Flood Watch Issued for the Columbia River at Vancouver

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the Columbia River as of 3:46 p.m. 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE COLUMBIA RIVER AT VANCOUVER FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

• AT 3 PM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 15.7 FEET.  FLOOD STAGE IS 16.0 FEET.
• MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE.
• THE COLUMBIA RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE EARLY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE COLUMBIA WILL REMAIN NEAR OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE TUESDAY AND THEN RISE SLOWLY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.

ABOVE 16 FEET...EXPECT MINOR FLOODING OF SOME LOWLAND ACCESS ROADS NEAR THE RIVER ON SAUVIE ISLAND AND ON THE WALKWAY NEAR DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER.

THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ALONG THE BANKS OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER THAT ARE COMMONLY USED FOR CAMPING SUCH AS ON GOVERMENT ISLAND.

RIVERS CURRENTS WILL BE PARTICULARLY STRONG AND THE WATER TEMPERATURES ARE VERY COLD. IT IS DANGEROUS TO TRY TO SWIM IN THESE WATERS.