Tag Archives: environment

Hydrologic Outlook issued ~Western WA., Ongoing Floods


Official Weather Information, Safety tips, Hazard information

Official Weather Information

Hydrologic Outlook issued November 6 at 1:14PM PST by NWS Seattle, WA ESFSEW Another storm system will impact western Washington tonight, with additional rainfall between 2 to 2.75 inches.

Snow levels this evening will be between 6000-7000 feet and will decrease to 3800-4000 feet Friday morning. This combination of heavy rainfall and high snow levels will lead already elevated rivers to rise, potentially above flood stage. While the probability is low, the Snoqualmie River has the greatest chance of minor flooding.

Please monitor the latest river forecasts from the National Weather Service for additional information. © 2025 National Weather Service

Safety tips

Find Safe Shelter
Move to higher ground without delay. Avoid low-lying areas, riverbanks, and streams.

Avoid Floodwaters
Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Just six inches of moving water can knock you over, and one foot can carry away your vehicle.

Stay Informed
Keep updated with weather alerts and warnings via a NOAA Weather Radio, local news, or weather apps.

Prepare to Evacuate
Be ready to evacuate if instructed by local authorities. Have an emergency kit with essentials like water, food, medications, and important documents ready.

Secure Your Home
If time permits, move valuable items to higher levels and disconnect electrical appliances.

Avoid Bridges
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water, as they can be hazardous during floods.

Hazard information

Areal Flood

Occurs over a large area due to prolonged periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.

Develop more gradually, often over hours or days.

Flash Flooding

Flash floods develop within 6 hours of the immediate cause, such as heavy rain, ice or debris jams, and levee or dam failure.

Urban areas are especially prone to flash floods due to concrete and asphalt surfaces.

Steep, hilly, or mountainous terrain produces rapid runoff and quick stream response.

River Flooding

River flooding occurs when river levels rise and overflow their banks.

Classified as Minor, Moderate, or Major based on water height and impacts.

Causes include heavy rainfall, dam failures, rapid snowmelt, and ice jams.

Storm Surge and Coastal Inundation

Coastal flooding generally occurs with land-falling or near-land tropical storms or hurricanes.

Storm surge and large waves pose the greatest threat to life and property along the coast.

Tropical cyclones can cause flooding in the U.S. each spring through fall.

Burn Scars/Debris Flows

Burn scars occur in areas where wildfires have burned away vegetation.

Flooding can produce mud and debris flows, destroying homes and infrastructure.

Ice/Debris Jams

Ice jams are common during winter and spring along rivers, streams, and creeks.

Debris jams can occur at any time of year and have similar implications as ice jams.

Snowmelt

Snowmelt flooding occurs when melting snow is the major source of water involved in a flood.

High soil moisture conditions prior to snowmelt can contribute to flooding.

Dry Wash

Significant rainfall in dry areas can quickly cause flooding.

Water from storms rushes to low-lying areas, often into canyons or dried-up river beds.

Dam Breaks/Levee Failure

Dam failure or levee breaches can occur with little warning.

Causes include prolonged rainfall, landslides, earthquakes, erosion, improper maintenance, and sabotage.

*The National Weather Service for additional information. © 2025 National Weather Service

Spring – did you know? … Our Environment


Pinterestwh_climate_banner

Rachel Carson‘s book Silent Spring, an early voice for our environment in 1962..get it

Climate Change chief victims of global warming are women, we grow the food, walk miles for water, and gather the firewood.

Fend off Allergies … by eating more leafy greens, having high levels of folic acid may decrease your risk of wheezing and silence some genes, including those of the immune system. author, Elizabeth Matsui MD

Making a glass jar impacts our environment, you have to burn a gas furnace 24hrs at 2000 degrees, this consumes a  huge amount of energy.

According to the WTC wiping  your feet off before home entry can reduce tracking pesticides by 25%, removing shoes can cut the amount of dust by 10 times, clean carpets every 18months instead of every 12months and save $300

the EPA states the air indoors is 2 to 5times more polluted, install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, open windows daily, buy air cleaning plants, English ivy, Philodendron, spider; green cleaning recipes at Planetgreen.discovery.com

Buy local … less packaging if you buy local, more fresh tasty choices …support local farmer’s markets and community gardens

Raising Beef accounts for 18% of global warming emissions worldwide

You can reduce your carbon footprint just by switching to vegetarian meals for 1day, save about 860calories &9pounds of carbon,if done for 2weeks, a reduction of carbon by 122pounds and 12,460calories, losing about 3lbs or more.

So, this post is 11 + yrs old, so the numbers must be staggering now

Washington State ~ NWS Alert ~ Flood Outlook


from Mon, Dec 16, 3:41 PM PST to Tue, Dec 17, 3:30 PM PST

Hydrologic Outlook issued December 16 at 3:41PM PST by NWS Seattle, WA

ESFSEW

An atmospheric river will impact the region Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing potentially significant rainfall that could drive some rivers in western Washington into flood stage.

There is still a fair amount of uncertainty regarding river flooding mid-week, but the latest rainfall forecast shows 3 to 5 inches over the Olympic Peninsula with snow levels as high as 7000 to 8000 feet.

The northern and central Cascades will also see heavy rainfall during this period, with up to 4 inches of liquid forecast through Wednesday.

The Skokomish River is currently forecast to enter moderate flood stage by Wednesday, and other area rivers will continue to be monitored. In addition, urban and small stream flooding will need to be monitored as well due to potential heavier rain rates Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.

Forecast models show potential for additional precipitation entering western Washington towards the end of the week, which could cause additional river flooding impacts.

Please monitor the latest river forecasts from the National Weather Service for additional information.

© 2024 National Weather Service

Flood – Outlook


from Mon, Dec 16, 4:11 AM PST to Mon, Dec 16, 4:00 PM PST

Alert Details

Hydrologic Outlook issued December 16 at 4:11AM PST by NWS , Seattle WA

ESFSEW

An atmospheric river will impact the region Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing potentially significant rainfall that could drive some rivers in western Washington into flood stage.

There is still a fair amount of uncertainty regarding river flooding mid-week, but the latest rainfall forecast shows 4 to 7 inches over the Olympic Peninsula with snow levels as high as 7000 to 8000 feet.

Forecast models show large variability in the forecast, with as much as 8 inches or higher over the Olympics in less than 36 hours. The northern and central Cascades will also see heavy rainfall during this period, with up to 5 inches of liquid forecast through Wednesday.

The Skokomish River is currently forecast to enter moderate flood stage by Wednesday, and other area rivers will continue to be monitored. In addition, urban and small stream flooding will need to be monitored as well due to potential heavier rain rates Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.

Forecast models show potential for additional precipitation entering western Washington towards the end of the week, which could cause additional river flooding impacts.

Please monitor the latest river forecasts from the National Weather Service for additional information.

© 2024 National Weather Service

In the Library … Last Call at the Oasis, by Jessica Yu – Woman’s History Month


The Global Clean – Water Crisis

The Scientists in Jessica Yu‘s documentary, about the global clean-water crisis, say that half the world’s population will no have access to adequate drinking water by the year 2025. The documentary is deftly constructed and devastating, the film is a stunning eye opener that will at the very least, have you taking shorter showers and turning off the tap while you brush your teeth. – jg Vogue

Last Call at the Oasis ~ the Book … edited by Karl Weber  ~ the Video can be seen on youtube … Part 1 of 6 is below

Take a look at the Trailer below …

http://www.lastcallattheoasis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lastcallattheoasis
http://twitter.com/#!/lastcalloasis

In select theaters 5/4

Developed, financed and executive produced by Participant Media, the company responsible for AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC. and WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”, LAST CALL AT THE OASIS presents a powerful argument for why the global water crisis will be the central issue facing our world this century.

Illuminating the vital role water plays in our lives, exposing the defects in the current system and depicting communities already struggling with its ill-effects, the film features activist Erin Brockovich and such distinguished experts as Peter Gleick, Alex Prud’homme, Jay Famiglietti and Robert Glennon.