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Record Washington Floods Begin to Recede as New Storms Loom

Fresh atmospheric rivers next week threaten to renew flooding despite a gradual drop in river levels.

Overview

  • Washington remains under a state of emergency with a federal declaration signed by President Donald Trump, and authorities report no confirmed deaths.
  • The Skagit and Snohomish rivers set all-time crests, prompting evacuation orders for about 78,000 people in the Skagit floodplain and broader orders totaling roughly 100,000 statewide.
  • Rescue teams carried out dozens of operations, including helicopter extractions of families from rooftops in Sumas where waters rose to about 15 feet.
  • Flooding and debris have submerged bridges and severed travel, with a landslide blocking part of I‑90, extended closures on State Route 410, Amtrak service to Vancouver suspended, and the Sumas border crossing closed.
  • Officials caution that high flows, weakened levees and landslide risks persist, with a strong atmospheric river forecast Monday followed by another system midweek.