Historic flooding has devastated Washington state, forcing 78,000 Americans from their homes while critical infrastructure collapses and families are rescued from rooftops in what officials call an unprecedented natural disaster.
Emergency Evacuations Affect Thousands of Families
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency as evacuation orders displaced approximately 78,000 residents from the Skagit River floodplain north of Seattle. The massive agricultural region faces unprecedented water levels, with the Skagit River expected to crest Friday morning at dangerous heights. Ferguson warned residents that this historic flooding could reach two feet higher than previous record levels, making immediate evacuation critical for public safety.
🇺🇸Major Flooding Washington
A State of Emergency has been declared and thousands evacuated after catastrophic floods induated Western Washington.
Skagit County ordered everyone in the Skagit River 100-year floodplain to evacuate.
More rain is expected before conditions ease. pic.twitter.com/iVbYWHRm6d
— Chyno News (@ChynoNews) December 11, 2025
Infrastructure Collapse Strands Communities
Multiple bridges have been submerged while major roadways including state Route 410 remain completely impassable with no alternate routes available. East of Seattle, landslides blocked portions of Interstate 90, creating transportation chaos across the region. The cities of Sumas, Nooksack, and Everson near the Canadian border were completely evacuated after floodwaters inundated residential areas. The Sumas border crossing closed indefinitely, and Amtrak suspended all train service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Record Water Levels Destroy Private Property
The Snohomish River surged nearly one foot above its previous record Thursday in Snohomish city, while the Skagit River exceeded historical highs in Mount Vernon according to the National Water Prediction Service. Two families required helicopter rescue from rooftops in Sumas after floodwaters reached 15 feet around their homes. The local fire station stood under three feet of water, hampering emergency response capabilities. In Welcome, erosion from rushing floodwaters caused at least two houses to collapse directly into the Nooksack River, though no occupants were inside during the structural failures.
"Potential historic" floods hit the US state of Washington, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Some residents were trapped as they watch water levels rise around their homes. pic.twitter.com/DU7qaEtyw9
— DW News (@dwnews) December 12, 2025
Atmospheric River Brings Continued Threat
The devastating floods resulted from an atmospheric river system that carried massive amounts of tropical moisture northward into the Pacific Northwest. This weather phenomenon delivered relentless rainfall across the region, saturating soil and overwhelming river systems beyond their capacity. Meteorologists predict additional flooding Friday, with another dangerous storm system approaching Sunday that could bring more rainfall to already saturated areas. The combination of continued precipitation and record-high river levels threatens to extend the emergency situation for days or weeks ahead.
Sources:
The Associated Press – Washington Flooding Historic Rain
CNN – What is an Atmospheric River