Record flooding in Western Washington forced tens of thousands to leave their homes after days of torrential rain from back-to-back atmospheric rivers. The storms brought heavy rainfall, strong winds and widespread flooding across parts of Northwest Oregon and Western Washington, and flood watches and warnings remained in effect across the region.
Authorities and local reporters described large-scale evacuations as rivers swollen by runoff and rainfall threatened communities. KUOW reported that “tens of thousands of Washingtonians remain under evacuation advisories,” including roughly 78,000 people living in Skagit County’s flood plain. Local news outlets ran live updates as rivers crestedd and emergency teams responded.
Scenes from affected communities include:
– Neighbors watching Gages Slough overflow and flood a Burlington street (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW).
– National Guard members assembling at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department before aiding evacuations as waters rise (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW).
– A resident paddling to dry ground after rescuing chickens from a flooded coop in Burlington (Photo: Stephen Brashear/AP).
– Floodwaters from the Skagit River inundating farms and homes near Lyman (Photo: Stephen Brashear/AP).
– Residents using a kayak to bring a golden retriever to safety at a flooded apartment complex near the Skykomish River in Monroe (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW).
– A Mount Vernon park submerged as the Skagit River climbs (Photo: Mitch Borden/KNKX).
– A Mount Vernon resident loading sandbags into a vehicle as neighbors protect homes and property (Photo: Megan Farmer/KUOW).
– Longtime Skagit County resident Dennis Reasbeck fortifying his house before evacuating for the first time due to flooding (Photo: Mitch Borden/KNKX).
– A driver navigating floodwaters from the Snohomish River in Snohomish as evacuation orders covered tens of thousands (Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images).
– An 11-year-old evacuee helped from a rescue boat by Chehalis Fire Department personnel after leaving with her family (Photo: Lindsey Wasson/AP).
Local officials, emergency responders and the National Guard assisted with rescues and evacuations. Residents filled and moved sandbags, secured pets and livestock, and left low-lying areas as floodwaters damaged farms, parks, homes and infrastructure across multiple counties. Many communities reported historically high water levels.
Story updated to reflect conditions in Northwest Oregon at the time of publication.