Monitor your area by clicking the link here, then clicking your location on the map and reading about weather watches and warnings. / Image from National Weather Service
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A flood watch remains in effect through tomorrow morning for much of Western Washington, while forecasters this morning upgraded that to a flood warning for two Lewis County Rivers.
Expect minor flooding on the Cowlitz River from Randle through Riffe Lake as well as along the Newaukum River around Chehalis, the National Weather Service says.
A flood warning means flooding is imminent or actually occurring. A watch just means conditions are favorable for flooding and the public should monitor the weather.
Just after 10 a.m. today, the weather service said heavy rain over the southwest interior would drive the Newaukum River above flood stage at about 1 p.m. today, inundating many roads and residential as well as commercial areas along the Newaukum River and its forks.
Flooding in some areas could be deep and hazardous especially near rivers, according to the weather service service, prompting them to remind motorists of the dangers of driving through flooded areas.
Roads and surrounding areas that would be impacted include: Jackson Highway, Tune, Rush, Sommerville, Griel, Hamilton, Tauscher, Guerrier, Kirkland, Macomber, Rice, Senn, Lucas Creek, Middle Fork and North Fork roads.
The two rivers should fall back below flood stage this evening and tonight, according to the NWS.
The flood watch for other areas remains in effect through tomorrow morning, and includes the Skookumchuck River as well as others in Lewis, Thurston, Pierce and Grays Harbor counties.
While the rainfall rates eased up overnight, the threat of landslides continues through today.
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Follow the forecasts and watch for weather advisories and warnings:
The link for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “Weather Alerts, forecasts”
The link for the National Weather Service’s river level observation and forecast for Western Washington can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “River levels”
Monitor your river levels by clicking the link here, then clicking your chosen river gauge on the map and see diagram of previous, present and forecasted river levels. / Image from National Weather Service
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter