Residents across the Pacific Northwest in both the US and Canada are bracing for potentially record-breaking floods as an atmospheric river delivers torrential rainfall to already saturated river systems.
The National Water Center reported on Thursday that major flooding, reaching record levels in some areas, is occurring along the Skagit and Snohomish rivers in Washington state, with conditions expected to persist through Friday.
In Canada, vital highways leading to Vancouver have been closed due to flooding, debris accumulation, and the threat of avalanches.
Evacuation orders have been issued for thousands of individuals in both the US and Canada, and authorities are cautioning that further rainfall is anticipated.
Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday, estimating that approximately 100,000 residents may soon face evacuation orders.
The emergency declaration highlighted the risk of continued rainfall and mountain snow exacerbating flooding conditions, further noting the potential for severe disruptions to supply chains and transportation networks.
Skagit County, a key agricultural region north of Seattle, has issued immediate evacuation orders for residents residing within the floodplain.
Robert Ezelle, director of the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, stated on Wednesday that approximately 75,000 people would be evacuated from low-lying areas along the Skagit River.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a statement on Thursday, forecasting “severe near-record flooding” along the Skagit River, from Rockport downstream through Sedro Woolley.
NOAA warned of “deep and swift flood waters,” particularly in the Cape Horn, Hamilton, and Thunderbird regions.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reported via social media that they had conducted multiple helicopter rescues of residents trapped in their homes in Sultan, Washington, approximately 40 miles (65km) northeast of Seattle.
The sheriff’s office alerted residents on Thursday morning that the eastern portion of the county was most severely affected after the Skykomish River crested above 24ft (7m) overnight, narrowly missing a record level.
They added that the Snohomish River is also experiencing major flooding, “dancing with records” as water approaches a local flood wall.
Officials from King and Snohomish counties have reported numerous closures on state and local roads, with the expectation of further closures on Thursday.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office stated in a video on Wednesday that a swiftwater rescue team had evacuated three individuals from an RV park in Orting, located approximately 42 miles south of Seattle. Multiple roads in the county are also closed.
In a post on X on Thursday, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank described the current flooding as “the worst I have seen here” in the county.
Across the border in British Columbia, Canada, evacuation orders are in effect for the communities of Tulameen and Eastgate, and several other areas.
The City of Abbotsford issued urgent evacuation orders for 371 properties at 23:00 local time on Wednesday (07:00 GMT on Thursday).
City officials stated that the Nooksack River was expected to overflow its banks early on Thursday, anticipating flooding, although not as severe as the 2021 event that caused significant damage and five fatalities in the province.
According to the travel-information website Drive BC, most major highways to the Lower Mainland are currently closed.
The US-Canada Sumas Border Crossing is also closed to commercial traffic.
The entire region, spanning portions of both the US and Canada, has been subjected to torrential rainfall from an atmospheric river, a phenomenon characterized by the transport of water vapor in the atmosphere, forming concentrated currents that resemble rivers flowing through the sky.
While the heaviest rainfall is expected to diminish by Thursday afternoon, water levels in rivers are projected to continue rising.
Another storm system is anticipated to arrive on Sunday.
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