Heavy rains cause flooded rivers and landslides in Pierce County - and it’s not over
Relentless rain has caused widespread flooding and landslides across Western Washington, and officials warn the worst is yet to come.
On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib issued an emergency proclamation for 19 counties, including Pierce, Thurston and King.
Due to storms that started Jan. 20 and keep coming, the proclamation says there has been more than $3 million in damages to roadways, injuries, widespread power outages, evacuations, rail line closures and more.
The National Weather Service had some good news and bad news.
“There IS relief in sight, but not until later this weekend,” the agency tweeted Thursday.
Heavy rains are expected through Saturday with anywhere from a half inch to one and a half inches expected.
Winds will pick up Friday night but the forecast shows a good chance of sun for Sunday.
Snow levels were about 5,000 feet, so areas above that shouldn’t be impacted by the rain.
However, there is high avalanche danger across Washington and Oregon.
Precipitation totals in the 48 hours ending Thursday morning varied greatly around the state, with Tacoma seeing 0.18 inches but areas near Mount Rainier receiving 5.90 inches.
With all that rain, the ground is saturated, and the risk of landslides is greatly increased.
There were two slides in Pierce County blocking state routes Thursday.
Both directions of Route 410 between Greenwater and Mud Mountain Road were closed for a slide.
Crews were trying to clear the debris, but it was unknown when the road would reopen.
A slide also was blocking Route 706 in both directions near Kernahan Road East in Ashford, which will stop visitors trying to reach the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.
The park said worsening weather also would keep it from opening the Carbon River Ranger Station.
A landslide occurred Thursday night on Sunrise Beach Drive NW in Gig Harbor.
In Puyallup, the Riverwalk Trail closed Thursday morning after it flooded.
Officials said evacuations were possible in the lowlands of Puyallup Valley Thursday night or Friday morning.
Flooding also closed the Sumner Link Trail.
So many reports of flooded streets were coming in that the Pierce County sheriff’s search and rescue and swiftwater rescue teams staged in the Orting area to more quickly respond to emergencies and possible evacuations.
Some residents in Thurston County were asked to evacuate after Tacoma Power announced it would be increasing water flow from the La Grande Dam in Eatonville to 17,000 cfs through Friday.
Nearly 1,000 people who live near Nisqually Delta, Durgin Road, Kuhlman Road and Nisqually Cut-Off Road were urged to evacuate before 4 p.m., according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department.
A flood watch and flood advisory was issued for four counties, including central Pierce County, thanks to urban and small stream flooding as well as standing water on the roads.
Affected areas include Tacoma, Puyallup, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Seattle and many others.
Several rivers were already flooding, and more were expected to spill over their banks by Friday morning.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in Pierce County:
▪ The Puyallup River near Orting was expected to see minor flooding. It was flowing at 10,000 cubic feet per second Thursday morning and was expected to crest near 12,354 cfs before lunch.
That will cause flooding in Orting, including Orville Road East south of Brooks Road, Neadham Road and the Tomolla Farm area.
▪ The Carbon River near Fairfax was expected to crest at 10 p.m. Thursday at 15.4 feet and fall below flood stage (13.5 feet) by Friday morning. Affected areas include Carbon River Road, Pioneer Way, Route 162 and residential areas near Orting and Crocker.
▪ The White River at A Street Bridge was already flowing at 6,884 cfs Thursday morning, above flood stage, and was predicted to see moderate flooding when it rises to 8,750 cfs Friday morning.
That will be high against temporary flood barriers in Pacific, which straddles the Pierce-King counties line.
It also would push flood waters at Government Canal and Butte Avenue, as well as upstream of the A Street Bridge in Auburn.
▪ The Nisqually River should crest at 9,401 cfs by early Friday, with minor flooding of roads and pasture lands from Mount Rainier National Park downstream to Alder Lake.
▪ The Nisqually River at McKenna was just below flood stage at 9.7 feet Thursday morning and was expected to crest at 10.4 feet Friday night.
▪ The Puyallup River could flood areas west of Meridian Bridge and upstream to the east end of Sumner when it crests early Friday at 27.3 feet, about a foot above flood stage.
It was flowing at 22.2 feet Thursday morning.
▪ State Route 410 between Mud Mountain Road and Greenwater closed in both directions at nightfall Thursday and will not reopen to local traffic until daylight on Friday.
▪ South Prairie Road between 234th Street East and Route 162 was closed due to flooding from South Prairie Creek.
▪ Houston Rd East at house 13105 and at 129th Avenue Court East due to river flooding over the roadway.
▪ South Prairie Carbon River Road between Arline Road and State Route 162 due to flooding of South Prairie Creek.
▪ Route 162 from Orville Road outside of Orting to Springsite Road outside of South Prairie.
▪ SR 706 is closed in both directions near Kernahan Road East due to a landslide in Ashford.
▪ The south side bypass road under the North Meridian Bridge between Fred Meyer and Tiffany’s Skating is closed due to Puyallup River flooding.
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
