11-12-08 Flooding closes Mt Rainier

Here we go again?

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/20...bmountrainier12.html

Really impressive rainfall totals at Paradise:

www.nwac.us/products/OSOPVC

My benchmark for flooding events is still the two 2003 storms that brought ~10" to Mt Baker in two 24 hour periods separated by a week.  The second of these set the 24 rainfall record in Seattle and wiped out so much access in the N. Central Cascades.  The heck with the snowpack at this point, my fingers are crossed we don't lose too many roads and trails from this storm.

It's interesting to note that while the rest of W. Washington is getting pounded, the Olympics have been shadowing Seattle all day.  It has sprinkled a little from time to time in downtown but most of the day has been dry.

Also impressive is the Nisqually flood gauge:
ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?...sw1&view=1,1,1,1,1,1

The flood gauge is reading 12.6 feet, and the 2006 record flow was 13.1!
Anyone know how this might fit with the earlier thread about very weak sections near where Sunshine Point CG used to be?

Topped out at 12.8, then quickly fell below flood stage Thursday morning. Concession employees are on standby for the weekend, so there may be hope for re-opening the Park soon.

THURSDAY EVENING  River level at 5' (flood stage = 10').  Dike OK at entrance/ Nisqually Park.  Water was over road at Kautz Ck, probably damaged.  Paradise telemetry still out.  Old (360) 569-2211 message from Wed AM promises 'updates'...