December 11, 2025 — Western Washington braced for dangerous, potentially record-setting flooding as a new atmospheric river pushed heavy rain across a region already strained by storms and rescues the day before. Rivers were rising rapidly, and officials warned thousands may need to leave their homes.
State and local authorities moved to protect people and property as forecasts showed rivers swelling to levels not seen in years. Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and said up to 100,000 residents could face evacuation orders. The National Weather Service forecasted 18 major floods and 15 moderate ones across Washington and cautioned that “catastrophic flooding” was possible, particularly along the Skagit and Snohomish rivers. Landslides were also likely in steep terrain.
Mount Vernon, in the Skagit River valley north of Seattle, issued an evacuation for residents within the floodplain as forecasts showed the Skagit rising to unprecedented heights. The river was expected to crest near 47 feet in the mountain town of Concrete early Thursday and about 41 feet in Mount Vernon early Friday — forecasts officials said would top previous records by several feet. Mount Vernon, home to roughly 35,000 people, relies on a downtown floodwall completed in 2018; officials warned the historic expected crest could overtop that wall and strain older levees.
Dozens of people lined up at sandbag stations in Mount Vernon. Business owners stacked sandbags, moved stock to higher tables, tested pumps and shifted valuables to upper floors. Local leaders described the situation as edging toward a worst-case scenario.
The Washington National Guard said it would deploy hundreds of members to assist communities. Rescue teams were active in the Mount Rainier foothills, where Pierce County deputies aided people at an Orting RV park, including a man found wading through waist-deep water. Parts of Orting were ordered evacuated amid concern about the Puyallup River and upstream levees.
Storm impacts disrupted travel: a landslide blocked part of Interstate 90 east of Seattle, trapping vehicles under trees, mud and standing water, and a mountainous section of U.S. 2 was closed due to rocks and debris with no available detour. Cities and counties issued emergency proclamations and installed temporary flood barriers — Auburn workers set up protections along the White River, and a mobile home park along the Snohomish River was evacuated.
In Sumas on the U.S.-Canada border, a civil defense siren warned residents to leave and officials closed the border crossing to southbound commercial traffic to create room for evacuations.
Meteorologists described the system as an atmospheric river — a concentrated “jet stream” of moisture off the Pacific — with its strongest axis aimed along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Forecasters said another storm system could arrive beginning Sunday and that the pattern would likely remain unsettled through the holidays.
Climate scientists note that while any single event cannot automatically be tied to climate change without detailed study, warming trends increase the likelihood of more intense and frequent extreme rainfall and flooding. For now, communities across western Washington remained on high alert as emergency teams prepared for more evacuations, rescues and widespread impacts in the coming days.