Flood warnings lingered over Snohomish County into Thursday evening after the Snohomish River near Monroe rose to flood stage early Thursday, pushing water into low-lying parts of the valley. The swollen river left pasture land and a handful of rural roads close to the channel under water, and county and state agencies urged residents and commuters to take it slow and stay alert. Emergency crews and public-works staff spent the day tracking gauges and checking road conditions across the valley.
National Weather Service update
The National Weather Service in Seattle reported that the Snohomish River near Monroe reached 15.0 feet at about 2:15 a.m., which put it at flood stage and cresting early Thursday. In its flood bulletin, the agency kept a Flood Warning in place until 5:18 p.m. PDT on March 19 and noted that the river was expected to start receding later in the day.
What the stage means locally
At the Monroe gauge, a reading of 15.0 feet puts the river at Phase 2 in Snohomish County’s flood-warning system. That level is typically associated with minor flooding in low pasture lands and on several roads that hug the river. Snohomish County Surface Water Management provides phase descriptions and online maps that spell out which roads and nearby properties are most likely to see water when the gauge reaches this stage.
Safety: Turn around, don't drown
The NWS leaned on a familiar warning for days like this: “Turn around, don't drown.” Drivers were urged not to go around barricades or roll the dice by pushing through standing water. The advisory points out that even 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock a person off their feet, and that moving water can sweep away vehicles, which is a pretty fast way for a minor inconvenience to turn into a life-threatening situation. The agency advised anyone confronted with rising floodwater to take the shortest route to higher ground.
Roads and local impacts
Local reporting noted that crews were keeping a close eye on low-lying stretches near the river and that some minor flooding was already affecting pastureland and county roads in the Monroe area. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, officials were monitoring gauge readings and posting updates to county information channels as conditions changed through the day.
How to stay informed
Residents in the valley are encouraged to stay plugged into both county river-level pages and NWS forecasts for the latest on water levels, road closures and safety guidance. Snohomish County’s Surface Water Management division and the county Public Works office maintain online listings of river stages, contact numbers and resources for properties affected by flooding. Snohomish County Surface Water Management remains a primary local hub for maps, real-time gauge links and who to call when the water starts creeping too close.
