Ashford, Washington

... Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 PM PST this
evening...

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Winter
Weather Advisory for the northern and central Cascades... which is
in effect until 6 PM PST this evening.

Showers falling over the Cascades today in the wake of a cold
front will produce snowfall accumulations of 6 to 11 inches.

Precipitation over the Cascades was still falling as rain early
this morning. However the snow level will drop to 3000 feet this
afternoon... so precipitation will change to snow over the major
Highway passes during the day.

The heaviest snowfall amounts... up to 11 inches... are likely over
the mountains of Snohomish and King counties where the Puget
Sound convergence zone extends into the Cascades. This will affect
both Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means that periods of snow will
cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads... limited
visibilities... and travel delays.



Mcdonnal

... Flood Warning extended until Friday morning...

The Flood Warning continues for
the Puyallup river near Orting
* until Friday morning.
* At 7:00 am Thursday the flow was 10103 cfs.
* Flood flow is 4500 cfs.
* Minor flooding is occurring. The forecast is for minor flooding.
* Forecast... the river has crested and will continue to fall to below
flood flow tonight.
* Impact... at 9000 cfs... the Puyallup river will flood several
residential areas near Orting where levees remain damaged from
flooding in recent years.





1037 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Cowlitz river below Mayfield dam
* until this evening.
* At 10:00 am Thursday the flow was 24448 cfs.
* Flood flow is 25000 cfs.
* Fell below flood flow this morning.
* Forecast... the river fell below flood stage at 9:15 am Thursday
and will continue to fall. Flooding will continue in some areas
until the flood wave has completely passed downstream.
* Impact... at 25000 cfs... the Cowlitz river will flood The Reach from
Mayfield dam downstream through Toledo. Flood waters will inundate
some farmlands and several roads... mainly near Toledo.


Weather.Gov/Seattle
jbb







1037 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

... Flood Warning extended until Friday afternoon...

The Flood Warning continues for
the Cowlitz river at Randle
* until Friday afternoon.
* At 10:15 am Thursday the stage was 22.7 feet.
* Flood stage is 18.0 feet.
* Major flooding is occurring. The forecast is for moderate
flooding.
* Forecast... the river is cresting now at around 22.8 feet and will
continue to fall to below flood stage early Friday morning.
* Impact... at 22.0 feet... the Cowlitz river will cause major flooding
from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake... with
dangerous inundation of many roads including US Highway 12...
residential and commercial areas... and farms. Flooding will occur
all along the river including headwaters... tributaries... and other
streams within and near the Cowlitz river basin.





1037 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

... Flood Warning extended until Friday morning...

The Flood Warning continues for
the Deschutes river near Rainier
* until Friday morning.
* At 8:15 am Thursday the stage was 14.2 feet.
* Flood stage is 11.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for minor
flooding.
* Forecast... the river crested at 14.5 feet at 4 am Thursday and will
remain at this level for today before beginning to fall to below
flood stage tonight.
* Impact... at 13.5 feet... the Deschutes river will flood residential
areas... especially Cougar Mountain... Driftwood valley... and falling
Horseshoe. Downstream flooding will occur in areas of Tumwater
valley including The Golf Course. Many roads and farm lands will
also be flooded.





1037 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

... Flood Warning extended until this evening...

The Flood Warning continues for
the Nisqually river at McKenna
* until this evening.
* At 10:00 am Thursday the stage was 10.4 feet.
* Flood stage is 10.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring.
* Forecast... the river crested at 10.6 feet at 8 am Thursday and will
remain near this level before beginning to fall to below flood
stage
later today.
* Impact... at 10.0 feet... the Nisqually river will flood at the lower
end near the mouth. High tide levels on Puget Sound may increase
the amount of flooding. The Nisqually river will also spill over
its banks between La Grande and McKenna.





1037 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

... Flood Warning extended until Friday afternoon...

The Flood Warning continues for
the Nisqually river near National
* until Friday afternoon.
* At 10:00 am Thursday the stage was 11.1 feet.
* Flood stage is 10.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for moderate
flooding.
* Forecast... the river crested at 12.7 feet at 10 PM Wednesday and
will continue to fall to below flood stage Friday morning.
* Impact... at 11.0 feet... the Nisqually river will flood along the
upper reaches of the river from Mt Rainier National Park downstream
to Alder Lake. Swift waters will flood roads... pasture lands... and
farms. Erosion may damage the river banks.





1033 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Cedar River at Renton
* until Saturday evening.
* At 9:00 am Thursday the stage was 15.8 feet.
* Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for moderate
flooding.
* Forecast... the river will crest around 16.4 feet at noon
Friday... then slowly fall through the night. The river will
fall to below flood stage late Saturday morning.
* Impact... at 15.0 feet... the Cedar River will flood areas of Renton
including the Renton Airport.

Burke
weather.Gov/Seattle




1033 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Cedar River near Landsburg
* until Saturday afternoon.
* At 10:00 am Thursday the stage was 8.4 feet.
* Flood stage is 5.0 feet.
* Major flooding is occurring. The forecast is for major flooding.
* Forecast... the river crested at 8.4 feet at 7 am Thursday and will
continue to fall to below flood stage Saturday morning.
* Impact... at 7.0 feet... the Cedar River will cause major flooding
from Landsburg downstream through Maplewood. Deep and swift flood
waters will inundate many roads and some residential areas...
especially in Maple Valley. Flooding threatens sr-169. Flooding
will occur all along the river including headwaters...
tributaries... and other streams within and near the Cedar River
Basin. A stage of 7 feet on the Cedar River corresponds to a phase
4 flood in the King County flood system.





1033 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

... Flood Warning extended until this evening...

The Flood Warning continues for
the Issaquah creek near Issaquah
* until this evening.
* At 10:00 am Thursday the stage was 11.9 feet.
* Flood stage is 10.5 feet.
* Major flooding is occurring.
* Forecast... the river crested at 12.5 feet at 5 am Thursday and will
continue to fall to below flood stage early this afternoon.
* Impact... at 11.5 feet... Issaquah creek will cause major flooding in
most of the valley. Deep and swift flood waters will inundate
residential and business areas and numerous roads. Flooding will
occur all along the river including headwaters... tributaries... and
other streams within and near the Issaquah creek basin. This level
on Issaquah creek corresponds roughly to a phase 4 flood in the
city of Issaquah flood system





1033 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Snoqualmie river near Carnation
* until Saturday morning.
* At 9:30 am Thursday the stage was 61.5 feet.
* Flood stage is 54.0 feet.
* Record flooding is occurring. The forecast is for record flooding.
* Forecast... the river will continue to rise and crest near 62.0 feet
around 4 PM Thursday. The river will fall below flood stage Friday
night.
* Impact... at 60.0 feet... the Snoqualmie river will cause severe near
record flooding from Fall City downstream through Carnation and
Duvall. Deep and swift flood waters will inundate Many Farms...
residential areas... and roads. Flooding will occur all along the
river including headwaters... tributaries... and other streams within
and near the Snoqualmie river basin.





1033 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Snoqualmie river near the falls
* until Friday morning.
* At 9:30 am Thursday the flow was 52200 cfs.
* Flood flow is 20000 cfs.
* Major flooding is occurring. The forecast is for major flooding.
* Forecast... the river has crested and will continue to fall to below
flood flow early Friday morning.
* Impact... at 41000 cfs... the Snoqualmie river will cause major
flooding from the town of Snoqualmie downstream through Fall
City... inundating most of The Farm land in the flood plain... some
residential areas... and many roads. Flood waters will be deep and
swift in some areas. Flooding will occur all along the river
including headwaters... tributaries... and other streams within and
near the Snoqualmie river basin. This river level on the Snoqualmie
corresponds roughly to a phase 4 flood in the King County flood
system.





1033 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the tolt river near Carnation
* until Friday morning.
* At 10:00 am Thursday the flow was 12735 cfs.
* Flood flow is 4500 cfs.
* Major flooding is occurring. The forecast is for major flooding.
* Forecast... the river has crested but will remain above flood stage
through tonight.
* Impact... at 10200 cfs... the tolt river will cause severe flooding.
Dangerously deep and quick flood waters will cover roads and
driveways... with some homes flooded. The river will likely overtop
some levees. Erosion could cause serious damage and channel changes
may occur. Flooding will occur all along the river including
headwaters... tributaries... and other streams within and near the
tolt river basin. This river level on the tolt corresponds to a
phase 4 flood in the King County flood system.





923 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Newaukum r nr Chehalis
* until Friday morning.
* At 8:00 am Thursday the stage was 13.3 feet.
* Flood stage is 10.5 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for moderate
flooding.
* Forecast... the river crested at 13.5 feet at 10 PM Wednesday and
will continue to fall to below flood stage tonight.
* Impact... at 13.5 feet... flood waters will inundate most roads and a
majority of residential and commercial areas within the region.
Swift flood waters will become deep and hazardous... especially near
river channels. A stage of 13.6 feet on the Newaukum corresponds
to phase 4 in the Lewis County flood system. Flooding will occur
all along the river including headwaters... Forks... tributaries...
and other streams within and near the Newaukum river basin.





923 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Skookumchuck river near Centralia
* from 9 am Thursday until Friday evening.
* At 8:00 am Thursday the stage was 84.7 feet.
* Flood stage is 85.0 feet.
* Major flooding is forecast.
* Forecast... the river will rise above flood stage around 9 am
Thursday and crest near 87.0 feet around 10 PM Thursday. The river
will fall below flood stage Friday late morning.
* Impact... at 87.4 feet... the Skookumchuck river will cause severe...
record flooding in Centralia and the surrounding area. The river
will flood most residential areas and roads and cover most of the
farmland in the Skookumchuck River Valley. Flooding will occur all
along the river including headwaters... tributaries... and other
streams within and near the Skookumchuck river Basin. A stage of
87.4 feet corresponds to a phase iv flood in the Lewis County Flood
Warning system.





923 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Skookumchuck river near Bucoda
* until late Friday night.
* At 8:45 am Thursday the stage was 16.1 feet.
* Flood stage is 13.5 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for major
flooding.
* Forecast... the river will continue to rise and crest near 17.3 feet
around 4 PM Thursday. The river will fall below flood stage Friday
afternoon.
* Impact... at 17.6 feet... the Skookumchuck river in Thurston County
will cause severe near record flooding in the Bucoda area... with
deep and swift flood waters inundating residential and business
areas and numerous roads.Flooding will occur all along the river
including headwaters... tributaries... and other streams within and
near the Skookumchuck river basin.





923 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Chehalis river near Grand Mound
* until Saturday evening.
* At 9:00 am Thursday the stage was 16.9 feet.
* Flood stage is 14.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for major
flooding.
* Forecast... the river will continue to rise and crest near 19.2 feet
around 10 PM Thursday. The river will fall below flood stage late
Saturday morning.
* Impact... at 19.0 feet... the Chehalis river in Thurston County will
cause severe near record flooding... with deep and swift flood
waters inundating the Independence Valley. Flooding will occur all
along the river including headwaters... tributaries... and other
streams within and near the Chehalis river basin.





923 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Chehalis river at Centralia
* until Saturday afternoon.
* At 9:00 am Thursday the stage was 71.3 feet.
* Flood stage is 65.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring. The forecast is for major
flooding.
* Forecast... the river will continue to rise and crest near 73.8 feet
around 4 PM Thursday. The river will fall below flood stage early
Saturday morning.
* Impact... at 73.4 feet... the Chehalis river in Lewis County will
cause severe near record flooding... with deep and swift flood
waters inundating residential and business areas... roads including
I-5... and farms. Flooding will occur all along the river including
headwaters... tributaries... and other streams within and near the
Chehalis river Basin. A stage of 73.4 feet corresponds to a phase
iv flood in the Lewis County flood system.





923 am PST Thu Jan 08 2009

The Flood Warning continues for
the Chehalis river nr Doty
* until this evening.
* At 8:30 am Thursday the stage was 13.4 feet.
* Flood stage is 13.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring.
* Forecast... the river has crested and will continue to fall to below
flood stage this morning.
* Impact... at 13.0 feet... flood waters of the upper Chehalis and
South Fork Chehalis will inundate many roads and some residential
and commercial areas. Impacted roadways and surrounding areas
include Curtis Hill... Lake Creek... Moon Hill... Wildwood roads in
the boisfort valley and l abri Rd. And front St. Below Doty. A
stage of 13 feet on the Chehalis near Doty corresponds to just
below phase 2 in the Lewis County flood system.

Previous rainfall of 2-10 inches or more over the past 24 hours has
resulted in high levels of soil moisture around western
Washington. Heavy rainfall of 2-5 inches more in 24 hours is
expected. This amount of rain will put extra pressure on soil
instability leading to an increased risk of landslides.

The USGS rainfall index... rainfall threshold... and rainfall
intensity threshold are all currently exceeded and will be for the
duration of the heavy rain. All of these together have elevated
the landslide risk to high risk

Landslides have been occurring in a number of locations in
many counties throughout western Washington.

Cumulative rainfall over the last three weeks have wetted soils
to the point where they are above the USGS landslide index. When
cumulative rainfall over the previous three days and previous
eighteen days combine to exceed the USGS landslide cumulative
threshold index... rainfall induced landslides are possible during
intense rainfall or when rainfall amounts exceed two inches in 24
hours. A diminishing risk of landslides will continue for several
days after the rain ends.

While the USGS rainfall thresholds were designed for the Seattle
area of the Puget Sound... most of The Lowlands of western
Washington are similarly susceptible to landslides caused by wet
soils. Areas most susceptible to landslides under these conditions
are steep coastal Bluffs and other steep hillsides.

For more information about current conditions... visit
www.Weather.Gov/Seattle... select hydrology... and then scroll down
for the link to the USGS landslide information Page.

... Record daily maximum rainfall set at Seattle-Tacoma WA Airport...

A record rainfall of 2.29 inches was set at Seattle-Tacoma WA
Airport yesterday. This br