Issued by the King County Flood Control District on March 5, 2025
Flood Event Summary
On the morning of February 21, 2025, the National Weather Service issued a Hydrologic Outlook statement for western Washington that highlighted the threat of river flooding in King County starting on Sunday, February 23rd. The river forecast showed the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers reaching Phase 2 on Sunday afternoon, with the Tolt River predicted to peak close to the Phase 3 threshold on Sunday night.
The National Weather Service, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, issued a Flood Watch for King County and surrounding areas from Sunday morning though late Tuesday night. With the Flood Watch, the Tolt River was predicted to reach Phase 2 on Saturday evening and peak at Phase 3 overnight. The forecast for the Snoqualmie River was to reach Phase 2 late Saturday and peak at Phase 3 on Sunday afternoon. The South Fork Skykomish River was also expected to reach Phase 2 by Sunday.
The King County Flood Warning Center was opened at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 23 in response to the Tolt River entering Phase 2 flood alert. Shortly after, the Snoqualmie River also reached Phase 2.
On Sunday, King County Flood Patrol staff and supervisors used the flood event as an opportunity for field training and observations along the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers. This helps staff be prepared to visually inspect for damage or other key observations in moderate or severe flood conditions. By late Sunday afternoon, the flows were receding on the Tolt River and upper Snoqualmie River, and the Flood Warning Center was closed at 6:00 p.m.
An interesting factoid: The last time the Flood Warning Center opened was on January 28, 2024. It is very unusual to not have a high river flow event for over one year.
Response Overview
This section lists some of the actions taken by the King County Flood Control District and its governmental partners. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of governmental actions taken during this flood event.
- February 23: King County opened the Flood Warning Center at 3:00 a.m. to monitor flooding along the Tolt River and then the Snoqualmie River.
- February 23: The King County Flood Warning Center closed at 6:00 p.m. after river conditions dropped below the Phase 2 flood stage level.
Communications Summary
This section lists some of the communications provided by the King County Flood Control District and its governmental partners. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of governmental communications provided during this flood event.
- February 21 at 8:13 a.m.: King County provided an email update to the King County Flood Control District.
- February 21 at 9:23 a.m.: King County Flood Control District posted flood warning information and encouraged public to download the Flood Warning App on Facebook.
- February 21 at 9:25 a.m.: King County Flood Control District posted flood warning information and encouraged public to download the Flood Warning App on X.
- February 21 at 9:26 a.m.: King County Flood Control District posted flood warning information and encouraged public to download the Flood Warning App on Bluesky.
- February 21 at 12:35 p.m.: King County Council shared the King County Flood Control District’s X post regarding flood warning information and encouraging the public to download the Flood Warning App.
- February 21 at 12:37 p.m.: King County Council shared the King County Flood Control District’s Facebook post regarding flood warning information and encouraging the public to download the Flood Warning App.
- February 21 at 4:18 p.m.: Michelle Clark, Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District, provided an email update to the Board of Supervisors and an extended group of staff members. The Chair and Vice Chair were also contacted by text.
- February 21 at 5:51 p.m.: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks posted flood warning information and encouraged public to sign up for flood alerts, prepare and emergency kit, and directed public to prepare for flooding website on Facebook.
- February 22 at 10:01 a.m.: King County provided an email update to the King County Flood Control District.
- February 22 at 10:30 a.m.: Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District, provided an email update to the Board of Supervisors and an extended group of staff members. The Chair and Vice Chair were also contacted by text.
- February 23 at 5:01 a.m.: King County provided an email update to the King County Flood Control District.
- February 23 at 5:19 a.m.: King County provided an email update to area media outlets.
- February 23 at 7:39 a.m.: Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District, provided an email update to the Board of Supervisors and an extended group of staff members. The Chair and Vice Chair were also contacted by text.
- February 23 at 10:08 a.m.: King County provided an email update to the King County Flood Control District.
- February 23 at 1:05 p.m.: Michelle Clark, Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District, provided an email update to the Board of Supervisors and an extended group of staff members. The Chair and Vice Chair were also contacted by text.
- February 23 at 6:04 p.m.: King County provided an email update to the King County Flood Control District.
- February 23 at 6:56 p.m.: Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director of the King County Flood Control District, provided an email update to the Board of Supervisors and an extended group of staff members. The Chair and Vice Chair were also contacted by text.
- February 23 at 8:09 p.m.: King County provided an email update to the King County Flood Control District.
- February 23 at 8:46 p.m.: King County provided an email update to area media outlets.
Infrastructure and Critical Facilities
This section assesses the impact of flooding on critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, utilities, and public facilities, and it highlights past investments which may have mitigated the impact of this flood event. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of flooding impacts, nor does it highlight all past government investment in area flood mitigation infrastructure.
The following roads were at risk for closure during this flood event:
- Neal Road Southeast
- Reinig Road
- West Snoqualmie River Road Northeast (Walker Road)
- Snoqualmie Meadowbrook Road
- Mill Pond Road
The following images are associated with areas where river facilities exist. You can learn more about locations of river facilities, floodplains, and other important flood related information by using King County’s iMap.
A river facility refers to any man-made or engineered structure that interacts with a river system, with the purpose of influencing or controlling water flow, particularly to reduce flood risks. These include levees and revetments. A levee is a natural or artificial river embankment that prevents flooding, and a revetment is a passive structure that protects against erosion caused by river currents and high flows.
Mt. Si Road Protection Levee on the left river bank of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
Mt. Si Bridge Revetment on the right river bank of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
Bendigo Lower Left Bank and Lower Right Bank levees on the South Fork Snoqualmie River.
Middle Fork Bridge US Left Bank and Right Bank revetments on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
Pearson Revetment on the right river bank of the North Fork Snoqualmie River.
Shake Mill Right Bank Levee on the right river bank of the North Fork Snoqualmie River.
Shake Mill Left Bank Levee on the left river bank of the North Fork Snoqualmie River.
A project was completed here in 2019.
Reinig Road Revetment on the right river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
A project was completed here in 2021.
Railroad Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Railroad Bridge Levee on the right river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Pump Station Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
A project is being designed at this location.
Snoqualmie Falls
Above 328th Street Bridge Revetment on the left river bank of the Raging River.
Bridge to Bridge Left Bank and Right Bank levees on the Raging River.
Bush Revetment on the right river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Fall City Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Sletten ’69 Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Pleasant Hill Road Protection Revetment on the right river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Boat Ramp Revetment on the right river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Welcome Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Tolt River Right Bank Levee.
Tolt River Left Bank Levee.
Stossel Bridge Left Bank Revetment on the Snoqualmie River.
Stossel Bridge Right Bank Revetment on the Snoqualmie River.
A project is expected to go into construction at this location in 2025.
Roney Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
Dutchman Road Revetment on the left river bank of the Snoqualmie River.
A project is being designed at this location.
Lessons Learned
This section lists some of the lessons learned by the King County Flood Control District and its governmental partners. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of governmental lessons learned during this flood event.
- Flood forecasting and warning appeared to function as designed given there was no loss of life in King County during this flood event.
- Existing flood risk reduction infrastructure appeared to function as designed given flooding impacts were minimal.
- Media outreach and coverage appeared to function as intended to help keep the public properly informed and minimize public risks.
- Flooding, while minor, underscores the policy position supporting the need for further investment in flood mitigation planning and projects.
Recognitions
The King County Flood Control District was created to provide funding and policy oversight for flood risk reduction capital projects and programs in King County. The Flood Control District brings a comprehensive approach to flood management and provides funding to improve the County’s aging and inadequate flood protection facilities, including flood control facilities, capital improvement projects, and floodplain management and restoration programs. Funding is also provided for a regional flood warning center and emergency response, flood facility maintenance, public education and outreach, mapping and technical studies, citizen inquiry, and public response.
During flood events, however, it is the Flood Control District’s governmental partners at King County and the other urban and rural cities throughout the county who are responsible for emergency services, transportation, public works, housing, and other government services critical for the protection of life and property.
The King County Flood Control District would like to recognize and show appreciation for the dedicated public services provided by those who work at National Weather Service, King County, and at cities throughout the county. These talented professionals work long hours during flood events, occasionally at risk to their own safety, to ensure the best possible outcomes for the citizens of King County.