Western Washington Could See 100,000 Evacuations Amid Powerful Atmospheric River

A strong atmospheric river is hammering the Pacific Northwest, driving widespread flooding as multiple rivers in Washington state surge to major flood stage, potentially forcing evacuations.

National Weather Service (NWS) officials warn that residents along the Snohomish and Skagit rivers in Western Washington could experience life-threatening and “catastrophic” flooding Thursday due to this week’s relentless heavy rainfall. (RELATED: Polar Vortex Could Trigger Major Snowstorm, Soul-Piercing Freeze Across Interstate 95 Corridor)

Officials have issued evacuation orders for portions of Orting in Pierce County, Ebey Island in Snohomish County and Skagit County within the 100-year floodplain.

The office of Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday afternoon that as many as 100,000 Washington residents may be ordered to evacuate due to quickly rising floodwaters.

We anticipate potentially 100,000 Washingtonians facing evacuation orders. The situation is fluid and changing all the time. We expect rivers to hit historic levels as early as 4 a.m. tomorrow, lasting into Friday morning.

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— Governor Bob Ferguson (@GovBobFerguson) December 11, 2025

The governor has declared a state of emergency and announced he will seek federal funding to support flood response and recovery efforts. He went on to thank first responders and also stated to the public, “If you receive an evacuation order, please, please follow that order. It is critical for your safety,” per The Seattle Times.

The NWS has warned of “catastrophic” flooding from Mount Vernon into Everett and through parts east of Redmond. This level of flooding poses a severe threat to both life and property, with a high likelihood of levees getting overtopped and landslides in terrain that’s steep.

Steve Reedy, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, warned that the flooding could reach record levels, destroying roads and buildings while necessitating evacuations and rescues.

“I’ve been working here at the Seattle office for 12 years and I have never seen anything like this,” said Reedy, per The Seattle Times.