All of Lewis County Now Included in Flood Watch

Posted

A flood watch issued earlier this week by the National Weather Service has been expanded as of Thursday afternoon to include all of Lewis County. 

The watch, updated just after 11 a.m. Thursday, includes much of Western Washington, and is expected to last through Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, East Lewis County was included in a winter weather advisory, which has since been lifted. 

“A period of warming, rising snow levels, and heavy rain in the mountains will force sharp rises on the rivers flowing off the Cascades. One to 3 inches of rain have fallen in the Cascade Mountains in the last 24 hours and another 1 to 3 inches are expected into Friday afternoon,” according to the watch. “Locally, heavier amounts are possible.”

Snow levels are expected to rise to between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. 

“River flooding is possible as a result,” according to the flood watch.

In Lewis and South Thurston counties, the Newaukum, Skookumchuck and Chehalis rivers are expected to rise, but stay below flood level, cresting late Thursday or early Friday.

The Chehalis River at Grand Mound is predicted to get the closest to flood stage, but not enter minor flood level.