The Pacific Northwest is facing historic flooding that has submerged roads, inundated neighborhoods and forced multiple rescues as additional heavy rain is forecast. Communities across western Washington experienced sudden rises in water that turned streets into rivers and left people cut off from help.
In several urgent operations, first responders pulled residents from perilous situations. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from an attic near the Canadian border, and emergency crews used a drone to deliver a life jacket to a man trapped on the roof of his SUV before hoisting him to safety. Rivers swelled and overtopped their banks in places; the Skagit River in particular set a record by cresting near 38 feet. Small towns such as Hamilton were among the hardest hit, with access roads flooded and travel effectively impossible.
Officials ordered an evacuation in Burlington as waters rose rapidly. National Guard personnel went door to door to assist residents, and in many neighborhoods floodwaters remain even as some river levels begin to fall.
Rain totals have been substantial. Seattle recorded roughly 3.9 inches of rain over a five-day stretch, while mountain and coastal locations saw far heavier amounts — Quinault reported about 16.6 inches. Forecasters warned that, after a relatively calm weekend with only light rain expected, another atmospheric river could move in by Monday, with heavy downpours likely by Wednesday. Over the next seven days the region could receive roughly another foot of rain, raising concerns about renewed flooding and additional damage.
Across the country, an influx of Arctic air is expected to bring extreme cold to parts of the northern Plains and Midwest. Temperatures in some areas could plunge well below zero, and wind chill will make conditions feel even colder. Forecasters also highlighted the possibility of the season’s first measurable snow in parts of the Northeast as the cold air pushes east.
Residents are being urged to follow local evacuation orders, avoid flooded roads, and stay tuned to weather updates as the region braces for more heavy precipitation and potentially dangerous conditions.