Severe Flooding
A tragic incident unfolded in the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, as the region grapples with the relentless onslaught of a powerful atmospheric river, leaving at least one person dead and more than 10 million people under flood alerts. The incident occurred in Portland, Oregon, where emergency crews were unable to rescue a man who was swept away by a flooded creek on Monday. His body was later recovered from Johnson Creek by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s entry into the fast-moving water are still under investigation, highlighting the dangers posed by the severe weather conditions. The Pacific Northwest has already endured over 8 inches of rain in the past 24 hours, exacerbating the situation created by previous atmospheric rivers. Rivers in the region are rapidly rising, with numerous waterways predicted to reach major flood levels within the next 24 hours.
Particular concern centers around the Skagit and Snoqualmie rivers in Washington, where forecasts predict flooding that could impact roads, farms, and even residential areas. Water levels on segments of the Skokomish River in western Washington have risen to moderate flood stage, while the Grays River in southern Washington has surged to major flood stage.
In Washington, road closures due to floodwaters have been reported, and one driver had to be rescued after attempting to navigate a flooded Snohomish County road. The situation is expected to worsen with additional heavy rainfall forecasted for Oregon’s Cascade mountains, southern Washington, and the far northwest of California. The Weather Prediction Center has identified a slight risk (Level 2 of 4) of excessive rainfall on Tuesday.
Flood watches span across coastal Oregon and Washington, extending into northeastern Washington and northern Idaho. Although most watches are set to expire on Wednesday, some may persist into Thursday, indicating the prolonged threat posed by the extreme weather conditions.
It’s dark this morning and water over roads is often much deeper than it appears. Please do not attempt to drive through a flooded roadway. Thankfully this driver was safely rescued this morning in Granute Falls. Turn around, don’t drown. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/krJXnJXwHN
— snocosheriff (@SnoCoSheriff) December 5, 2023
The Olympic mountains in Washington are projected to receive over a foot of rain, while the Cascades could see rainfall ranging from 5 to 9 inches. Coastal residents should anticipate 3 to 5 inches, with 1 to 3 inches expected in the interior lowlands. The severity of the situation is underscored by the impressive rainfall totals already recorded, such as the 8.67 inches in the last 24 hours at Olympic National Park in Washington.
As communities grapple with the unfolding crisis, the Pacific Northwest braces for the impact of this unrelenting atmospheric river, emphasizing the critical importance of preparedness and safety measures in the face of extreme weather events.
Recent Climate – Severe Flooding