarily is with the Snoqualmie system, which has had minor flooding predicted from the town on down the valley past Duvall. More swiftly is the Pilchuck, which has risen sharply about five feet during the day and is at a Phase 3 flood. Mt. Pilchuck, and the Sultan Basin have been taking water, while the South Fork Stilly is moving up more slowly. We’re a couple of feet shy of the official Phase 2, which due to the need to recalibrate the gauge/flood stage level still leaves the river within the bank along Avenue A.
On the other hand, the temperature finally has started to rise, up a degree since my regular reading time of 1600 to 41.2 at the moment. I had 2.5″ in the backyard rain gauge between 1600 yesterday and 1600 today.

http://www.atmos.washington.edu./data/weather.html#local

Check especially the Forescast section and under it “Watches and Warnings” and then “Washington State Forecast Discussions,” notably the “hydrology” portion.

http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/PWApp/SWM/floodwarn/index.html.

This is the county web site to read the stream guages.

Flooding expected Wednesday; Monroe may be hit hardest | HeraldNet.com – Local news

EVERETT — Flooding is predicted along several local rivers Wednesday with the worst expected along the Snohomish River near Monroe.

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a flood watch, which means conditions are favorable for flooding but high water is not imminent. Under a flood watch, people are advised to monitor the latest forecasts and be ready to act quickly if a….

Read the complete article via Flooding expected Wednesday; Monroe may be hit hardest | HeraldNet.com – Local news.

November is Upon Us: Stay Tuned

With November in full swing (wind, rain, a few dabs of slushy snow, snow on Index Wall off and on) it’s time for the weather watch.

Stay tuned to IndexWa.org (RSS Feed is a good way to remain updated) as we will once again begin posting the Weather Alerts as things roll in.

So far, so good. We read somewhere a while back that January is the wettest time for Index but in our book it’s November. Maybe the claim to January is from the snow.

HeraldNet.com – Local news: Skykomish River claims another home

By Noah Haglund, Herald Writer

INDEX — Long before their next-door neighbor’s house crumbled into the North Fork Skykomish River on Monday, Arlene and Donald McDonald knew their own home was on similarly precarious footing.

The couple has been trying for the past few ….

Read the story via HeraldNet.com – Local news: Skykomish River claims another home.

Flood Warning

FORECAST FLOODING CHANGED FROM MINOR TO MODERATE SEVERITY FOR THE
FOLLOWING RIVERS IN WA.
SKYKOMISH RIVER NEAR GOLD BAR AFFECTING SNOHOMISH COUNTY.

FLOOD BULLETIN NO. 23

HEAVY RAIN OVER NIGHT & CONTINUED RAIN TODAY & TOMORROW WILL PUSH
THE SKYKOMISH HIGHER THAN EARLIER FORECAST INTO MODERATE FLOOD
CATEGORY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

DO NOT DRIVE CARS.VANS.OR TRUCKS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS.THIS IS
THE CAUSE OF MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS IN WA. BE ALERT FOR
RAPID CHANGES & MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL MEDIA.

&&

WAC061-170435-
/O.EXT.KSEW.FL.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110118T1048Z/
/GLBW1.2.ER.110116T1552Z.110117T0000Z.110118T0148Z.NO/
1135 AM PST SUN JAN 16 2011

FORECAST FLOODING INCREASED FROM MINOR TO MODERATE SEVERITY.
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE SKYKOMISH RIVER NEAR GOLD BAR
* UNTIL LATE MON NIGHT.
* AT 10:00 AM SUN THE STAGE WAS 15.9 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 15.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING & MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE TO RISE & CREST NEAR 17.4 FEET
AROUND 4 PM SUNDAY. THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE MONDAY
EVENING.
* IMPACT.AT 17.0 FEET.THE SKYKOMISH RIVER WILL CAUSE FLOODING
FROM NEAR INDEX DOWNSTREAM THROUGH SULTAN TO THE SNOQUALMIE. FLOOD
WATERS WILL COVER NUMEROUS ROADS.INCLUDING BEN HOWARD RD.
INDEX-GALENA RD & TUALCO LOOP RD. FLOODING IN THE TOWN OF SULTAN
WILL BEGIN. A STAGE OF 17 FEET ON THE SKYKOMISH RIVER CORRESPONDS
TO A PHASE 3 IN THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY FLOOD PROGRAM.

Photos: Flooding In Washington

The following photos were extracted from a PowerPoint Slide Show.  There aren’t any photos really from the local end, but they are interesting none the less.

01.18.09 – WE GOOFED!!!  We added even more photos today (13) courtesy of Heidi Ludwig.  I personally had them on my flash drive and forgot about them.  All of her photos were emailed to us and they are all of Snohomish.  Snohomish got hit pretty hard during the flooding (maybe not as bad as Pacific but it was bad).  Thank you Heidi for being one of our out of town reporters.

[Show as slideshow]

01.10.09 – Emergency.org

It looks like Snohomish got the brunt of the flooding this time through.  We don’t know how Index avoided it but WE ARE HAPPY.  Following is the latest Emergency.org report.
———–

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN
WA.

SNOHOMISH RIVER NEAR MONROE AFFECTING SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
SNOHOMISH RIVER AT SNOHOMISH AFFECTING SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
SNOQUALMIE RIVER NEAR CARNATION AFFECTING KING COUNTY.
CEDAR RIVER NEAR LANDSBURG AFFECTING KING COUNTY.
CEDAR RIVER AT RENTON AFFECTING KING COUNTY.
CHEHALIS RIVER AT CNTLIA AFFECTING LEWIS COUNTY.
CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR GRAND MOUND AFFECTING THURSTON COUNTY.
CHEHALIS RIVER AT PORTER AFFECTING GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY.

FLOOD BULLETIN NO. 71

FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ON SEVERAL WESTERN WA RIVERS
TODAY.THOUGH MOST RIVERS ARE RECEDING GRADUALLY. THE WHITE RIVER
BELOW MUD MTN DAM WILL REMAIN NEARLY STEADY HOWEVER DUE TO
NECESSARY RELEASES FROM THE DAM.

ANOTHER PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TODAY AND
TONIGHT.BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF WET WEATHER & HIGHER FREEZING
LEVELS. THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS NOT EXPECTED TO RENEW RIVER
FLOODING.BUT IT WILL SLOW THE RECESSION OF RESIDUAL FLOOD WATERS
THAT ALREADY COVER LOW LYING AREAS.& IT WILL PLACE FURTHER
DEMAND FOR HIGH RELEASES FROM DAMS ON THE WHITE & POSSIBLY GREEN
RIVERS. IT COULD ALSO RENEW THE THREAT OF LANDSLIDES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

DO NOT DRIVE CARS.TRUCKS.OR SUVS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. THIS IS
THE CAUSE OF MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS IN WA. BE ALERT FOR
RAPID CHANGES & MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL MEDIA.

&&

WAC061-102107-
/O.EXT.KSEW.FL.W.0017.000000T0000Z-090110T2224Z/
/MROW1.3.ER.090107T2030Z.090109T0300Z.090110T1324Z.NO/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE SNOHOMISH RIVER NEAR MONROE
* UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 15.3 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 15.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER HAS CRESTED & WILL CONTINUE TO FALL TO BELOW
FLOOD STAGE THIS MORNING.
* IMPACT.AT 15.0 FEET.THE SNOHOMISH RIVER WILL CAUSE MINOR
FLOODING OF LOW PASTURE LANDS & SEVERAL ROADS NEAR THE RIVER. A
STAGE OF 15 FEET AT THIS LOCATION CORRESPONDS TO PHASE 2 IN THE
SNOHOMISH COUNTY FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM.

$$

WAC061-102107-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0028.000000T0000Z-090111T0822Z/
/SNAW1.3.ER.090107T1945Z.090109T0030Z.090110T2322Z.NR/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE SNOHOMISH RIVER AT SNOHOMISH
* UNTIL LATE TONIGHT.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 28.0 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 25.0 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING. THE FORECAST IS FOR MODERATE
FLOODING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER HAS CRESTED & WILL CONTINUE TO FALL TO BELOW
FLOOD STAGE LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
* IMPACT.AT 28.0 FEET.THE SNOHOMISH RIVER WILL FLOOD SEVERAL
ROADS.INCLUDING THE SNOHOMISH-MONROE HIGHWAY & RIVERVIEW
ROAD.& LOW AREAS OF THE LWR SNOHOMISH VALLEY THAT ARE NOT
PROTECTED BY LEVEES. A STAGE OF 28 FEET ON THE SNOHOMISH RIVER
CORRESPONDS TO A PHASE 3 IN THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY FLOOD PROGRAM.

$$

WAC033-102107-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0009.000000T0000Z-090110T2200Z/
/CRNW1.3.ER.090107T1526Z.090108T1500Z.090110T1102Z.NR/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE SNOQUALMIE RIVER NEAR CARNATION
* UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 53.8 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 54.0 FEET.
* FELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE EARLY THIS MORNING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER FELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE AT  3 AM SATURDAY
& WILL CONTINUE TO FALL. FLOODING WILL CONTINUE IN SOME AREAS
UNTIL THE FLOOD WAVE HAS COMPLETELY PASSED DOWNSTREAM.
* IMPACT.AT 51.0 FEET.THE SNOQUALMIE RIVER WILL SPILL OVER ITS
BANKS FROM FALL CITY DOWNSTREAM THROUGH CARNATION & DUVALL.WITH
SHALLOW WATER OVER SOME FARM LAND & SEVERAL ROADS.

$$

WAC033-102106-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0018.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
/LNDW1.3.ER.090108T0048Z.090108T1500Z.000000T0000Z.NO/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CEDAR RIVER NEAR LANDSBURG
* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 6.1 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 5.0 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING. THE FORECAST IS FOR MODERATE
FLOODING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER HAS CRESTED & WILL CONTINUE TO FALL.
* IMPACT.AT 5.6 FEET.THE CEDAR RIVER WILL CAUSE FLOODING FROM
LANDSBURG DOWNSTREAM THROUGH MAPLEWOOD. SWIFT WATERS WILL FLOOD
ROADS & SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS.ESPECIALLY IN MAPLE VALLEY.
FLOODING THREATENS BEYERS ROAD. A STAGE OF 5.6 FEET ON THE CEDAR
RIVER CORRESPONDS ROUGHLY TO A PHASE 4 FLOOD IN THE KING COUNTY
FLOOD SYSTEM.

$$

WAC033-102106-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0019.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
/RNTW1.2.ER.090108T0026Z.090108T2300Z.000000T0000Z.NR/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CEDAR RIVER AT RENTON
* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 14.2 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 12.0 FEET.
* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING. THE FORECAST IS FOR MINOR FLOODING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER HAS CRESTED & WILL CONTINUE TO FALL.
* IMPACT.AT 12.0 FEET.THE CEDAR RIVER WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING
ALONG THE RIVER IN RENTON.

$$

WAC041-102106-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0031.000000T0000Z-090110T2130Z/
/CENW1.3.ER.090108T0907Z.090109T0300Z.090110T1130Z.NO/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CHEHALIS RIVER AT CNTLIA
* UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 64.9 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 65.0 FEET.
* FELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE EARLY THIS MORNING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER FELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE AT 3:30 AM SATURDAY
& WILL CONTINUE TO FALL. FLOODING WILL CONTINUE IN SOME AREAS
UNTIL THE FLOOD WAVE HAS COMPLETELY PASSED DOWNSTREAM.
* IMPACT.AT 63.0 FEET.THE CHEHALIS RIVER IN LEWIS COUNTY WILL
SPILL OVER ITS BANKS INTO NEARBY PASTURE LANDS AROUND CHEHALIS AND
CNTLIA.

$$

WAC067-102106-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0032.000000T0000Z-090111T0714Z/
/CGMW1.3.ER.090108T0457Z.090109T0730Z.090110T2214Z.NO/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR GRAND MOUND
* UNTIL THIS EVENING.
* AT  4:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 15.6 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 14.0 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING. THE FORECAST IS FOR MINOR FLOODING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER HAS CRESTED & WILL CONTINUE TO FALL TO BELOW
FLOOD STAGE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
* IMPACT.AT 15.5 FEET.THE CHEHALIS RIVER IN THURSTON COUNTY WILL
FLOOD SEVERAL ROADS IN INDEPENDENCE VALLEY WITH SWIFTLY MOVING
WATER INCLUDING SR-12 & JAMES.INDEPENDENCE.MOON & ANDERSON
ROADS. FLOOD WATERS WILL CUT OFF ACCESS TO & FROM CHEHALIS
RESERVATION & INUNDATE NEARBY FARM LANDS. SOME RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURES MAY BE THREATENED.

$$

WAC027-102106-
/O.CON.KSEW.FL.W.0024.000000T0000Z-090112T1715Z/
/CRPW1.2.ER.090107T2030Z.090109T1900Z.090112T0815Z.NO/
507 AM PST SAT JAN 10 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CHEHALIS RIVER AT PORTER
* UNTIL MON MORNING.
* AT  3:00 AM SAT THE STAGE WAS 23.7 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 21.0 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING. THE FORECAST IS FOR MODERATE
FLOODING.
* FORECAST.THE RIVER HAS CRESTED & WILL CONTINUE TO FALL TO BELOW
FLOOD STAGE EARLY MON MORNING.
* IMPACT.AT 23.0 FEET.THE CHEHALIS RIVER IN GRAYS HARBOR
WILL FLOOD NUMEROUS FARMS & ROADS INCLUDING SR 12. HIGH TIDAL
LEVELS AT ABERDEEN WILL WORSEN FLOODING ALONG THE LWR REACHES.

$$

MCDONNAL
WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE

Real-Time Flood Warning Information

We added another link today to our Other Links category.

Snohomish County Real-Time Flood Warning Information.

This was sent to us by Dave Cameron and is a welcome addition to IndexWa.org.

Thanks to everybody that provided information during this time of panic.  It seems that the Town was well prepared this time through.

As Leigh put it- 360 days of beauty and 5 days of s*#t.  It’s worth it!

Thanks again to EVERYBODY.

Another Email From Dave Cameron

Thank you Dave for your input and the praise. It’s an email like this that encourages us to stay the course on IndexWa.org. (Ed)
——————————-
Ed,
Thank you for alerting Index folks to the incoming rain and high water on November 12. We came through the event without serious problems due to people being alert, taking action and being willing to help out others.
We also received assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, whose commanding colonel and his team arrived early to evaluate our problem areas and preparations then drop off two members to spend the day. He praised our work.
They came as a hemlock tree came out of the river to hit David Meier and Lynn Chamberlain’s Cabin on the Sky on 8th and Avenue A. Damage was limited to the front porch area, fortunately. Ernie Walker and Fire District 28 sawed up the trunk, while nearby sandbaggers and neighbors were there to help if needed. That was our only reported incident in town, although we also requested county public works assistance with a problem at MP 3 on the Index-Galena Road. Fixing that kept several families above from being cut off.
We had a large number of townsfolk volunteer to fill, deliver, and replace 2006 sandbags on the 800 block of Avenue A, then extend light coverage downstream on the 200 block at the suggestion of the Corps. A state reformatory crew arrived to finish that task, while the county Department of Emergency Management also brought us additional sand and bags.
The Index General Store provided lunches for everyone, while we also bought out their supply of gloves. A reminder: always have gloves and adequate rain gear when helping out. The gloves help protect from the grit of sand as well as chemicals in burlap bags.
An ongoing problem is with the river gauge sensors on our bridge and upstream at Galena. County Surface Water Management gauge experts were her last Friday and again Wednesday, trying to figure out how to eliminate the “bugs.” It may be that the Galena gauge is receiving data too rapidly and is overwhelmed, while ours may be placed over too wild a part of the channel to give accurate measurements. If you check the gauge readings on the internet keep that in mind, along with the fact that the new gauge here gives readings which indicate we are at a much higher flood level than we actually are. Let us know if you would like more information on that.
Thanks also to those who are willing to take a leadership role when we have emergencies, especially mayor Bruce Albert, emergency management head/councilman Sean “Rib” Horst, maintenance supervisor Bill Cross (who doubles on the fire department and was out checking conditions before 5 a.m.), and town clerk/treasurer Lisa Stowe in the town hall emergency operations center. It takes a team and strong participation from the rest of us in town.
David Cameron

Last Update – Emergency.org Bulletin #22

This will be our last update on the current flooding and storm. We all know it’s here and we all know we have to deal with it. Right? We have been through this before.

Thanks to everybody once again (the folks that sandbagged and David Cameron for his input on a previous post).

If anything of imminent danger comes our way, we will post that and send it via News As It Happens to our subscribers.

Thanks again.

FLOOD BULLETIN NO. 22

WAC033-041-045-053-061-131700-
/O.EXT.KSEW.FA.W.0044.000000T0000Z-081113T1700Z/
/00000.0.RS.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
PIERCE-MASON-KING-SNOHOMISH-LEWIS-
856 PM PST WED NOV 12 2008

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN SEATTLE HAS EXTENDED THE

* FLOOD WARNING FOR SMALL STREAMS IN THE FOLLOWING WESTERN WA
COUNTIES.
KING COUNTY.
LEWIS COUNTY.
MASON COUNTY.
PIERCE COUNTY.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY.

* UNTIL 900 AM PST THURSDAY.

* AT 854 PM PST MAJOR FLOODING CONTINUES ON SEVERAL RIVERS IN
KING.SNOHOMISH.LEWIS.& PIERCE COUNTIES.

FLOODING WILL OCCUR ON STREAMS & TRIBUTARIES THAT DRAIN INTO THE
RIVERS EXPERIENCING MAJOR FLOODING IN THE ABOVE COUNTIES.

A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
STREAM RISES WILL BE SLOW & FLASH FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.
HOWEVER.ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS
IMMEDIATELY.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE.TURN AROUND.DONT DROWN.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS & STREAMS.& PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS.
HIGHWAYS.STREETS & UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS & LOW LYING SPOTS.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS & STREAMS.& PONDING OF WATER ON COUNTRY ROADS AND
FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS & STREAMS.

LAT.LON 4674 12300 4676 12219 4737 12265 4722 12270
4736 12282 4721 12285 4713 12345 4758 12349
4740 12312 4742 12243 4740 12238 4732 12257
4727 12243 4824 12230 4826 12100 4771 12106
4736 12145 4644 12143 4640 12331 4640 12332

$$

ALBRECHT
WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE