Washington floods prompt 100,000+ evacuations; Oregon at risk after atmospheric river
A powerful atmospheric river has driven record rains and swollen rivers across western Washington, prompting evacuation orders for more than 100,000 people, a statewide emergency declaration, deployment of the National Guard and water-rescue teams, widespread power outages and major road and rail closures as rivers such as the Skykomish and Skagit crest at near- or record levels. Forecasters say the jet‑stream "nozzle" that delivered 4–10+ inches of rain could bring continuing major to catastrophic flooding and landslides, leaving northwest Oregon at high risk in the coming days.
📌 Key Facts
- More than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate in Washington state; evacuation orders also affected tens of thousands across the border in British Columbia.
- The National Water Prediction Service forecasted 18 major and 15 moderate floods across Washington, and the NWS warned major to catastrophic flooding will likely continue for several days across western Washington and northwestern Oregon.
- Rivers reached record or near-record levels: the Skykomish River crested at 24 feet (its highest since 2006), and the Skagit River was forecast to crest at about 47 ft in Concrete and about 41 ft in Mount Vernon.
- Heavy rainfall totals included 4–6 inches around the Cascades and nearly 7 inches in the Olympics within 24 hours; the atmospheric river delivered 5 to 10+ inches to northwest Oregon, and Snoqualmie Pass received an additional 1.7 inches in six hours.
- Transportation and infrastructure were heavily affected: landslides blocked parts of I‑90 east of Seattle and closed a mountainous section of U.S. 2, Amtrak suspended service between Seattle and Vancouver, and roughly 17,000 customers lost power.
- Local and state emergency responses included Pierce County deputies conducting water rescues in Orting (including at an RV park) and issuing evacuation orders over Puyallup River/levee concerns; Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency, requested water rescue teams and boats, and hundreds of Washington National Guard members were set to deploy.
- The event was driven by an atmospheric river — described by the NWS as a 'jet stream of moisture' with the 'nozzle' aimed at Oregon and Washington — and forecasters said another storm system was expected beginning Sunday.
- The floods have significant human impacts, displacing families and destroying homes; one reported displaced family had recently moved to access cancer treatment, underscoring the disaster's social toll.
📊 Relevant Data
In Washington state, there is an elevated concentration of Latinx residents within FEMA-delineated inland flood risk areas.
Federally-overlooked flood risk inequities in the conterminous United States — NIH
Latino, Black, and Indigenous households in the Washington region are more vulnerable to inland flooding and its effects compared to other groups.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to Inland Flooding? — Housing Matters
In Skagit County, Washington, the poverty rate for Hispanic or Latino residents is higher than the average, with minority groups experiencing a 5.3% poverty rate in 2023, and Hispanic or Latino and Some Other Race having the highest per capita rates.
Of Washington's 7.8 million residents in 2023, around 5 million, or 64.2%, were White, with the Hispanic population being the second largest at more than 1 million, representing about 13% of the population.
Nearly all areas of WA grew more racially diverse because of 2 trends — Seattle Times
Non-White Washingtonians die earlier from colorectal cancer, with non-White residents dying 6.9 years earlier on average if living far from endoscopy services, compared to 1.6 years earlier for White residents.
Non-white Washingtonians lack screening access, die earlier of colorectal cancer — WSU News
📰 Sources (5)
- CBS reports at least 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in Washington state due to record rainfall and rising rivers.
- Human-impact detail: a displaced family had recently moved to afford cancer treatment, underscoring the social toll of the disaster.
- NWS says that despite a drier weekend ahead, major to catastrophic flooding will likely continue for several days across western Washington and northwestern Oregon.
- Northwest Oregon faces flooding and landslide threats after this week’s atmospheric river delivered 5 to 10+ inches of rain.
- Rivers in Washington have reached record levels, per NWS updates.
- Evacuation orders affect 'tens of thousands' in Washington and across the border in British Columbia.
- Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency Wednesday night and warned "lives will be at stake"; the state requested water rescue teams and boats.
- Hundreds of Washington National Guard members will deploy to assist, per Adjutant General Gent Welsh.
- Skagit County ordered residents within the Skagit River floodplain to evacuate; the river is forecast to crest at ~47 ft in Concrete and ~41 ft in Mount Vernon.
- Amtrak suspended service between Seattle and Vancouver due to flooding.
- A landslide blocked part of I-90 east of Seattle, trapping vehicles; a mountainous section of U.S. 2 was also closed due to rocks, trees and mud.
- NWS reported up to 6 inches of rain in 24 hours in Cascade counties, with Snoqualmie Pass receiving an additional 1.7 inches in six hours.
- Pierce County officials issued evacuation orders for parts of Orting over Puyallup River levels and levee concerns; deputies conducted water rescues at an RV park.
- National Water Prediction Service forecasted 18 major and 15 moderate floods across Washington.
- Skykomish River crested at 24 feet, its highest level since 2006.
- Approximately 17,000 customers lost power in Washington as of Wednesday night.
- 4–6 inches of rain fell around the Cascades and nearly 7 inches in the Olympics in 24 hours.
- Pierce County deputies conducted water rescues in Orting; part of the town was ordered to evacuate over Puyallup River concerns.
- Landslides blocked parts of I-90 east of Seattle; a mountainous section of U.S. 2 was closed due to debris.
- NWS meteorologist described the atmospheric river as a 'jet stream of moisture' with the 'nozzle' aimed at Oregon and Washington; another storm system is expected starting Sunday.