Flash Flood — Kittitas, Washington

1998-07-03 · near Ellensburg, Kittitas, Washington

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain caused flash flooding, mud and rock slides that washed out portions of a 17 mile stretch of Highway 831 (Canyon Road) between Ellensburg and Yakima. Radar estimated a storm total maximum of 3.20 inches. Close to 200 people and a freight train were stranded by landslides. People were evacuated by boat on the Yakima river. One landslide went halfway across the river. A breached irrigation ditch sent water across three roads into basements and barns southeast of Ellensburg. Heavy rain also caused scattered power outages in Yakima and Ellensburg. Streets and intersections were temporarily flooded causing several traffic accidents in Yakima.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5657522. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.