The Skookumchuck river water rises over a park bench near Bucoda on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020 as fast currents sweep tree limbs away.
The National Weather Service has included the western portion of Lewis County and Thurston County in a flood watch expected to last through Friday afternoon.
“A period of warming, rising snow levels and heavy rain in the mountains will force sharp rises on the rivers flowing off the Cascades,” the flood watch states. “Snow levels will rise to around 5,000 to 7,000 feet with 3 to 6 inches of rain in the mountains late Wednesday through Saturday.”
In East Lewis County, the NWS has issued a winter weather advisory which was in effect until late in the day Tuesday. Snow accumulations of up to 10 inches were expected in high elevations, but snow levels were expected to rise by Tuesday evening.
