W. Richland braces as Yakima flooding expected to be worst in 3 decades
Officials in West Richland and other communities along the Lower Yakima River are bracing this week for the worst flooding in nearly 30 years.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton issued a flood warning Tuesday for the Yakima River from Benton City to its confluence with the Columbia River in Richland.
The expected flooding follows an “atmospheric river” that dumped copious amounts of rain in the Cascade Mountains.
The weather service expects water levels to reach 15.8 feet by late Friday, the highest since the river crested at nearly 21 feet in 1996. The next highest level was 15.55 feet in 2009.
At nearly 16 feet, extensive flooding is expected at the RV park at Benton City and between the Twin Bridges in West Richland and the Columbia River in Richland.
Low-lying agricultural areas, as well as some homes, could be affected, along with the West Richland Golf Course and stretches of Kingston, Hyde and Jones roads in West Richland.
Drivers: Turn around
Road closures are likely and motorists are strongly advised to turn around rather than risk death by driving through water on roadways.
The weather service anticipates the river will overtop its 11-foot bank and reach the 13-foot flood stage by early Thursday morning.
It will peak around 15.8 feet late Friday before receding by Monday.
On Tuesday, water was running at 6.2 feet at the gage at Kiona-Benton City. The river was swollen but confined to its banks in West Richland.
Yakima River path closed
As a precaution, the West Richland public works department closed a section of the popular Yakima River Gateway trail where it dips below West Van Giesen Street. Fast-running water poured a few feet below the pavement.
The city of Richland advised its residents to enroll in CodeRED to receive alerts as rain and potential river flooding approaches. Enroll here.
The weather service advises residents to take extra cautions at night, when it can be harder to recognize danger. The weather service ranked the risk of flooding on the Yakima and Naches rivers at 4 on a 5-point scale. Areas along the Naches are under an evacuation order.
For information about emergency preparedness, visit the Benton County Emergency Management, bces.wa.gov.
The Yakima has topped the 11-foot mark 20 times since 1972, according to historical data from the weather service.
Recent crests
- Feb. 18, 2016: 13.53 feet
- Dec. 12, 2015: 14.71 feet.
- May 18, 2011: 15.30 feet
- April 3, 2011: 13.30 feet
- Jan. 20, 2011: 14.78 feet
- Jan. 11, 2009: 15.55 feet
- March 15, 2007: 12.56 feet
- Feb. 11, 1996: 20.98 feet.
-Reporter Annette Cary contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM.