The National Weather Service office in Spokane issued a Flood Watch for north-central Washington. The watch was in effect from 1 a.m. through the evening of the 13th, as a slow-moving weather system was expected to bring sustained rain to steep terrain, including burn scars. More than simply wet pavement, the potential for ash, soil, and rocks to move downhill together was a key consideration for RV travel.
Areas Affected
Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, and Ferry counties, along with the Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Chelan, Winthrop, Twisp, and Stehekin areas, were included in the watch. The same watch also applied to the Okanogan Valley and Highlands, the Wenatchee area, and western and central Chelan County.
Expected rainfall was generally 0.50 to 1.50 inches, with about 2 inches possible in southern Chelan County. Near burn scars around Modlight, Kaiser Canyon, Sinlahekin, Chelan Falls, Little Giant, Sisi, and Pioneer, debris and ash flows or rockfall were possible. This was a forecast hazard and did not mean that any particular road or campground had already closed.
Access roads below hillsides, campgrounds with limited drainage, and low sites near creeks could be affected first, even in the same rainfall. The weather service said water can also collect quickly in low urban areas when drains and ditches are blocked by debris.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
Before heading toward Lake Chelan or the Okanogan Valley, travelers should check the Washington State Department of Transportation real-time map separately from their reservation status. Even if the map showed no restrictions, anyone seeing muddy water or rocks on a narrow valley road through a burn scar should stop before entering and retreat to a safe location on higher ground.
It is difficult to judge the depth and road surface conditions of a flooded roadway from outside the vehicle. The National Weather Service advises motorists not to drive through flooded areas. An RV may appear tall enough, but moving water, washed-out pavement, and floating debris can affect it at the same time, making a detour check the first priority.
Campers already at a campground should follow evacuation guidance from staff and monitor cellphone alerts, keeping vehicle keys and essential belongings ready to move. Even after rainfall eases, runoff from upstream and debris from hillsides can arrive later, so travelers should avoid going down to the valley floor to assess conditions.
Source: National Weather Service Flood Watch / National Weather Service flood safety guidance / Washington State Department of Transportation real-time map
Photo: Peter Robbins / Original photo page (Unsplash License)