US EditionAtmospheric River Drives Record Flood Threat in Washington as Governor Declares Emergency
A stalled atmospheric river is causing prolonged heavy rainfall, with 34 river gauges at or above moderate-to-major flood stage, prompting evacuation orders and emergency responses.
- Mount Vernon city officials ordered Level 3 'Leave Now' evacuations for neighborhoods along the Skagit River, including areas west of I-5 near Edgewater Park and Skagit County Fairgrounds, directing residents to evacuate toward Burlington via State Route 536 or I-5.
- Meteorologists described a moisture 'jet stream' pushing heavy rain into western Washington as the Skagit River is expected to crest at roughly 41 feet in Mount Vernon on Friday, risking floodwall overtopping.
- Do not drive through flooded roadways, officials warned, urging 'turn around, don't drown' as Bakerview Park shelters cars and RVs but lacks power and potable water; Division Street Bridge may close at noon Dec. 11, so use Interstate 5 or State Route 536.
- Emergency workers are rushing to rescue people trapped in trailers and vehicles as Mount Vernon began evacuations Wednesday evening, while more than 17,000 Washington electricity customers lost power and Skagit County closed non-essential services Thursday.
- Experts note long-term changes that heighten flood risk as the Skagit River basin has lost at least half its floodplain, worsening floods while warming shifts precipitation toward rain, increasing runoff and levee overtopping, scientists say.
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Atmospheric River Triggers Pacific Northwest Floods, Shuts Down Vancouver Highways | Science-Environment
Atmospheric River Triggers Pacific Northwest Floods, Shuts Down Vancouver Highways An atmospheric river brought heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding to the Pacific Northwest, affecting regions from Oregon through Washington state and into British Columbia. Roads were shut down and evacuations were ordered as the weather system unleashed significant downpours across the area.Western Washington experienced the most severe impact, with flood warn…
By Chris Dolce, Briana Waxman, Joe Sutton and Andrew Freedman, CNN. Intense rains from an atmospheric river are battering parts of Washington state, causing potentially catastrophic flooding and prompting evacuation orders for at least 100,000 people. Many of those affected are in Skagit County. More than 300 millimeters of rain have fallen in Washington's Cascade and Olympic Mountains since the atmospheric river began its onslaught on Monday. M…
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