Washington geologists are tracking landslides to help inform where they may happen again

Rounds of heavy rain this month are increasing the threat for landslides across Western Washington. This comes as state geologists are making big strides to track these natural disasters.

In just 24 hours this weekend, one to three inches of rain fell over the mountains.

"There are probably better real estate investments a guy could have made way back when, but why would you want to live anywhere else?" said Bob Allen, who has lived in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood for more than three decades.

Neighbors in Magnolia said Monday they understand that living near a bluff makes them vulnerable to slides. Ginger Griffis questioned whether she should take her usual walk down a hill.

"I kind of made my decision that I was going to take my chances," said Griffis.

Here are some warning signs for a landslide:

• Watch for broken water lines or new cracks in the ground.
• A faint rumbling sound can also mean a landslide is about to happen.

Click here for more warning signs.

Here in Western Washington, we know all too well that unstable ground can wipe out entire homes and communities.

After the devastating landslide in Oso in 2014, our state has invested about half a million dollars every year to improve detecting these natural disasters with lidar data.

"Lidar is imagery taken from an airplane that stripes away all the trees and the houses so we can see the bare earth surface," said Kate Mickelson, who is a landslide hazards program manager for the Washington Geological Survey.

Since 2014, Mickelson's team has identified more than 20,000 landslides. Mickelson said pinpointing slides that have happened in the past is important because it informs where it may happen again.

"Our overall goal is to map the entire state," said Mickelson.

So far, the Washington Geological Survey has mapped out Whatcom, Pierce and King Counties and the Columbia River Gorge. Now, scientists are focusing on Snohomish County.

Mickelson said data will help developers and homeowners especially.

"They can know that this area might need some special considerations when building," said Mickelson.

Skagit County Public Works said it’s identified several locations along the South Skagit Highway and Concrete Sauk Valley Road with an elevated risk of landsides the next few days. They're asking people to avoid traveling through that area for the time being.