Western Washington set to dry out, start recovering from week’s bursts of rain, flooding, wind
After endless rain and blustery winds, the area may finally get a break this weekend for drier weather.
The National Weather Service, in an update Saturday morning, said that most rivers currently overrunning their banks have crested and “will recede below flood stage Saturday or Sunday,” with early Saturday morning river flooding confined mostly to Lewis, Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor counties..
Runoff from heavy rains earlier this week could continue to bring isolated residential/urban flooding Saturday along the Skookumchuck, Newaukum, Skokomish and Snoqualmie rivers in Lewis, Thurston, Mason and King counties.
According to the weather service: “The lower reach of the Chehalis River will continue to rise Saturday, crest on Sunday, then fall below flood stage Monday and Tuesday.”
Chehalis at Grand Mound was in major flood stage Saturday morning and cresting, according to the weather service.
On Friday night, West Thurston and Lacey fire districts and the Thurston County Sheriff’s dive team made an emergency water rescue on Prather Road Southwest after a motorist reported water entering his vehicle when he drove into a flooded area. The man was found on the roof of his vehicle as it drifted toward the main channel of the Chehalis River.
West Thurston posted on social media that rescue workers had difficulty figuring out how to reach the man, but eventually were able to successfully get a boat crew in place to effect the rescue. The man was taken to the hospital in stable condition, according to the post.
West Thurston again reminds motorists not to drive around warning signs.
Saturday through Tuesday, dry weather “or light and hydrologically insignificant rain this weekend and early next week will allow rivers to recede,” according to NWS.
With all the rain and low elevation snow melt, an elevated risk of landslides also remains.
Area roads and highways vulnerable to such risks have been impacted in the past few days by both landslides and high water, with the Puget Sound area effectively cut off from the rest of the state in all directions for a time on Friday.
At least 20 miles of Interstate 5 was closed in Thurston and Lewis counties for a period on Friday as floodwaters rose.
Northbound I-5 will continue to be affected over the weekend near DuPont with crews performing emergency road repairs.
State Department of Transportation said Saturday that it was on track to reopen I-90 Snoqualmie Pass on Sunday. I-90 remains closed from North Bend at milepost 34 to Ellensburg at milepost 106.
For U.S. 12 White Pass, the department said there was still a “substantial amount of snow and debris including trees and rocks that need to be removed. It is unlikely U.S. 12 White Pass will reopen before Monday.”
U.S. 12 remains closed from Packwood at milepost 135 and Oak Creek at milepost 183. Local traffic from the eastside is allowed up to the Lower Tieton Road at milepost 168, according to the department.
Calmer winds will prevail after Friday’s burst. The Olympia Regional Airport topped out at 37 mph on Friday, while readings at Joint Base Lewis McChord topped out at 40 mph. Across the bridge, Tacoma Narrows Airport saw a top gust of 46 mph.
Meanwhile Whidbey Island recorded gusts of 64 mph on Friday, according to the weather service.
A meteorologist with the weather service noted the threat of winds had been forecast, though some areas saw more action than anticipated.
“We were expecting some at least breezy winds through most of the area, especially through the strait and the islands,” NWS meteorologist Mary Butwin told The News Tribune. “There were wind warnings and advisories out. As for down toward Pierce County, it was a little little windier than expected, but wasn’t a huge surprise on our end.”
For next week, you can put your waders away amid the usual gray and drizzle of winter, although there will be more rain to come, with highs in the mid- to upper-40s.
At least for now, “It’s looking a lot drier in the lowlands so not too much of a concern.” Butwin said.
Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday issued an emergency proclamation for the state involving severe winter storms starting Dec. 17.
This story was originally published January 8, 2022 at 9:58 AM.
