The intersection of Hamilton Rd. N, and Labree Rd. in Chehalis was closed the afternoon of Jan. 5 due to rising flood water on the Newaukum River.
Not two weeks removed from heavy rains that swelled China Creek in Centralia and the Newaukum River south of Chehalis, another round of similarly heavy rain is predicted to move into the area Saturday.
Forecasters are calling for two to four inches of rain in the Cascades and foothills from King County on south, with the lowlands predicted to receive one to two inches of rain. Snow levels are expected to rise through the weekend, ballooning to 6,000 to 7,000 feet — ensuring most precipitation falls in the form of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS Seattle office issued a flood watch that will go into effect Saturday afternoon and last through Tuesday evening. The watch affects Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pierce and King counties.
The flood watch statement warns of possible flooding particularly at the Newaukum River, with attention also paid to the Cowlitz and lower Chehalis rivers.
A previously-issued hydrologic outlook, issued 3:12 Friday morning, stated that a strong warm front will move through the region and bring with it moisture from the tropics southwest of Hawaii. Rainfall will likely be the heaviest around the Mount Rainier National Park area, the NWS stated.
Centralia was notably hit by flooding when China Creek swelled after nearly 3 inches of rain fell in 24 hours nearly two weeks ago. The creek overran its banks in several areas, causing surface streets and some buildings to take on water in what some called one of the worst flood events along China Creek they had seen.
The Newaukum River, also affected by heavy rains that dumped nearly 5 inches in the Alpha and Cinebar areas, crested nearly a half-foot below record flood stage of 13.5 feet in that flood. No major damage was reported, but some residents of the Chehalis Avenue Apartments in Chehalis evacuated their residences as water along Chehalis Avenue rose.
NWS statements issued Friday indicate flooding could be minor. The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service at 3:30 p.m. Friday forecasted the Newaukum River to crest at 11.5 feet, a foot above flood stage, late Sunday morning.
No other rivers as of Friday afternoon were expected to hit flood stage according to the service, but amounts of rain that fall could very likely change the predictions as the weekend wears on.
