Hardware was installed this fall to provide ‘real time’ info
By Ann McCreary
Nine new rain gauges have been installed in areas burned by last summer’s wildfires in Okanogan and Chelan counties to provide warning of potential flash flooding following heavy rains.
The gauges were put in place this fall by the state Department of Ecology in rugged areas that have no weather radar coverage by the National Weather Service (NWS).
“Rain gauges provide real time information on the ground, in areas with poor radar coverage, and help determine whether flash flooding is imminent and whether flash flood warnings should be issued,” said Katherine Rowden, a weather service hydrologist.
During the past two summers, north central Washington experienced the two largest wildfire complexes in the state’s history. The Carlton Complex Fire of 2014 and the Okanogan Complex Fire of 2015 burned more than a half-million acres of land in Okanogan County.
To determine where rain gauges are most needed, state and federal experts and local emergency responders helped identify areas where the burn intensity, terrain, and conditions downhill or downstream posed the greatest threats of flooding.
A month after the Carlton Complex Fire in August 2014, extreme thunderstorms brought devastating floods and mudslides, causing extensive damage to roads, homes and property in the Methow Valley.
In an effort to help residents be better prepared for future flood events, Ecology installed 17 rain gauges last fall in burned areas of the Methow and Okanogan valleys, and west of Wenatchee.
Powered by solar panels and two car batteries, the information is sent by satellite to the weather service in Spokane, which uses the information to provide early flood warnings via local broadcast media, and emergency management social media and text messaging.
The Methow Valley News posts the warnings on its Facebook page.
To learn more about how the rain gauges work, Ecology has a YouTube video, “Rain Gauges for the Carlton Complex Fires,” or call Rowden at NWS in Spokane, (509) 244-0110.
