Flood Watch Issued For Pierce County For Tuesday Through Thursday

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a flood watch for parts of Western Washington, including Pierce County:

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON ... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ... GRAYS HARBOR ... LEWIS ... MASON ... PIERCE ... THURSTON.

* FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2.5 INCHES IN THE OLYMPICS AND CASCADES AND 0.25 TO 1.0 INCHES IN THE LOWLANDS IS FORECAST FOR TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER 0.75 TO 2.0 INCHES FOR THE OLYMPICS AND CASCADES AND 0.25 TO 0.75 FOR THE LOWLANDS IS FORECAST BY THURSDAY. THE EXACT TRACK OF THE STORMS COULD AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF RAIN WE END UP HAVING AND THEREFORE AFFECT THE RIVER RUNOFF.

THE SNOW LEVEL IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 5000 TO 6000 FEET TUESDAY, THEN FALL TO 2000 TO 3000 FEET BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. EXACTLY HOW THE SNOW LEVEL CHANGES PLAY OUT WILL ALSO AFFECT THE RIVER RUNOFF WITH LOWER SNOW LEVELS CUTTING BACK ON THE RUNOFF.

* THE SOIL MOISTURE AND LOWLAND SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT AND SNOW COVER LEFT OVER FROM LAST WEEK`S STORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT THE RUNOFF AND THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THESE QUANTITIES.

* THE RIVERS MOST AT RISK INCLUDE...BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...THE SKOKOMISH ... UPPER PUYALLUP ... AND CHEHALIS RIVERS. INCREASING SOIL WETNESS FROM RECENT RAINS AND SNOW MELT IS INCREASING AND TOGETHER WITH THE MODERATE RAIN EXPECTED...WILL INCREASE THE LANDSLIDE THREAT THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.