Weekend storms bring heavy rain, minor flooding

By Ryan Sparks • January 4, 2021 4:00 pm
Some minor flooding creeps up onto the edge of State Route 109 near the Moclips River on Monday. Water on the roadway caused the route to be closed in both directions near Ocean City at 12:30 p.m. (Photo by Elizabeth Berg)
Some minor flooding creeps up onto the edge of State Route 109 near the Moclips River on Monday. Water on the roadway caused the route to be closed in both directions near Ocean City at 12:30 p.m. (Photo by Elizabeth Berg)

Heavy rains soaked much of Grays Harbor County over the holiday weekend, bringing upwards of four inches of rain to some areas on Sunday while causing some minor flooding.

According to data provided by the National Weather Service, Aberdeen and along the coast saw approximately 2.5 inches of rain on Sunday while areas east — such as Montesano and Elma —were deluged with three inches of rain.

McCleary was hardest hit on Sunday, seeing four inches of rainfall.

Sunday’s storm hit an already water-soaked county after storms that hit the first two days of the year. On Friday, Grays Harbor County was hit with anywhere from a half-inch to an inch of rain. Saturday’s storm brought an additional half-inch to two inches of rainfall, with one t0 two inches falling in the northern parts of the county.

While no major flooding was reported over the weekend, the wet weather did contribute to a Monday afternoon road closure on State Route 109 in the North Beach area. The Washington State Department of Transportation issued the temporary road closure at approximately 12:30 p.m. as rising water levels shutdown a one-mile stretch of the thoroughfare, from milepost 17 near Conner Creek to milepost 18 near Pacific Blvd.

For further information on road closures, visit wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx.

Video by Conner Hansen, Avalon Towing and Recovery

Forecast

More rain is expected to blanket the area Tuesday and Wednesday. The National Weather Service forecast predicts rain on Tuesday, likely after 10 a.m., with the possibility of heavy rain at times through the rest of the day.

On Wednesday, rains are expected before 10 a.m., then lighter showers are expected through 4 p.m..

There is a 40% chance of showers for Wednesday night, mostly before 10 p.m.

More rain brings further chances for flooding along local rivers, and Grays Harbor Emergency Management states the Satsop, Moclips and Chehalis River near Porter are areas to watch for as those rivers are expected to crest near flood stages this week.

“Our concern is damages to flooding,” said GHEM Program Coordinator Nick Falley. “It looks like there is quite a bit of flooding occurring, so we want to make sure we are tracking any damages here.”

To contact Grays Harbor County Emergency Services, call 360-249-3911 or email ghcdem@co.grays-harbor.wa.us.