Residents in the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada are bracing for what could be record-setting floods as an atmospheric river dumps heavy rain on already swollen rivers. The US National Weather Service warns that catastrophic flooding is possible in the states of Oregon and Washington along the Skagit and Snohomish rivers.
In Canada, major highways to Vancouver have been closed because of flooding, debris, and the risk of avalanches. There are evacuation orders in place for thousands of people in both the US and Canada, and authorities have warned that more rain is on the way on Thursday.
In the US, Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday, estimating that 100,000 residents could soon face evacuation orders. The emergency declaration warned that continued rain and snow at mountain elevations would exacerbate flooding conditions, severely impacting supply chains and transportation.
Skagit County, a major agricultural area north of Seattle, has issued immediate evacuation orders for residents living in the floodplain, with about 75,000 people in low-lying areas on Skagit River expected to evacuate.
Across the border in Canada, evacuation orders have been issued for communities including Tulameen and Eastgate, with the City of Abbotsford ordering urgent evacuations for 371 properties. The entire region, spanning parts of both the US and Canada, has been affected by torrential rainfall from the atmospheric river, and while the heaviest rain is expected to subside by Thursday afternoon, additional storms are forecasted for the coming days.
In Canada, major highways to Vancouver have been closed because of flooding, debris, and the risk of avalanches. There are evacuation orders in place for thousands of people in both the US and Canada, and authorities have warned that more rain is on the way on Thursday.
In the US, Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday, estimating that 100,000 residents could soon face evacuation orders. The emergency declaration warned that continued rain and snow at mountain elevations would exacerbate flooding conditions, severely impacting supply chains and transportation.
Skagit County, a major agricultural area north of Seattle, has issued immediate evacuation orders for residents living in the floodplain, with about 75,000 people in low-lying areas on Skagit River expected to evacuate.
Across the border in Canada, evacuation orders have been issued for communities including Tulameen and Eastgate, with the City of Abbotsford ordering urgent evacuations for 371 properties. The entire region, spanning parts of both the US and Canada, has been affected by torrential rainfall from the atmospheric river, and while the heaviest rain is expected to subside by Thursday afternoon, additional storms are forecasted for the coming days.
