OLYMPIA — Several roads across Thurston County were still closed Monday morning due to widespread flooding, mostly in the Chehalis River and surrounding creeks.
But Ben Miller-Todd, interim Assistant Director of Thurston County Emergency Services, said flood waters are starting to recede and he’s beginning to see roads and land dry up. More rain is on the way this week, but the potential for even more flooding has subsided for now.
Mike McFarland, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Seattle, said rain is expected daily through Thursday but Thurston County won’t get the bulk of the rain this time. He said the Chehalis, Skookumchuck, Deschutes, and Nisqually should stay below flood level.
Most of the heavy rain will fall in the central Cascades region and the Olympic peninsula. McFarland said King, Snohomish and Skagit counties could see flooding this week before the weather system moves north to British Columbia.
For the rest of this week, there was a 70 percent chance of rain Monday night that was expected to carry into today. There’s a 95 percent chance of rain during the day today, which will slowly drop throughout the week to a 13 percent chance of rain on Friday.
Rochester and Oakville were still experiencing the most flooding Monday morning, with several road closures due to high waters. Independence Road Southwest was closed at Marble Road to the county line, as well as a few smaller roads in the area including 175th Avenue, Moon Road and School Land Road.
In Rochester, 183rd Avenue Southwest was closed from Pendleton Road to Sargent Road. Applegate Loop Southwest was closed on both ends and the southern portion of Applegate Street was closed. Rochester School District canceled some programs including transitional kindergarten for Monday due to the conditions.
Connor Road Southeast was closed at Highway 507 near Bucoda due to flooding. In Littlerock, 123rd Avenue Southwest was closed along with a portion of Endicott Road from Littlerock Road to 118th Avenue.
In Grays Harbor County, Cooper Road Southwest was closed at the Grays Harbor ORV Park due to flooding.
