Overview
- NOAA and the National Weather Service projected major or record crests, including the Skagit near Concrete above 47 feet and the Snohomish near 33.6 feet, with the National Water Center warning of a high risk of levee overtopping.
- Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency as the state emergency operations center moved to its highest activation level and the National Guard prepared resources.
- Mandatory and recommended evacuations were issued in multiple communities, with door-to-door warnings and shelters readied as first responders conducted water rescues in places such as Orting, Snohomish and Lewis County.
- Transportation and infrastructure faced growing disruption, including road closures from flooding and landslides, partial shutdowns on I‑90 and U.S. 2, and Amtrak service suspended between Seattle and Vancouver on Thursday and Friday.
- The atmospheric river has already dropped more than 10 inches of rain in the Cascades with additional heavy rain through Thursday expected to prolong dangerous river levels, landslide risk and potential levee damage.