Heavy Rain, Flood Watches Continue In Gig Harbor: What To Expect

GIG HARBOR, WA — This wild weather is not done with Western Washington just yet, not by a long shot.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, a flood watch is in effect for almost all of Western Washington, including Gig Harbor. During the watch, forecasters with the National Weather Service are warning residents to expect "excessive" rainfall, which may cause flooding in rivers, creeks, streams. There is also a high potential for urban flooding, especially in places with poor drainage or where debris has clogged storm drains or ditches.

The heavy rainfall really began in full force midday Thursday — even causing a few lightning strikes along the Olympic Peninsula — but it will continue to pour Friday, thanks largely to an uncommon "Pineapple Express", a warm frontal system that will continue to dump between three and five inches of rain over Puget Sound.

"I'd say this sort of atmospheric river event happens a couple of times each winter on average but is only about half of what our bigger flood events are like and, because of the relatively short duration, falls far short of the big events that have ruined roads and campgrounds," forecasters wrote. "That said, the rivers will still come up quickly [Thursday] and Friday and there is of course no change to the flood watch."

Many rivers are expected to reach at least minor flood stages, and some may get near the moderate range, including swatches of the Snoqualmie, Snohomish and Puyallup rivers. The Tolt River near Carnation and the Snoqualmie River at Snoqualmie Falls could reach the major flood stage by late Friday morning.

By midday Friday, forecasters warn the heavy rains will have also fully saturated the hillsides, priming the region for potential landslides. The flood watch is set to expire Saturday afternoon. Likewise, the threat of landslides should also decline moving into Sunday.

Monday also brings "another shot of heavy rain" plus breezy winds, forecasters say, followed by a cooler weather pattern Tuesday that, while it won't be as rainy, could knock overnight lows well into the 30s— so bring those outdoor plants indoors before then.

All told, Western Washington can expect a pretty wild couple of days, and forecasters are advising residents to buckle down if possible, or drive especially carefully if you're going out in the rain.

Review live river conditions and the latest flood forecasts via the National Weather Service.

Sign up to receive local flood alerts in King, Pierce, or Snohomish counties.

Here is the latest five-day weather outlook for Gig Harbor:

• Friday: 50°/44° (Rain likely)
• Saturday: 53°/47° (Rain likely and patchy fog)
• Sunday: 59°/50° (Rain)
• Monday: 55°/41° (Rain)
• Tuesday: 49°/36° (Chance of rain)