By Rod Hill on 2011-05-24
Update: Flood Watch Issued for Columbia River. The river is expected to rise slightly above the 16 feet flood stage Tuesday afternoon at Vancouver. River levels may continue to slowly rise this week and then slowly recede next week.Near and just above the 16' flood stage: Minor flooding of some lowland access roads and along the Vancouver walkway. River currents will be very strong and the water temperature is very cold. Please be safe and stay away from the banks of the river.The river is still expected to remain well below 18 feet. At 18 feet, more serious flooding takes place. But to repeat, the river is expected to only slightly rise above the 16' flood stage.______________________________________________________________
Late season snow is filling area streams and rivers. The Columbia at Vancouver has reaches the 16 feet flood stage and is expected to hold steady through mid-week and then slowly recede. Very little impact will be noticed unless the river rises to 18 feet - which is not expected. The Willamette at Portland is flowing at 16 feet. The downtown flood stage is 18 feet. These highs water levels are forcing a higher number of bridge lifts than normal. Again the good news is that many area rivers are already receding. The big rivers have reached their peak and will likely slowly recede this coming week. So very little if any problems will occur.
Along the Columbia at Vancouver, the current stage of 16 feet is the highest since 1997! This becomes only the 7th time during the late spring season, the Columbia has reached flood stage, since Bonneville Dam opened in 1937.
Snow Melt, Brings Higher Sea Levels