Catastrophic Flooding Threatens Washington State: Thousands Face Evacuation as Rivers Approach Historic Levels

More than 17,000 Washington residents were without power by Wednesday evening as severe weather conditions worsened.

Mount Vernon:

Tens of thousands of western Washington residents could face evacuation mandates when another wave of heavy precipitation hits the region Thursday, potentially causing catastrophic flooding as rivers approach historic levels.

Following days of persistent heavy rainfall that has already necessitated rescues and road closures, Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday, warning that "lives will be at stake in the coming days." Some communities have already received evacuation orders to move to higher ground, including residents within the Skagit River's floodplain in Skagit County, a major agricultural area north of Seattle.

"Catastrophic flooding is likely" across numerous areas, and the state is requesting water rescue teams and watercraft, Ferguson announced on X Wednesday evening.

Hundreds of National Guard members will be deployed to assist affected communities, according to Gent Welsh, adjutant general of the Washington National Guard.

In a valley extending to Mount Rainier's foothills southeast of Seattle, Pierce County sheriff's deputies conducted rescues at an Orting RV park on Wednesday, including helping a man wearing a Santa hat navigate through waist-deep water. Portions of the town received evacuation orders due to concerns about the Puyallup River's extremely elevated levels and upstream levee conditions.

A landslide blocked sections of Interstate 90 east of Seattle, with Eastside Fire & Rescue photos showing vehicles trapped by fallen trees, branches, mud and standing water. Officials also closed a mountainous section of U.S. 2 because of rockfall, downed trees, and mudslides.

By Wednesday night, PowerOutage.us reported more than 17,000 Washington customers without electricity.

According to the National Weather Service, as of Wednesday evening, 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimetres) of rain had fallen around the Cascade Mountains within 24 hours, while the Olympic Mountains recorded almost 7 inches (17.8 centimetres).

The Skagit River is projected to crest at approximately 47 feet (14.3 meters) in the mountain town of Concrete early Thursday, and roughly 41 feet (12 meters) in Mount Vernon early Friday.

"We feel very confident that we can handle a 'normal flood,' but no one really knows what a 41, 42-foot river looks like south of Mount Vernon," stated Darrin Morrison, a commissioner for Dike District 3 in Skagit County, during a public meeting Wednesday evening.

The county announced the closure of non-essential government services on Thursday, including all district and superior court operations.

Mount Vernon, the largest city in Skagit County with approximately 35,000 residents, has long battled flooding from the river. In 2003, floods displaced hundreds of people.

The city completed a protective floodwall in 2018 to safeguard the downtown area, which successfully withstood a major test in 2021 when the river approached record levels.

However, the city remains on high alert. Friday's expected historic river levels could potentially overtop the wall, and concerns exist about the integrity of older levees.

"It could potentially be catastrophic," said Ellen Gamson, executive director of the Mount Vernon Downtown Association.

Jake Lambly prepared by adding sandbags, testing water pumps, and relocating valuables to his home's top floor, where he lives with his 19-year-old son.

"This is my only asset," he said Wednesday from his front porch. "I got nothing else."

Harrison Rademacher, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle, described the atmospheric river drenching the region as "a jet stream of moisture" extending across the Pacific Ocean, with the nozzle directing precipitation along Oregon and Washington's coast.

In Sumas, a small city along the US-Canada border, flood sirens sounded at city hall and residents received evacuation orders. The border crossing was closed to southbound commercial vehicles to facilitate evacuations, according to the Abbotsford Police Department.

Climate change has been linked to intense rainfall patterns. Scientists note that without specific studies, they cannot directly attribute individual weather events to climate change, but generally, it contributes to more intense and frequent extreme weather events including storms, droughts, floods, and wildfires.

Another storm system is forecast to bring additional rainfall beginning Sunday.

"The pattern looks pretty unsettled going up to the holidays," Rademacher noted.