A powerful storm expected to flood the upper Skagit late Wednesday will also bring high winds to the Skagit lowlands from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Sustained winds could be 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph, the Weather Service said. These wind speeds are strong enough to snap tree branches and topple some trees.
A flood forecast issued at 9:49 a.m. Tuesday shows the Skagit River cresting at 35 feet near Concrete at 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Flood stage is 28 feet, and emergency officials expect some property damage upriver beyond 32 feet.
In Mount Vernon, the river will crest near the Riverside Bridge at 29.4 feet Thursday afternoon, according to Tuesday’s forecast. The downtown revetment would stay dry at that river level.
The National Weather Service has put Skagit County under a flood watch from 4 p.m. Tuesday until late Wednesday night.
The Weather Service is also warning of the increased risk of landslides through Thursday because soils have been saturated by rain over the last week.
Chuckanut Drive near the Skagit-Whatcom border has already been closed since Friday due to a landslide. The detection of another unstable slope and a second slide on Monday prolonged the closure indefinitely.
Click on the link below for information to keep you prepared and safe in case of a flood emergency. Click Here for Flood Awareness
