A Fierce Atmospheric River Pushes the Pacific Northwest Toward Dangerous Flood Levels and Days of Turbulent Weather

The Storm Arrived Hard — And More Is Coming

By Wednesday morning, the Pacific Northwest felt heavier. Streets were still slick, riverbanks swollen, and the sky looked thick enough to press down on rooftops. The first storm of the week had already pushed water into neighborhoods across Oregon and Washington. It shut down roads, knocked out power and forced difficult rescues.

And forecasters said the worst part had not arrived yet.

Across the Pacific Ocean, a long plume of moisture stretched toward the coast. Meteorologist Harrison Rademacher described it as “a jet stream of moisture" aimed straight at Washington and Oregon, drawing water from thousands of miles away and squeezing it over the region.

Floodwaters Rising, Rescue Crews Racing

In communities northeast of Seattle, rescue teams worked through fast-moving currents. Inflatable kayaks became lifelines as crews pulled drivers from stranded vehicles. One person trapped in the woods by rising water had to be carried nearly a mile to reach safety.

Along Interstate 5 between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR, firefighters responded to multiple emergencies. A semitruck driver was pulled from water after attempting to cross a flooded stretch of road. In Chehalis, WA, a family of six stood stranded inside their home as floodwater rose to four feet (1.2 meters) around it.

Malachi Simper from Lewis County Fire District #5 said crews kept encountering the same problem: people thought they could make it through the water. “They underestimate how quickly it moves," one firefighter noted at the scene.

Rivers Near Seattle, WA Reach Dangerous Thresholds

Flood watches spread across the region as major rivers surged. The Skagit River near Concrete, WA, northeast of Seattle, was forecast to rise more than 15 feet (4.6 meters) above the major flood stage by Thursday. That would break historical records.

Deputies went door to door warning residents. A mobile home park along the Snohomish River was evacuated. The city of Snohomish issued an emergency proclamation. In Auburn, south of Seattle, workers installed temporary flood barriers, hoping to hold the White River in place.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson confirmed that the state moved its Emergency Operations Center to its highest activation level.

People described the scene in simple, nervous phrases:
“The water just kept coming."
“We did not expect it to rise this fast."

A Week of Turbulent Weather Across the Country

While the Pacific Northwest battled floodwater, other regions faced their own storms. A fast-moving system swept across the Upper Midwest on Tuesday, bringing freezing rain, heavy snow and high winds.

Much of North Dakota went into a no-travel advisory as roads turned into sheets of ice. Schools closed, and virtual classes became the safer option.

Connor Smith, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Bismarck, warned of 65 mph (105 kph) winds strong enough to shove vehicles sideways and whip already fallen snow into blinding gusts.

Farther east, Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin prepared for heavy snow. Even Minneapolis commuters were told to expect a long, slow, difficult drive.

And to the north, southeast Alaska confronted the sharp edge of winter: bitter wind chills dropping to minus 50 degrees (minus 45.6 Celsius) in Skagway and minus 15 degrees (minus 26 Celsius) in Juneau.

The Northwest’s Weather Pattern Refuses to Break

The storms lined up over the Pacific look persistent. Another system is expected to reach the region on Sunday. Forecasters said the pattern “looks unsettled all the way into the holidays."

In Portland, transportation officials warned of hydroplaning, sudden road closures and hidden potholes beneath murky water. People stepped around puddles that were no longer puddles but the beginning of something deeper.