‘Major floods’ expected to happen in these parts of East Pierce County
Officials are gearing up for flooding from the Puyallup River and White River this week.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there will be two waves of heavy rain for the Puyallup River – one peaking at about 10 p.m. Monday night and one peaking at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
NOAA says the river is expected to reach 27.86 feet in Puyallup on Monday night and a maximum of 28.4 feet on Wednesday night. This is considered a “minor flood” for the Puyallup River in Puyallup, which is between 26.2 feet and 31 feet.
Each river has a different threshold for how many feet is considered a “flood watch,” a “minor flood” or a “major flood.”
NOAA says the historical record for the Puyallup River in Puyallup is 34.1 feet, but the website does not list the date that this happened.
In Orting, the Puyallup River is considered to be a “major flood” when it hits a flow rate of 16,000 cubic feet per second. Monday night and Wednesday morning will both hit major levels at 17,142 cfs, or 11.5 feet. The historical record for the Puyallup River in Orting happened on Nov. 6, 2006 at 12.4 feet.
The White River in Auburn is expected to hit “major flood” levels at about 4 a.m. on Friday morning, with a rate of 13,557 cubic feet per second. The threshold for a major flood for the White River is a flow rate above 12,000 cubic feet per second. This could cause some flooding downstream in downtown Sumner.
The Puyallup Police Department announced Monday afternoon that they are closing the Riverwalk Trail until further notice.
“For Puyallup residents, if you live in an area that is prone to flooding, please take precautionary action now to avoid damage to your property,” the department wrote in a Facebook post. “Puyallup Public Works has sandbags available. They can be picked up at Clarks Creek Park South (1710 12th Ave SW) and Corporate Yards (1100 39th Ave SE). We are contacting residents who live along the Puyallup River and other areas of town that are at risk of flooding. We’ll continue to monitor the weather as the week progresses.”
The Sumner Police Department said they are gearing up for flooding, and encouraged residents to help them out by sweeping leaves off of storm gutters.
“We are watching both the White and Puyallup River levels and doing some pre-work for soggy conditions. Our sweeper is out working the streets to prevent localized flooding,” SPD wrote in a Facebook post. Help them out - if you see a drain clogged with leaves, pull them out of the way to help water flow.”
The Seattle chapter of the National Weather Service published a Facebook post about the potential flooding on Monday morning, with tips on how to keep safe:
- Drivers should never try to drive through flooded areas, or areas with standing or running water. NWS noted that it takes only 12 inches of water to sweep a car away.
- Residents should “avoid low-lying areas, trails near fast-moving rivers and steep slopes that may become unstable.”
- Gutters, downspouts and storm drains in your neighborhood should be cleared as much as possible.
- Residents who live in flood-prone areas should “review [their] household flood plan and prepare supplies in case water rises quickly.”
To track flood levels, visit www.water.noaa.gov.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM.
