"Following non-stop rain, Issaquah and our neighbors are experiencing historic flooding," Issaquah Mayor Mary Lou Pauly said Thursday in a statement on Twitter. "Issaquah Creek level is now at phase 4 and maximum flood fighting efforts are in effect."
The National Weather Service reports that two days worth of rain has caused flooding in urban and other areas in the lowlands. The rain is expected to continue through the weekend, further feeding waterways and adding to the risk of landslides.
"Floods are part of the landscape around here, and it has been a few years since we've had the flooding we've seen this year," Climatologist Nick Bond told KUOW. "People aren't wrong, it's really been coming down and it's leading to some problems."
"We have what's considered a geologically young landscape, since the last ice age, and so there are a lot of slopes and bluffs along Puget Sound that are prone to landslides ... That's been the case this month."
A total of 19 counties are now under an emergency proclamation issued by Governor Jay Inslee.
Just now, north of Gilman Boulevard in #Issaquah, where the rain is starting to accumulate pic.twitter.com/ldEW3nigHO
— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) February 6, 2020
The Weather Service points to Issaquah Creek which has shown significant flooding, spilling over onto parts of Front Street and Newport Way.
Issaquah Creek's level is at Phase 4, and our maximum flood fighting efforts are underway. Our crews, @IssaquahPolice and @EastsideFire have been working around the clock to address flooding threats and help keep our community safe. Stay informed: https://t.co/uUyrzh4Rxu. pic.twitter.com/hXFzFNTiwY
— Mayor Mary Lou Pauly (@MayorMaryLou) February 6, 2020
The city of Issaquah has set up a station at its community center with free bags and sand for people to use. Eastside Fire spent the afternoon searching apartments for people who could not evacuate after flood waters overtook neighborhoods. The flooding also prompted classes to start two hours late in Issaquah.
Issaquah Creek flooded quickly, starting Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, the creek was measuring 2,450 cubic feet per second. The last time the creek flooded at that level was in 2009.
Issaquah Creek continues to rise this morning with a flood flow near 2,450 cubic feet per second. Flooding of this magnitude has not occurred since Jan 8, 2009. pic.twitter.com/Ufccw9nZEa
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 6, 2020
Flood warnings were also issued Thursday morning for:
Snohomish River near Monroe
Pilchuck River near Snohomish
Puyallup River near Puyallup
Nisqually River
Carbon River near Fairfax
Cowlitz River near Randle
Issaquah Creek
Bond further tells KUOW that after the rain this week, the region is expected to be cold and dry.
Strong winds are expected along the coast and along the Strait Friday afternoon - Saturday morning. In these areas, tree damage and power outages are possible. #wawx pic.twitter.com/aueg3n4OJ3
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 6, 2020
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