Nightmare Floods Force 100K to Evacuate Now
Over 100,000 people in western Washington State have been ordered to evacuate as rivers swell to record levels from days of relentless rain fueled by an atmospheric river. The Skagit and Snohomish Rivers are expected to crest dangerously high, threatening homes and lives in floodplains between Tacoma and the Canadian border. National Guard troops are racing to stack sandbags, but officials warn the worst is yet to come. These extreme weather events underscore the growing urgency of climate change, which intensifies such deluges and demands faster action on emissions reductions for safer futures.
Heavy rains have turned rivers into raging torrents, sweeping away massive trees like freight trains, as one local farmer described. In Skagit Valley, midway between Seattle and the border, mandatory evacuations hit the 100-year floodplain—'level three: go now,' officials urged.
No major injuries yet, but flash floods loom through Friday. Hundreds of National Guard soldiers are sandbagging in places like Marysville, with more en route. Schools closed, roads flooded, and transit halted across King, Skagit, and Snohomish counties—driving through water is a deadly risk.
This crisis highlights how warming atmospheres supercharge storms, making floods more frequent and fierce. Cutting fossil fuels and embracing resilient infrastructure can shield communities from climate's escalating toll. New York Times