Flood in Kittitas County, Washington

In addition to the high water on the Yakima River, numerous small streams and creeks in the west part of the county flooded with roads covered with water in housing developments along Interstate 90 west of Cle Elum and in the northern and western sections of Ellensburg. Forty homes, 64 roads and 3 commercial properties were impacted. Most of the home impacted were surrounded by water with residents cut off from the property by water covered roads. Damage to roads and public works in Kittitas County is estimated at 1.5 million dollars with residential and business damage near 650,000 dollars.

A large Pacific weather system became established in mid January that produced copious amounts of rainfall with unseasonably warm conditions in parts of Washington. The heavy rainfall combined with snowmelt caused rapid runoff with 4 rivers and 7 different warning points reaching flood stage. Flood warnings were first issued on the morning of January 15 and the last flood warning ended on January 21st.