![The Pacific Northwest is getting hammered by heavy rain, and airports near rivers are bracing for flooding events. [Credit: iStock]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/iStock-1004138912-scaled-e1683138371837.jpg?width=1200&height=800)
The Pacific Northwest is experiencing several days of heavy rain and high winds known as an atmospheric river.
Weather officials are warning of localized flooding in low-lying areas, including the area surrounding the Chehalis-Centralia Airport (KCLS) in Lewis County, Washington. The airport is located 18 nm south of Olympia in the Chehalis Basin at the confluence of the Chehalis, Newaukum, and Skookumchuck rivers. A levee and two water pumps help protect the airport from flooding.
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The nontowered airport was established in 1927 and over the years has experienced multiple flooding events. In 2007 heavy rain and snow melt left the airport under several feet of water. Aircraft that could not be flown out were moved to a berm that was the highest point on the airport property. Their tires were in the water, but the cockpits remained dry.
“The airport is ready in case anything happens,” said Brandon Rakes, airport director for Chehalis-Centralia, who has worked at the airport for several years and seen flooding events before.
In January 2022 a combination of heavy rain and melting snow runoff from the mountains created a situation that flooded most of the airport. A call went out for volunteers to help move airplanes, and 58 people rushed to the rescue to reposition those that could not be flown out to higher ground.
Rakes said the facility is more prepared this time.
“We have several volunteers we can reach out to for help,” he said. “We have a system in place for relocating aircraft to high ground and a new system we will implement for putting aircraft back afterward,” he said, adding that he was keeping tabs on the airport cameras that show the cardinal directions of the airport property.
Rakes has been monitoring the flood inundation maps, which indicate December 11 at 4 p.m. PST to be the high water point.
“Hopefully, this information does not change,” he said.
![KCLS flood map [Credit: Chehalis-Centralia Airport/Brandon Rakes]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/KCLS-flood-map.png?width=1024&height=665)
Established as a turf field, the airport has evolved over the decades and now has a 5,000-foot-by140-foot paved runway aligned north and south. The airport is a favorite first cross-country destination for student pilots in the Portland, Oregon, and Seattle areas and for aircraft owners in search of cheap fuel.
Other airports in the Puget Sound area have reported minor flooding in parking lots caused by too much water too quickly, but no damage.
Harvey Field (S43)
Meanwhile, to the north of Seattle, an official at Harvey Field (S43), a 145-acre privately owned, public-use facility adjacent to the Snohomish River, stated the airport doesn’t anticipate it will experience flooding during the event.
The airport was flooded in 1990, then a levee built in 1995. The airport information page has a link to the Northwest River Forecast Center that shows current Snohomish River water levels along with predictions for water volume.
About the Storm
Since Sunday afternoon, flood warnings and watches have been issued for several counties in western Washington and Oregon for flash flooding and potential power outages caused by tree limbs brought down by wind and landslides caused by saturated soil.
The weekend saw the area experience 1-4 inches of rain that produced local flooding. The future forecast calls for 2-6 inches of rain in the lowland, and up to 10 inches in the Cascades and Olympic mountains.
Update on Harvey Field (S43)
Constant rain and rising water have changed the situation at Harvey Field (S43) as of noon on December 9. The river is predicted to crest at 34 feet this week, which could endanger aircraft and structures in low-lying areas of the airport.
As of noon on Tuesday, social media erupted with calls for volunteers for an emergency work party at the EAA Chapter 84 house/Hangar at the airport at 10 a.m. Wednesday to help relocate possessions out of the flood zone. Messages are flying back and forth between people who are offering to assist in moving aircraft to other airports.
The last time the airport was flooded was in 2009 when snow melt swelled the river. This time around it is all rain raising the river’s water level.
The airport information page has a link to the state hyroPlot (river level) but those numbers are predictions and subject to change.
