Days of relentless rain have triggered historic flooding across Washington state, leaving families stranded on rooftops, submerging bridges, and washing at least two homes from their foundations. Experts warn that additional flooding expected Friday could be catastrophic. Washington is under a state of emergency, with evacuation orders affecting tens of thousands of residents, and some communities completely cut off by rising waters.
Gov. Bob Ferguson urged residents to follow evacuation instructions as rivers approached record levels. “I understand that many in our state have experienced significant floods in the past,” Ferguson wrote on X. “However, we’re facing a historic situation, with waters expected to rise 2 feet above previous record levels.”
Approximately 78,000 people living in the floodplain of the Skagit River, a major agricultural region north of Seattle, were ordered to evacuate ahead of the river’s projected crest Friday morning. Floodwaters have impacted large parts of the state, inundating bridges and washing out key roads, including large sections of State Route 410. Some roads remain impassable with no estimated reopening time. A landslide east of Seattle blocked part of Interstate 90, leaving vehicles trapped amid mud, tree trunks, and standing water.
Near the U.S.-Canada border, the cities of Sumas, Nooksack, and Everson were evacuated after being inundated. The Sumas border crossing was closed, and Amtrak suspended service between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. Sumas Mayor Bruce Bosch said much of the city has been “devastated” by the floodwaters, coming just four years after a similar disaster.
Rivers across the state surged past historic levels. The Snohomish River rose nearly a foot above its record Thursday, while the Skagit River in Mount Vernon surpassed its previous high that night. Earlier, the Skagit had nearly set a new record as floodwaters surged through the mountain town of Concrete.
Helicopters rescued two families from rooftops in Sumas, where water levels reached about 15 feet. The city’s fire station was also flooded with 3 feet of water, according to Frank Cain Jr., battalion chief for Whatcom County Fire District 14. In nearby Welcome, floodwaters caused at least two homes to collapse into the Nooksack River, though no one was inside at the time. Wildlife has also been affected; a herd of elk was seen wading and swimming through neck-high water in Snoqualmie. In Puyallup, south of Seattle, 80 people were rescued from a flooded RV park, KIRO7 reports.
The National Weather Service warns that life-threatening flooding will continue on Friday, even as the rain slows. “The rain is going to lessen, but everything is going to be flowing downstream from what’s fallen over the past couple of days,” said NWS meteorologist Johnny Burg. Another storm system is expected to bring more rain starting Sunday.