Snohomish County Issues Flood Readiness Guide

Snohomish County officials released a consolidated list of flood preparation resources on Monday, urging residents to remain vigilant despite predictions of a milder winter.

The county’s Department of Emergency Management and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published the guide to help homeowners and business owners navigate the upcoming season. Lucia Schmit, the director of Emergency Management, stated that while El Niño winters typically bring warmer temperatures and increased rainfall, the combination can still trigger flooding through snowmelt.

Schmit described the local waterways as highly reactive, noting that the proximity to the mountains means river levels can shift rapidly. She explained that the Wallace River, which joins the Skykomish River near Sultan, rises and falls quickly because rain falls directly into its basin. The Skykomish River then merges with the Snoqualmie River to form the Snohomish River.

While officials expect some warning for the main Snohomish River, Schmit warned that tributaries are flashier and offer less advance notice. She emphasized that a slight change in river direction could move expected rainfall into a different basin, causing unexpected surges.

Maddie Kristell, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said that atmospheric rivers, which caused record flooding in December 2025, are not currently in the winter forecast. She noted that El Niño generally shifts storm tracks toward the southern United States rather than the Northwest. However, Kristell cautioned that less falling snow and more rain over time could still lead to flooding as warm systems melt accumulated snowpack in the Cascades.

The National Weather Service can typically predict heavy rain three to eight days in advance. Schmit said that climate change introduces uncertainty into these predictions, making historical patterns less reliable. She pointed out that the county has experienced two record floods in the last four years, challenging the previous assumption that such events are rare.

In December 2025, record flooding submerged 36,000 acres of Snohomish County. More than 800 people were ordered to evacuate, and 52 roads closed. Residents and businesses reported over $5.5 million in damages, while publicly owned infrastructure sustained $18 million in repairs costs.

The county recommends that residents use the online hazard viewer at bit.ly/4jIizIK to check if their home, workplace, or school is in a floodplain. Additional resources are available at snoco.org/safety, where residents can sign up for alerts by phone or email. A disaster preparedness checklist is available at snohomishcountywa.gov/719, and farmers can rehome livestock at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe during evacuations.