Atmospheric River Triggers Catastrophic Flooding in Pacific Northwest

An atmospheric river has caused catastrophic flooding across the Pacific Northwest, leading to significant damage and emergency responses. According to ABC News, water rescues are underway in Washington, where residents are evacuating as flooding reaches critical levels.

The National Weather Service reports that between 5 to more than 10 inches of rain fell in the region, prompting Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard for disaster response.

Approximately 100,000 residents were being prepared for evacuation. Gizmodo highlights that while the heaviest rainfall is subsiding, ongoing river flooding and landslides remain significant concerns, with lingering rain expected to exacerbate conditions.

As the atmospheric river moves north, areas in British Columbia are also experiencing severe weather impacts, including evacuations and highway closures. Meteorologists warn that an additional atmospheric river is forecasted to hit next week, underscoring the trend of increasing extreme weather events in the region.