Chehalis Basin residents should prepare for significant incoming rainfall this week.
A series of possible atmospheric rivers are predicted to hit the Pacific Northwest late Tuesday, Jan. 23 through early Wednesday, Jan. 24, bringing more precipitation to the greater area and more snow in the northern Cascades, according to information posted by the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority.
The Chehalis River Basin Flood Warning System issued a warning early Tuesday morning that the Chehalis River at Grand Mound is nearing a “minor” flood stage of 141 ft.
As of 11:35 a.m. on Tuesday, the National Weather Service forecast the river to crest at 140.17 ft. Tuesday afternoon and drop below the “alert” threshold of 140 ft. by Wednesday night.
The highest stage at Chehalis River at Grand Mound between 2014-2018 was approximately 142.8 ft, according to the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority.
The Newaukum and Cowlitz rivers were forecasted Tuesday to rise a bit during the weather event, but stay far below flood warning levels.
The Climate Prediction Center has indicated “a slight risk” for heavy precipitation, heavy snow, and high winds in the Pacific Northwest from Thursday, Jan. 25 through Saturday, Jan. 27, according to the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority.
The Chehalis Basin Flood Warning System provides real-time data and information from a network of monitoring stations supporting improved flood forecasts and inundation maps to help Basin residents protect themselves and their property from potentially devastating losses, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
For information on current forecasts or to register for email alerts, visit https://chehalis.onerain.com/.
Updated weather forecasts are available online at https://www.weather.gov/.
