A powerful atmospheric river is expected to move through the Pacific Northwest, leading to extensive flooding. Several rivers in Washington are predicted to hit major flood stages, possibly requiring evacuations.
National Weather Service (NWS) officials cautioned that residents near the Snohomish and Skagit rivers in western Washington might experience “catastrophic” and life-threatening flooding on Thursday, due to the persistent rain this week.
Evacuation orders have been issued for locations such as Orting Island in Pierce County, Ebby Island in Snohomish County, and portions of Skagit County, where a 100-year floodplain has developed.
Governor Bob Ferguson’s office announced on Wednesday that up to 100,000 residents in Washington might need to evacuate in response to rapidly worsening flood conditions.
We estimate that potentially 100,000 Washingtonians could face evacuation orders. The situation is fluid and constantly changing. River levels are expected to reach historic levels as early as 4am tomorrow and remain until Friday morning.
Make sure you’re signed up for emergency alerts…
— Governor Bob Ferguson (@GovBobFerguson) December 11, 2025
The governor has declared a state of emergency and plans to request federal assistance for flood response and recovery. He stressed the importance of following evacuation orders for public safety.
The NWS warned people from Mount Vernon to Everett and east of Redmond of “catastrophic” flooding. Such severe flooding poses significant risks to life and property and raises concerns about levee breaches and landslides in hilly areas.
Steve Reedy, a meteorologist with the NWS, cautioned that the flooding could potentially reach record levels, damaging infrastructure and necessitating evacuations and rescue efforts.
“I’ve been working here in the Seattle office for 12 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Reedy noted, as reported by the Seattle Times.
