Washington state is under a statewide emergency after torrential rain from an atmospheric river sent rivers over their banks, triggered mudslides and forced tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders, the Associated Press reported. Governor Bob Ferguson declared the emergency on Wednesday, warning that lives would be at stake in the coming days.
Source: Associated Press
Skagit County, a major agricultural region north of Seattle, ordered everyone living in the Skagit River floodplain to evacuate. About 78,000 people live in that floodplain, according to county emergency management chief Julie de Losada, cited by AP. Teams in Mount Vernon went door to door in low-lying areas, and firefighters rescued several people from homes in Sumas, near the U.S.-Canada border, its mayor said.
Source: Associated Press
A mountainous section of U.S. Highway 2 was closed by rocks, trees and mud with no detour and no estimated reopening time, according to the state transportation department reported by AP. The Munich Eye reported Highway 2 closures in mountain areas and more than 17,000 households without power; AP, citing PowerOutage.us, put the figure at nearly 16,000 customers by midday Thursday.
Source: The Munich Eye
Record river levels feared at Concrete and Mount Vernon
Forecasts cited by The Munich Eye expect the Skagit River to crest near 47 feet at Concrete and around 41 feet at Mount Vernon, levels described as not seen in recent history. AP reported the river at Concrete was about a foot shy of its previous record on Thursday morning and was expected to crest above the record in Mount Vernon on Friday, testing the city's 2018 floodwall and older levees.
Source: Associated Press
Amtrak trains between Seattle and Vancouver were suspended, heavy rain continued over the Cascades — up to 6 inches in 24 hours in some areas, the National Weather Service said via AP — and more rain was expected, with another storm system forecast by Sunday, The Munich Eye reported. Residents in at-risk areas were urged to follow evacuation orders.
Source: The Munich Eye
Statewide emergency declared by Gov. Bob Ferguson. Skagit River floodplain evacuation covers about 78,000 residents. U.S. Highway 2 is closed in a mountainous section with no detour — drivers should check WSDOT before routing through the Cascades or toward the Sumas border crossing.
What is solid
- Statewide emergency declared Wednesday by Governor Bob Ferguson (AP)
- Tens of thousands under evacuation orders; Skagit floodplain evacuation ordered by Skagit County (AP)
- U.S. Highway 2 mountain section closed by rocks, trees and mud, no detour (Washington DOT via AP)
What is only claimed
- Exact power-outage total — nearly 16,000 customers (PowerOutage.us via AP) vs more than 17,000 households (The Munich Eye)
- Forecast crest heights near 47 feet at Concrete and 41 feet at Mount Vernon — forecasts, not yet observed levels