Rains swell rivers; homes cut off on Peninsula

Heavy rains, high tides and a storm surge combined to wreak watery havoc across the North Olympic Peninsula on Monday.

A slide of mud and debris closed one lane of U.S. Highway 101 near Fisher Cove Road at Lake Crescent, 16 miles west of Port Angeles, but work crews had reopened the highway to traffic in both directions by Monday afternoon.

The Hood Canal Bridge also was closed from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday by winds gusting to 40 mph.

At mid-afternoon, whitecaps whipped up by a southerly wind were spraying eastbound cars and trucks.

Meanwhile, a mile of state Highway 110 at Ballard Road between Forks and LaPush was closed to traffic by the flooding Bogachiel River, isolating the Quileute Reservation.

The state Department of Transportation had no estimate when it would reopen.

Forks schools out early

Quillayute Valley School District schools dismissed students early so they would not be cut off by floodwaters, and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a couple and their pets from their home east of LaPush.

The Bogachiel was expected to crest at 42.7 feet — nearly 6 feet above flood stage — and recede after midnight, according to Clallam County Emergency Management Director Bob Martin

Before then, swift water may inundate residential areas in the valley near the Bogachiel River Bridge, and homes and businesses in LaPush near the mouth of the river, he said.

Along the Sol Duc River, at least two homes were surrounded by high water, and the Hoko River was near flooding Monday afternoon.

Five miles of state Highway 112 were closed from Pillar Point Road to Green Creek east of Clallam Bay when the Pysht River sent water over the road.

The state had no estimate of when the road — the Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway — would be reopened.

Jefferson County flooding

Jefferson County officials reported that the Hoh River reached the 10-year flood level at noon Monday, inundating the lower housing area of the Hoh Reservation.

Tribal members, helped by inmates from Olympic Corrections Center, sandbagged around critical buildings.

Jefferson public works officials said Upper Hoh Road at milepost 4 had been damaged, and water had flooded Clearwater Road.

The Dosewallips and Duckabush rivers were running high, with considerable debris in the rivers, but had stayed within their banks.

Clallam County declared a Level 3 readiness warning as rivers west of Port Angeles continued to rise. The warning called for increased watchfulness on rising rivers, heavy swells in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and high surf on the Pacific coast.

As of Monday evening, Martin said, closed and hazardous roads included:

* Old LaPush Road.

* Kallman Road.

* West Lake Pleasant Road; water over the road at Lake Pleasant.

* Smith Road, water over the road.

* State Highway 113 near Beaver Lake; 6 inches of water over the road. Drivers were advised to slow down and proceed with caution.

Clallam County Public Works Director Craig Jacobs said this first storm of the season had sent autumn leaves and windblown tree limbs into drainage ditches and carried them into culverts, which became blocked.

County culvert crew

Besides crews responding to crises, one county crew was patrolling county roads and clearing obstacles where they found them, Jacobs said.

“We probably have more than 2,000 culverts,” he said, so some backups were inevitable.

The Elwha River on the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation had overtopped its dikes by Monday afternoon.

It was expected to crest at 21.7 feet — 1.7 feet above flood stage — but fall below flood stage after midnight, Martin said.

By then it may have flooded pastures and residential areas near the mouth.

Clallam County commissioners, who had expected to approve a mutual-aid emergency services agreement with the tribe during commissioners’ formal meeting today, instead adopted it at their work session Monday.

“I think because of the current weather conditions, we need to do this right away,” said Commissioner Mike Doherty, D-Port Angeles.

In eastern Clallam County, the Dungeness River was expected to reach flood stage overnight, with the storm surge traveling as far as half a mile up the river’s estuary.

The flood warning for the Dungeness was extended through this morning.

Ridge Road closed

Olympic National Park closed Hurricane Ridge Road due to rocks on the road.

Other closures in the park include:

* Olympic Hot Springs Road, closed at the Elwha entrance station.

* Hoh Road, closed at milepost 3 (outside the park).

* Quinault North Shore Road, closed east of Finley Creek by bridge damage.

* Quinault South Shore Road, closed outside the park boundary.

* Quinault Graves Creek Road and Quinault North Fork Road, both closed.

* Queets Road, closed.

* Road to Rialto Beach, closed.

* Mora Campground, closed.

* Dosewallips and Staircase roads remain closed due to previous damage and unsafe conditions.

* Deer Park Road, closed for the season.

* Sol Duc Road, Kalaloch and Lake Crescent areas remain open, but travel is discouraged because of heavy rain, limited visibility and the risk of flooding and rockfall.

Monday afternoon brought a respite from the rain in Port Angeles, but Martin said, “These [weather] systems are coming in one after another.

“The weather reports show more rain tonight, so it could well get worse before it gets better.”

More in News

Serving up a Thanksgiving meal are, from left, Taylor Hale, Gina Landon, Shawn Lammers, Ryan Lammers, Sara Taylor and Jean Ball, all volunteers with Holiday Meals, located in the Tri-Area neighborhoods of Chimacum, Port Hadlock and Irondale. The group expected to serve up to 460 full Thanksgiving dinners with 287 being picked up, 118 delivered and 55 eaten at the Tri-Area Community Center. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Thanksgiving meals kick off holiday joy

Smiles, warmth light up Queen of Angels Catholic Church

From left, Gail Jangarrd, Bob Dunbar and Sammy Dionne treat a lucky dog to a biscuit made with organic, healthy and human-grade ingredients.
Gatheringplace to open public phase of capital campaign

Nonprofit to construct building for developmentally disabled

Port of Port Townsend on track to hit revenue goal

Agency receives eight bids on stormwater treatment project

The outside of the Vern Burton Community Center is decorated with giant Christmas balls and lighted trees on Wednesday for the opening ceremonies of the Festival of Trees. “White Christmas” was played by the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet and then sung by Amanda Bacon. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Festival of Trees opens

The outside of the Vern Burton Community Center is decorated with giant… Continue reading

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on Monday at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The helping hand is Margie Logerwell. More than three dozen trees will be available for viewing during the 34th annual Festival of Trees event this weekend. Tickets are available at www.omhf.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Finishing touches

Tamara Clinger decorates a tree with the theme of “Frosted Cranberries” on… Continue reading

Grants to help Port Angeles port upgrades

Projects, equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Joseph Molotsky holds Jet, a Harris’s hawk. Jet, 14 or 15, has been at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue for about seven years. Jet used to hunt with a falconer and was brought to the rescue after sustaining injuries while attempting to escape an attack from a gray horned owl in Eastern Washington. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Wild bird rescue to host open house

Officials to showcase expanded educational facilities

Jaiden Dokken, Clallam County’s first poet laureate, will wrap up their term in March. Applications for the next poet laureate position, which will run from April 2025 to March 2027, are open until Dec. 9. To apply, visit NOLS.org/NextPoet. (North Olympic Library System)
Applications open for Clallam poet laureate

Two-year position will run from April 2025 to March 2027

The YMCA of Port Angeles was May recipient of Jim’s Cares Monthly Charity at Jim’s Pharmacy in Port Angeles.
Staff and customers raised more than $593 to support the YMCA.
Pictured, from left, are Joey Belanger, the YMCA’s vice president for operations, and Ryan French, the chief financial officer at Jim’s Pharmacy.
Charity of the month

The YMCA of Port Angeles was May recipient of Jim’s Cares Monthly… Continue reading

Festival of Trees QR code.
Contest: Vote for your favorite Festival of Trees

The Peninsula Daily News is thrilled to announce its first online Festival… Continue reading

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office uses this armored vehicle, which is mine-resistant and ambush protected. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
OPNET to buy armored vehicle

Purchase to help with various situations

Lincoln High School students Azrael Harvey, left, and Tara Coville prepare dressing that will be part of 80 Thanksgiving dinners made from scratch and sold by the Salish Sea Hospitality and Ecotourism program. All meal preparation had to be finished by today, when people will pick up the grab-and-go meals they ordered for Thursday’s holiday. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Students at Wildcat Cafe prepare Thanksgiving dinners

Lincoln High School efforts create 80 meals ready to eat