Flood Warning Issued for Skokomish River at Potlatch in Mason County

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Seattle WA has issued a Flood Warning for the Skokomish River at Potlatch. This alert was issued following heavy precipitation over the south slopes of the Olympics and remains in effect until further notice.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically affects Mason County, Washington, with the primary impact zone located along the Skokomish River at Potlatch.

What You Should Do

Motorists are urged to follow the guidance: “Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Residents should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Monitor local conditions for further updates.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is forecast for the region. As of 11:30 PM PDT Wednesday, the river stage was measured at 16.1 feet. The river is expected to rise to a flood stage of 16.5 feet and reach a crest of approximately 16.8 feet on Thursday morning. At these levels, widespread flooding of pasture lands is expected, and water will likely flow quickly over West Bourgault Road and Skokomish Valley Road.

Timeline

The flood onset is expected at approximately 4:36 AM PDT on Thursday, March 12. The river is forecast to crest Thursday morning before falling back below flood stage later Thursday afternoon or evening. Officials note that additional precipitation early next week could cause further flooding on the river.