Debris Flow in Washington

Events

188

Deaths

48

Injuries

15

Damage

$113 million

• Debris Flow in Washington, March 22, 201443 deaths · 12 injured · $60 million · 1 eventA relatively dry October 2013 through early February 2014 period with precipitation running around only 50 percent of normal turned unusually wet one week into February and continued through March.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in Washington, December 2 to 5, 20073 deaths · $120 million · 11 eventsRecord flooding occurred on the Chehalis, Skokomish, and Elwha Rivers. In addition to the record flooding, major flooding occurred on the Bogachiel River.
• Debris Flow in Washington, January 19, 19974 deaths · 1 eventA mudslide kills a family of four while they were sleeping in their home. The house, on Bainbridge Island, slid down a hill into Puget Sound. 20 other homes in the vicinity were evacuated.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, November 4 to 9, 20062 deaths · $70 million · 12 eventsA strong, warm and very wet Pacific weather system brought copious amounts of rainfall to Washington from November 2 through 7, with subsequent major flooding that extended through November 11.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in Washington, January 13 to 19, 20111 death · $105,000 · 6 eventsA 66 year old state DOT worker was killed when a tree fell on Highway 203 south of Carnation, hitting him and his truck. Several mudslides blocked roads.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in Washington, January 7 to 10, 2009$72 million · 15 eventsRainfall of 8-20 inches in the mountains and 1 to 9 inches in the lowlands occurred from Jan 6th through 8th. Flooding was widespread over much of Western Washington. Record flooding occurred on the Snoqualmie, Tolt, and North Fork Stillaguamish Rivers.
• Debris Flows and Hail in Washington, July 23, 20146 injured · $5.2 million · 2 in hail · 15 eventsA deep trough of low pressure dropped down the Washington Coastline then swung inland into the Inland Northwest during the afternoon of July 23rd. The wave took on a strong negative tilt and moved into a moist and very unstable air mass.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, March 5 to 6, 20148 injured · $1.0 million · 5 eventsThe region was under a transitioning weather regime through the first week of March. March 1st came in dry and very cold under a modified Arctic air mass. This kept soil temperatures below freezing across much of the northeast portion of Washington.
• Debris Flow in Washington, October 10 to 11, 2009$25 million · 1 eventA large slow moving landslide northwest of Naches covered a section of Highway 410 and damaged homes. The slide also diverted the Naches River which flooded several homes.
• Debris Flow and Avalanche in Washington, January 7 to 11, 2009$13 million · 7 eventsHeavy rainfall on deep snowpack caused excessive runoff and moderate flooding on the Yakima River from near Easton to the mouth.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, December 12 to 14, 2010$7.2 million · 7 eventsThe Stillaguamish River reached record level. There were several roads washed out in Kitsap county. 2 homes were damaged from mudslides.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, May 14 to 23, 2011$4.3 million · 52 kt wind · 8 eventsAn upper level low pressure system moved over the Pacific Northwest. Moist and unstable conditions ahead of the low triggered widespread thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and isolated large hail. This combined with the abundant spring snow-pack and wet ground to cause flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Washington, September 5 to 6, 20132 injured · $1.4 million · 50 kt wind · 13 eventsAn upper level low pressure system over western Oregon ejected a negatively tilted shortwave trough of lower pressure over the region during the evening hours of September 5th. Precipitable water values were twice the normal value for early September.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Washington, July 20, 2012$1.1 million · 1.75 in hail · 32 eventsOne of the most widespread severe weather events occurred across the Spokane County Warning Area on July 20th. Several days prior to the day of the event, a deep upper-level low slowly sagged down the Pacific Northwest Coastline.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, November 12 to 15, 2008$2.8 million · 5 eventsHeavy rain caused flooding on 15 western Washington rivers, with eight river forecast points reaching major flood stage.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in Washington, April 1 to 15, 2017$2.3 million · 4 eventsSaturated soil conditions across northeast Washington caused by periodic heavy rain and melting snow during the month of March and into early April produced numerous debris flows and areas of small stream and field flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Washington, July 16 to 20, 2012$1.3 million · 1.75 in hail · 12 eventsA nearly stationary upper level low pressure area parked near Brookings, Oregon brought abundant moisture across eastern Washington. This combined with daytime heating to produce a few severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall.
• Debris Flow and Flood in Washington, October 20, 2003$1.8 million · 2 eventsA very deep plume of Pacific moisture impacted the Cascade Mountains beginning on the 19th of October. By the evening of the 20th, two to three inches of rain had fallen over the east slopes of the Cascades.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Washington, August 10 to 11, 2013$1.0 million · 76 kt wind · 10 eventsMoist, southerly flow ahead of an area of low pressure trickling northward along the Oregon Coast created a moist, unstable environment over Central Washington.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Washington, July 9 to 12, 2023$1.1 million · EF0 · 8 eventsA strong system moved through Eastern Washington and brought scattered thunderstorms. The main areas stretched along Highway 2 from Waterville Plateau to Northern Spokane County.
• Debris Flow in Washington, May 18, 2008$1.0 million · 1 eventA large landslide sent a 100 foot wide swath of rock and mud down the north face of the Icicle Valley about 15 miles west of Leavenworth. This caused a temporary diversion of Doctor Creek, with boulders, trees, and mud spilling into Icicle Creek.
• Debris Flows and Dust Storm in Washington, August 12, 2014$449,000 · 52 kt wind · 12 eventsA ridge of high pressure over the region for the last few weeks was nudged east by a potent upper-level trough coming off the Eastern Pacific. The trough took on a strong negative tilt and passed through during peak heating.
• Debris Flow in Washington, March 27, 2011$500,000 · 1 eventSeveral rounds of mid and high elevation rainfall impacted Central Washington March 25th through March 27th. Two-day rainfall amounts ranged from one to one and a half inches.
• Debris Flow in Washington, May 14, 2023$500,000 · 1 eventRapid snowmelt during a period of unseasonably warm temperatures resulted in a debris flow that washed out a bridge on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (State Route 504.) Twelve people visiting Johnson Ridge Observatory were trapped by the blockage and were evacuated by air rescue.
• Debris Flow and Strong Wind in Washington, January 9 to 11, 2014$402,000 · 3 eventsStrong wind knocked out power to nearly 90,000 customers in western Washington. A landslide blocked a road near Index, cutting off access to about 90 homeowners.

Debris Flow everywhereEvery kind of event in Washington

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.