Methownet BB

Anyone have eyes on? Looks like it is still rising from the gauge readings

15.2 at 7:15

What's the norm? What is the CfS? If I am reading it correctly, 5,000 and the norm in the last 10 days was 838. 756% of normal?
Twisp River raging, muddy.

Warmer and wetter. Just be glad you don't live in the Skagit River floodplain. 100,000 ordered to evacuate.

Right, quite serious.
And this, the campgrounds:
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 550 AM PST, Emergency management reported flooding in the
advisory area. This will cause urban and small stream
flooding.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Twisp, Winthrop, Memorial Campground, Black Pine Lake
Campground, Flat Campground, Nice Campground, War Creek
Campground, Mazama, Falls Creek Campground, Ruffed Grouse
Campground, Honeymoon Campground, Chewuch Campground, Crater
Creek Campground, Mystery Campground, Carlton, Foggy Dew
Campground, Poplar Flat Campground, Camp Four Campground,
Gate Creek Campground and South Creek Campground.

The USGS hasn't established a flood stage for this station, but recent peak flows during the Spring snowmelt season have approached 19 feet without any flooding. For example, on May 5, 2023 the gauge reached 18.73 feet.

The Methow River gauge at Pateros has a much longer history and well established flood stages. The reading this morning at Pateros is 5.45 feet. "Minor flood stage" at this location is a level of 10, and "Moderate flood stage" is 11. So we are a long way from flood stage. The gauge at Pateros is also well below recent peak springtime flows.

I suspect that the flooding along the road south of Mazama is due to runoff from the Cedar Creek burn scar causing an irrigation ditch on the West side of the highway to overflow it's banks. This has been an issue during periods of high rainfall ever since the fire, although it usually isn't bad enough to close the highway. We are also likely get flooding along other drainage ditches as well as many local creeks.

Andy

Thanks Andy! That is very Helpful.

Based on my reading of the gauge data the Twisp River seems like it may be the most problematic. The gauge is currently at about 12 feet which already matches its recent springtime peak, and it is rising fast. I can't find any flood stage data for this gauge, but the fact that it is about to blow past recent springtime peak flows may be a cause for concern.

Andy

Just got back from viewing Little Bridge Cr. I think it's the wildest I've ever seen it. Chocolate milk, earth smells, and could hear rocks moving. Didn't tarry.
New snow in the higher elevations but according to the weather forecase(right, a couple of hours) this rain event that happened seems mainly over with. But Twisp River is still up and will keep observing to see if it rises anymore.
A friend of mine lives out at Mazama where the flooding from the Cedar Cr. fire did close the road. He had about 16" of water surrounding his house and evacuated. He noticed the stream that usually comes down had changed course and thus it came closer to his house.
And thanks for the info Andy. I grew up watching flood waters, so I am interested in such stuff.

Methow River Above Goat Creek Near Mazama June 20, 2025: 512 CFS
Current reading: 5,630!