Flood Warning Issued for Newaukum River Near Chehalis Affecting Lewis County

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Seattle WA has issued a Flood Warning for the Newaukum River near Chehalis and the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda. The alert was issued on March 13 at 8:34 AM PDT and remains in effect until March 14 at 11:48 AM PDT.

Affected Areas

The warning primarily affects Lewis County, specifically the areas surrounding the Newaukum River and its forks. Impacted roadways and residential/commercial areas include:

• Jackson Hwy
• Tune, Rush, Sommerville, Griel, Hamilton, Tauscher, Guerrier, Kirkland, Macomber, Rice, Senn, and Lucas Creek Roads
• Middle Fork and North Fork Roads

The alert also identifies the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda as an affected area.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to take the following precautions:

• Turn around, don’t drown: Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas.
• Respect Barricades: Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades.
• Monitor Conditions: Stay tuned for further updates. The next statement is expected to be issued by 4:45 PM PDT this afternoon.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is forecast for the region. At a stage of 202.5 feet, flood waters are expected to inundate numerous roads and residential and commercial areas along the Newaukum River. This stage corresponds to Phase 2 flooding in the Lewis County flood system. Flooding in some areas may be deep and hazardous, particularly near riverbanks.

Timeline

• Current Status: As of 7:45 AM PDT Friday, the river stage was 200.8 feet.
• Flood Stage: 202.5 feet.
• Onset: The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this morning.
• Crest: A crest of 203.8 feet is forecast for late this afternoon.
• Recession: The river is expected to fall below flood stage just after midnight tonight.
• Expiration: The warning is scheduled to end at 11:48 AM PDT on Saturday, March 14.