A heavy rain storm on Halloween weekend that dropped 4 1/4 inches of rain over 2 days resulted in a peak flow of 22,400 cfps on the Middle Fork river. The rain was steady without a heavy downpour at any one time and there was no snow to melt in the mountains, factors which helped avoid major damage to the road. But flows of ~20,000 cfps were sustained for 5 hours. The Taylor river was especially wild — a log jam formed just above the turn off to Dingford Creek and caused part of the river to flow over the spur to the Taylor River trailhead. Later reports indicate that SUV style vehicles should still be able to negotiate the trench eroded across the road (see the last photo below).
The Taylor River overflowed it’s banks and ran across the spur road to the trailhead in two places.
Gateway Bridge still safely above the water
The log jam at the top of the picture restricted the flow of the Taylor River causing water to flow across the road
The log jam is at the left of this picture in front of the tree island. The tree with the huge root ball on the right came down the river while I was standing here.
A creek flowing down an unusual spot along the road to the Dingford Creek trailhead. Normally this water would come down the drainage in the background.
Dingford Creek falls from the bridge. The spray was so intense it was impossible to get a clear shot.
Compare to flow level in late summer
Taylor River trailhead washout on November 1 after the high water receded. Photo by Bill Davis.
Related stories
- Cliff Mass Weather Blog – Serious Precipitation and Flooding is Probable During the Next 72 Hours
- Living Snoqualmie – Heavy Rain, Wind Roll into Snoqualmie Valley; River Rising, Flood Warning, Wind Advisory Issued
- SnoValley Star – County issues Phase III flood alert for Snoqualmie River
