Heavy rain and river flooding are anticipated this week

Marla Beaver
11 hours ago
2 min read

Heavy rain and river flooding are anticipated this weekend

By sbadg968er on December 8, 2025

The Puget Sound region is bracing for intense rain this week, formerly known as a “Pineapple Express.” Now called “atmospheric rivers, ” these are long, narrow bands of moisture from the tropics filling area rivers, which have and may again send some of them over their banks. With the rain expected to persist, the National Weather Service in Seattle has issued flood warnings and watches and wind advisories throughout the week.

The King County Flood Warning Center anticipates flooding will occur in areas along the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers and could affect other rivers. River gauge data can be found here. For the latest flood phase information, visit kingcounty.gov/flood.

Tips for preventing and dealing with flooding

Do not drive, wade, or walk through flooded areas. Watch for road closures, and never drive around barricades. Turn around, don’t drown. Check kingcounty.gov/MyCommute for road closure information.
Keep street drains, storm grates and flap gates (a one-way flow control device) clear of leaves and other debris. Call 206-477-8100 if you need assistance.
Use sandbags to protect your home or property. Sandbag distribution locations can be found at kingcounty.gov/sandbags.
Be prepared to evacuate immediately if an order is issued.

Landslides are also an increasing threat as hillsides become saturated with water. Learn the signs of an impending landslide:

Bulging ground at the base of a slope
Outside walls, walkways, or stairs pulling away from structures
Widening cracks in the ground or on paved areas such as streets or driveways
New cracks appearing in plaster, tile, brick, or foundations
Water breaking through the ground in new locations
Fences, retaining walls, utility poles, or trees tilting or moving

Visit kingcounty.gov/landslide for more information.

If you experience a power outage, you can contact your provider by going to:

Puget Sound Energy outage map/Report an outage
Seattle City Light – View and report outages
Tanner Electric – Outage map

How to report downed trees

If the downed tree is on a power line
- Report to power company or call 911
  - Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773
  - Call SPU at (206) 684-3000
If the downed tree is on private property
- This is the property owner’s responsibility
If the tree has fallen from King County property onto or blocking private property
- This depends, customers can file a claim with King County at this link