Atmospheric River Sparks Major Floods in Washington

A powerful atmospheric river has unleashed torrential rains across the Pacific Northwest since Monday, triggering severe flooding in western Washington and prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents along swelling rivers. The storm system, which has already caused road closures, high-water rescues and widespread disruptions, is expected to intensify through the weekend, with forecasters warning of potential record crests on major waterways like the Skagit and Snohomish rivers north of Seattle.

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday afternoon, mobilizing resources to protect lives and property. He emphasized the urgency, stating that federal assistance would likely be required and urging residents to heed evacuation notices. "The situation is extremely serious," Ferguson said, as emergency crews conducted rescues in flooded areas and communities distributed sandbags in anticipation of further rises.

The deluge, fueled by a plume of Pacific moisture funneled into the region, has dumped 4 to 10 inches of rain on watersheds draining the Cascade Range into Puget Sound. By Wednesday, eight rivers in western Washington had reached major...