Flood Warning Issued for Columbia and Walla Walla Counties Through Sunday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pendleton, Oregon, has issued a Flood Warning for southeast Washington. This alert is in effect until 12:00 PM PDT on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers regions along the Touchet River in southeast Washington. Impacted counties include:

• Columbia County
• Walla Walla County

Specific locations expected to experience flooding include Dayton, Waitsburg, Prescott, and Huntsville.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers are urged to follow the safety mantra: “Turn around, don’t drown.” Most flood-related fatalities occur in vehicles; do not attempt to drive through flooded roadways.

Please report any observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement. Request that they pass the information to the National Weather Service when it is safe to do so.

Expected Conditions

Flooding is being driven by a combination of excessive rainfall and significant snowmelt. Emergency management has already reported river flooding within the warned area. While no additional rainfall is expected, flooding impacts will continue as streams rise due to excess runoff.

Key hazards include:

• Flooding of rivers, creeks, and streams.
• Inundation of low-lying and flood-prone locations.
• Numerous road closures already in effect due to high water.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:08 PM PDT on Saturday, March 14. The Flood Warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 12:00 PM PDT on Sunday, March 15.