Category: Flooding
-
King County officials urge extra caution on rivers after December flooding created new potential drowning hazards
Summary King County officials are urging residents to be extra cautious at rivers due to the historic December flooding that changed conditions and created new potential hazards in rivers throughout the region. News King County officials are urging the public to be extra cautious on rivers this summer after major flooding this past December changed conditions and created new potential drowning hazards. They also warn that Lake Washington and…
-
Women on the front line: The longest flood activation in at least 40 years
Historic flooding in December 2025 from back-to-back atmospheric rivers was an all-hands-on-deck response that required three weeks of 24/7 monitoring. With multiple rivers throughout King County experiencing extreme flooding at the same time, staff took on shifts and supported the…
-
Update: King County closes Flood Warning Center as rainfall eases and river levels drop
Summary King County closed its Flood Warning Center at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, after monitoring minor to moderate flooding along several rivers since Tuesday evening, March 17, when a potent atmospheric river pushed through the region and sent…
-
UPDATE: With rainfall easing, King County Flood Warning Center closes after monitoring minor flood risk along Snoqualmie River
UPDATE – 830 a.m.: With heavy rainfall easing and river flows receding in the upper Snoqualmie River basin, the King County Flood Warning Center closed at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 12, after a brief activation to monitor minor flood conditions…
-
UPDATE: King County Flood Warning Center closes following brief, minor flooding along Snoqualmie River
March 8, 2026 – 7 p.m. UPDATE: Rainfall has eased across much of eastern King County, and river levels are dropping throughout the foothills, and the King County Flood Warning Center closed at 6:30 p.m., after slightly less than five…
-
By the numbers: A look back at King County’s response to historic flooding
On Dec. 8, the first of two atmospheric rivers slammed into King County and brought historic river flooding, setting all-time records for portions of the Snoqualmie and Cedar rivers. Severe (flood phase 4) flooding occurred across the county on the…
-
Update: King County closes Flood Warning Center after three weeks of 24/7 monitoring and river patrols, recovery and repair work continues
King County’s Flood Warning Center closed on Dec. 30 at 4:55 p.m. now that rivers have receded. During the three weeks of activation staff monitored and patrolled rivers, coordinated emergency actions and repairs with partners, and trained members of the…
-
VIDEO: How King County’s on-the-ground Flood Patrol is helping reinforce levees before they break and mobilize rapid repairs if they breach
Summary King County’s Flood Patrol provides real-time, on-the-ground monitoring of levees that make the regional emergency response more effective. News King County’s Flood Patrol has provided on-the-ground monitoring night and day throughout the historic flood, coordinating with partner agencies to…
-
VIDEO: Flood Patrol’s quick response helped a community evacuate flooding on the White River
It was just after midnight Tuesday when Josh Kubo and Craig Garric – two members of King County’s Flood Patrol – were inspecting a flood barrier along the White River when water seeping through suddenly became a breach. As soon…
-
How King County got people out of harm’s way and better protected homes and infrastructure years before the current flooding
Summary King County’s multi-benefit approach to floodplain restoration has reduced flood risks to people, homes, and infrastructure while also improving habitat for fish and wildlife. News Major floodplain restoration projects completed in recent years by the King County Department of…