Two Rivers Rising: Will Carnation WA See Another 100 Year Flood?

It usually happens every year. Road closures due to flooding are nothing new in the lowlands. Snoqualmie Valley has its share of flooding multiple times during the season. But there is flooding and then there are the 100 year floods; those times when the water rises so fast and so high that regions not normally hit by the flood waters watch the waters envelope them too. The 100 year name is obviously misleading. We saw this happen in 2005 and are wondering whether we'll see it again in 2008.

Carnation WA is a town bordered by two rivers. I went down to the Tolt River, near where it hits its final stage of merging with the Snoqualmie River at McDonald Park in Carnation. The waters were rising rapidly but as of this writing, had not yet reached their crest.

Spilling over the levies, the river now floods out some of the walking trail between the Tolt Bridge and the Snoqualmie Parkway trail. The Snoqualmie River has already flooded sections of Tolt Hill Road, causing that road's closure. And, just south of us, according to KiroTV, the city of Snoqualmie is in a state of emergency: flooding from the Snoqualmie River.

While watching the Tolt River, I saw several large trees and other debris floating by as if they were kindling. The water is so rapid, it appears to be boiling. Those living right alongside the Snoqualmie River are already being urged to evacuate as the water is set to peak this afternoon.

The rain is set to continue through today with a cooler, dryer day tomorrow and further clearing into the weekend. Until then, with constant rain in the mountains, warmer temperatures and snow levels at 8,000 feet, the rain here in the valley will have the added water coming down from the Cascades.

Current road closings can be found on the King County Road Alert site. This is updated as conditions change.