Rivers were receding this morning after heavy wind and rain elevated water levels close to flood stages, but a series of strong Pacific frontal weather systems will create a renewed flood threat Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

    Heavy rains and winds are expected to strike the Washington coast beginning tonight. The wet weather is expected to last through Friday morning, when the Chehalis and Newaukum rivers are predicted to reach flood levels.

    No major flooding is in the forecast, but NWS meteorologist Jeff Michalski said the weather service is keeping an eye on developments and constantly updating its forecast.

    He said the heavy rains will likely be concentrated in the Olympic Mountains and the Willapa Hills and that the system is expected to linger beginning tonight. The Chehalis River at Centralia and Grand Mound is expected to reach flood stage early Friday morning. The Newaukum River could crest above flood stage at the same time, according to the weather service forecast.

    “The Chehalis River crested last night and is coming back down, but we have more precipitation in the forecast and are expecting it to rise once again,”  Michalski said.

    A flood watch is in effect for areas of Lewis, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties beginning tomorrow and extending through Friday. A flood watch means conditions are conducive to flooding, but that flooding is not necessarily imminent.

    The latest advisories from the weather service also include high wind warnings, but Michalski said Lewis County will receive only steady winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour. The coast could get gusts of up to 60 miles per hour.

    Elevations above 2,000 feet in the Cascades will get higher winds and a steady downfall of snow, according to the forecast.

    Michalski said the weather service won’t issue a flood warning unless it is certain rivers will reach flood stage, which is 14 feet for the Chehalis River at Grand Mound, 65 feet for the Chehalis River at Centralia and 10.5 feet for the Newaukum River.

    The current forecast shows both rivers crossing the flooding threshold by early Friday morning. The most severe flooding prediction is for the Chehalis River near Grand Mound, which is expected to reach moderate flood stage of 15.5 feet Friday.

    Michalski said the good news is that the strong frontal systems should move through the region Friday, just as rivers are nearing significant flood levels.

    “As we get into Friday, I think it looks like it shuts down with cooler air and heavy precipitation ending,” he said.

    River predictions are based on gauges placed along the river and the predictions of the weather service. To view additional river forecasts visit the National Weather Service at www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/.

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Flood Authority Meeting Thursday

By The Chronicle

    With heavy rains in the forecast and a flood watch hovering over much of the area, the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority will hold its weekly meetings Thursday.

    The Authority, which is comprised of 11 basin jurisdictions, will meet at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis at 9 a.m. for a work session before holding a regular business meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the Lewis County Courthouse.

    ESA Adolfson, the paid consultant of the Authority, will lead a discussion on funding for potential flood control projects and the differences between a flood control district and a flood control zone district.

    Lewis County Commissioner Ron Averill, chairman of the Authority, said the debate

will  focus on which is best suited for a three-county flood district. The Authority is hoping to eventually be replaced by a flood district with taxing authority in Lewis, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.

    The Authority will also discuss filing a $2 million supplemental budget request with the office of Gov. Chris Gregoire.

    The Authority announced earlier this year that most of the $2.5 million allocated to the group in 2008 has been spent or encumbered on ongoing projects and consultant fees.

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Live river information courtesy of the National Weather Service:

Chehalis River

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Skookumchuck River

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Cowlitz River

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Nisqually River

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