Pacific Northwest Faces Severe Flooding and Evacuations

The Pacific Northwest is facing a critical situation as heavy rain continues to pour due to an atmospheric river event, bringing excessive moisture from the ocean to the land.

Areas Affected

• Western Washington has been the hardest hit.
• Flood watches are in effect for:
• Cascade and Olympic mountains
• Puget Sound
• Parts of northern Oregon
• Some areas have received 10 to 17 inches of rain.

Evacuations and Impact

• 100,000 people in western Washington have been ordered to evacuate, primarily in Skagit County (north of Seattle).
• 3,800 people are in need of temporary shelter.
• Rescue teams are active, but no injuries or missing persons have been reported yet.

Infrastructure Disruptions

• Over 30 highways and many smaller roads are closed.
• The BNSF Railway, a major freight line, has sections washed out or closed due to flooding.

River Risks

• The Skagit, Snohomish, and Puyallup rivers are experiencing severe flooding.
• The Skagit River may rise 2 feet above record levels, testing flood-control levees.

British Columbia's Struggles

• Five of six highways to Vancouver are shut down due to:
• Floods
• Falling rocks
• Avalanche risks
• Vancouver's limited highway and railway network makes it highly vulnerable to severe weather.

Historical Context

• A similar storm in late 2021 caused floods and mudslides, resulting in:
• Four fatalities
• Over C$500 million in damage

Forecast and Future Concerns

• The storm is expected to weaken later today, but rain remains a threat.
• Meteorologists warn that such storms may become more frequent and extreme due to climate change.