Washington Flood Crisis: Mass Evacuations as Torrential Rain Triggers Historic River Surges

Tens of thousands of people across Washington state were ordered to evacuate on Thursday as relentless torrential rain triggered potentially historic flooding, overflowing major rivers, cutting off transportation routes, and causing widespread power outages. Officials warned that conditions remained volatile and could worsen further in the coming days.

Governor Bob Ferguson, who declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday, said the scale of flooding could rival or surpass past historic events. “The flooding levels we’re looking at are potentially historic in nature,” he said during a briefing. “This situation is extremely unpredictable.”

Skagit County issued mandatory evacuation orders for all residents living within the Skagit River floodplain—an area home to nearly 78,000 people. While water levels upstream at the town of Concrete came in slightly below initial estimates, emergency authorities cautioned that peak flows in downstream communities were still expected to break records. Robert Ezelle, director of the state’s emergency management division, noted that water moving downstream could intensify flood conditions even if upstream crests appeared to stabilize.

In Mount Vernon, emergency teams went door-to-door in low-lying areas to urge residents to leave immediately. Further north, near the U.S.–Canada border, firefighters conducted multiple rescues in the town of Sumas as rising floodwaters trapped people inside their homes.

More than 13,000 customers were without electricity as of Thursday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us. A significant portion of U.S. Highway 2—a vital route running through the Cascade Mountains—was shut down after mudslides, fallen trees, rocks and debris blocked travel, and officials said there was no timeline for reopening.

The impact was felt beyond Washington as well. In northwestern Montana, heavy flooding washed out at least three bridges, forcing emergency responders to open shelters in the town of Libby for displaced residents.

Hydrologists expect several rivers, particularly the Skagit, to approach or surpass their all-time flood records. While reinforced homes in some areas avoided interior flooding, property damage remained significant. Residents such as Mariah Brosa of Concrete described debris crashing against their homes and vehicles as water levels surged far higher than anticipated.

The city of Mount Vernon, which has historically suffered repeated flood disasters—including a major event in 2003—relied heavily on the floodwall it completed in 2018. The barrier performed well during another near-record crest in 2021 and was once again holding back rising waters on Thursday. Officials in nearby Burlington expressed hope that existing dikes and levees would withstand the force of the floodwaters, although some residents worried that older structures could fail.

Across the region, businesses and homeowners erected sandbags, cleared drainage lines and relocated valuables in anticipation of worsening conditions. Wildlife reserves such as Fir Island remained inaccessible after authorities closed routes to protect visitors.

Emergency crews rescued numerous people from vehicles and homes as floodwaters rapidly inundated parts of Issaquah, east of Seattle. Landslides blocked stretches of Interstate 90, leaving several vehicles stranded amid mud, branches and standing water. Amtrak suspended all train service between Seattle and Vancouver until further notice, while the Abbotsford Police Department temporarily limited southbound commercial traffic at the border crossing to prioritize evacuation movements.

Scientists say that while no single storm can be directly attributed to climate change without detailed analysis, global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, including atmospheric river storms like this one.

More rain is expected beginning Sunday, with forecasters warning that unstable conditions could persist into the holiday season. “The pattern looks pretty unsettled going up to the holidays,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Harrison Rademacher.