Authorities in Washington state have ordered evacuations in multiple areas as an atmospheric river continues to bring heavy rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, threatening potentially catastrophic conditions, reports Baltimore Chronicle.
Skagit County officials urged residents on Thursday to leave their homes immediately if they live within the 100-year floodplain and move to higher ground. “The Skagit River is predicted to crest at record-setting levels over the next two days,” the county stated. Forecasts indicate the river may reach 46.13 feet in Concrete and 42.13 feet in Mount Vernon, surpassing previous records of 38.93 feet and 33.11 feet, respectively, set in 2021. Additional rainfall of 4 to 8 inches is possible in higher elevations of western Washington after two consecutive days of rain.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and urging residents to comply with evacuation orders. Officials anticipate that up to 100,000 state residents could be affected. Ferguson noted that rivers are expected to reach historic levels as early as 4 a.m. Thursday, with high water conditions persisting into Friday morning.
Residents of Mount Vernon, as well as upriver communities including Hamilton, Rockport, Marblemount, and Concrete, were instructed to evacuate to higher ground immediately. Law enforcement officers have been assisting residents through rising waters, and the county has indicated that all nonessential government services, including district and superior courts, will remain closed due to hazardous conditions.
The National Water Prediction Service forecasts 18 major floods and 15 moderate floods across Washington state. Ferguson described the situation as potentially “catastrophic,” while local authorities referred to the expected flooding as “historic.” In neighboring King County, Eastside Fire and Rescue reported assisting with water rescues, including helping three adults with limited mobility and a dog whose home was flooded. A landslide on eastbound I-90 also blocked lanes.
Most rivers in the region are expected to reach moderate or major flood stages, with record flooding anticipated for the Skagit River at Mount Vernon and Concrete, potentially exceeding previous records by 3 to 5 feet from Thursday afternoon through Friday. Senator Maria Cantwell expressed concern after consulting the National Weather Service, noting that the river could peak as much as five feet above its record level and urging residents to follow evacuation instructions.
The Snoqualmie River, extending from Snoqualmie to Carnation, is expected to reach major flood stage by Thursday morning, inundating farmlands, roads, and residential areas. Portions of US-12 are already underwater, and the town of Randle has been temporarily cut off.
Amtrak has suspended train services between Seattle and Vancouver on Thursday and Friday due to flooding along the Skagit River. Although the heaviest rain is forecast to end by Thursday afternoon, some rivers will require several days to fully recede. Northern Idaho and Montana are also expected to experience heavy rain over the next 24 hours, with localized flash flooding possible.
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