The Snoqualmie River has potential to flood beginning Dec. 5 as rainfall continues in what has been a very wet season.

As of Dec. 5, forecasts show the Snoqualmie River reaching the minor flood phase late Friday (Dec. 5) into early Saturday evening (Dec. 6), according to the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. River levels will drop throughout the weekend, but then will rise again on Monday (Dec. 8) when heavy rain returns.

King County says the river may reach Phase 3 flooding, which is considered moderate. Phase 3 is the point in which King County usually sends out flood patrols.

“We typically send out flood patrols to check on river levee function, look at any known trouble spots where we might have seen some water seeping through during past floods, maybe check on any areas where we’ve made repairs, etc.,” said King County spokesperson Doug Williams.

The Snoqualmie River at Carnation is currently forecasted to reach a peak of 58.02 feet at 4 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, according to data from the National Weather Service Northwest River Forecast Center. “Severe flooding” is defined as the river being 54 feet or higher at the Carnation gauge, according to Floodzilla.

If the forecast changes, however, Williams said there may not be a need for flood patrols after all.

“This is my 21st flood season with the county, and I can honestly say that no two of these are ever the same,” he said.

Though the county cannot be certain where the river levels will end up, leaders caution residents to be prepared. Flood alerts from King County can be accessed at green2.kingcounty.gov/floodalertsystem. Floodzilla also provides flood alerts for the lower Snoqualmie Valley, sign-ups for which are at floodzilla.com/user/alerts.

King County’s “Be Flood Ready” brochure is available at kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/flood-resources/be-flood-ready-brochure.