By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Heavy rains shifted north overnight prompting cancelations of flood warnings on the Chehalis, Skookumchuck and Cowlitz rivers.
A flood warning continues for the Newaukum River around Chehalis until Monday afternoon, however only minor flooding is forecast now.
The city of Centralia was set to open its emergency operations center at 6 a.m. today, however, by 7 a.m. it was closed because of the most recent forecast from the National Weather Service.
The sandbag station on the 100 block of West Street will remain open but won’t be staffed, according to a news release.
Police Chief Bob Berg advises the public to continue to stay informed about any changes in the weather by listening to local radio stations.
Just before 4:30 a.m. today, the weather service said the rain shifted into Central and Northwest Washington but the front is forecast to move back to the south later today with increasing rain expected this morning and into the afternoon.
In the southwest region, flood warnings continue also on the Chehalis River near Grand Mound and Porter.
At the same time this morning, the weather service noted advisories about small stream and urban flooding across the forecast area. Flood watches are in effect.
Overnight, forecasters warned of an increase risk of landslides in Western Washington. Cumulative rains over the past three weeks have soaked the ground. Under those conditions, landslides are possible during intense rainfall, or when the amount exceeds two inches in 24 hours, the weather service cautions.
Two landslides have already been reported, one near Vancouver and one near Chuckanut Drive, the weather service reported about 1:30 a.m. today.
Boistfort area Fire Chief Gregg Peterson reported the fire department has been monitoring the river levels during the dark hours and area residents may see fire vehicles with green rotating lights patrolling the district.
“Nothing flood-wise happened out here,” Peterson reported just after 7 o’clock this morning.
The flood watch in portions of Western Washington remains in effect through Monday afternoon, including in Mason, Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties.
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Read the overnight warnings, watches and special weather statements here
Check the river level forecast for your area here
Check the weather forecast or your area here
Note: Readers can always access the above forecasts from the right hand sidebar on Lewis County Sirens, under “Other useful web links.”
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter