Washington state is facing a critical emergency as a powerful “atmospheric river” unleashes record-breaking rainfall, triggering potentially deadly floods and prompting urgent evacuations. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency, stressing the dire situation.
“This is extremely serious,” Governor Ferguson warned. “Lives will be at stake in the coming days.” He urged all Washingtonians to heed local alerts and, if an evacuation order is issued, to leave immediately for higher ground – “it’s critical to your safety.”
What exactly is an atmospheric river? Think of it as a massive, airborne conveyor belt of water vapor, flowing from the tropics to cooler regions. When it hits land, it dumps enormous amounts of rain or snow, and Washington is currently experiencing the full force of this phenomenon.
Rivers like the Skagit, Sauk, Skykomish, and Snohomish are swelling rapidly, threatening to burst their banks. Level 3 evacuation orders, meaning residents must leave *now*, are in effect for parts of Skagit County and Orting in Pierce County.
The impact is already visible: a major landslide closed all eastbound lanes of Interstate 90, causing huge traffic backups. Another section of US 2 near Stevens Pass is also shut down due to mud, rocks, and trees across the road.
The National Water Centre is warning of “locally catastrophic flooding,” identifying 16 river points expected to reach major flood levels. After receiving 4-7 inches of rain in just 24 hours in some areas, flood warnings are set to remain in place across large parts of Washington until Friday. Stay safe, Washington!
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2145063/washington-flood-live-weather-emergency-latest
