Landslides Keep Falling on Our Heads

VIDEO: From January 2010, a mudslide blocks the tracks

When Seattle gets soggy, people on bluffs worry about feeling the earth move under their feet. Just the rain squall the other day prompted a small landslide between Edmonds and Mukilteo, delaying the Sounder commuter trains which have to slow down, prudently, if they're not sure there's still track up ahead. West Seattle saw landscape on the move, too. 

The USGS, who track such things, anticipate that this weekend's pineapple express-ride will cross the threshold of landslide likelihood. This being the internet age, you can follow along at home as they chart rainfall relative to threshold. If your house takes off down the hill, here's who to contact at the city. If you're traveling over the passes, be warned that there may be avalanche control being done. 

Speaking of following along at home, you can also sign up to have King County's road alerts emailed to you, so you can stay abreast of flood closures. You can also follow WSDOT's Twitter list of area rivers, to keep track of which are at flood stage. The Howard Hanson Dam is on Twitter, too, though models show little flood risk from this particular storm. The real white-knuckling this weekend will no doubt be down in the Centralia-Chehalis area, which tends to flood in a heavy dew.