Western Washington slammed with flooding, high winds
A strong atmospheric river was bringing record flooding and damaging winds to parts of Northwestern Washington Monday.
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Photo: Benjamin Jurkovich / Live Storms Media
Strong winds around 50 mph nearly sent a semi truck off the Deception Pass Bridge near Anacortes, Wash.
The driver was able to get out and was OK, according to the Washington State Patrol. But northbound lanes were blocked until the truck could be cleared.
Debris floating in the high water destroyed the river gauge on the Skagit River in Mt. Vernon. The National Weather Service warns near-record flooding continues but they can't issue further flood level updates.
UPDATE: Power companies are slowly restoring power to homes and businesses in Washington. Poweroutage.us reports 137,762 customers are still in the dark.
Bellingham, Wash. has picked up 5.57" of rain since Saturday. This is a new record for the most rain to fall in a three day span. The old record was 4.90 inches. Records for the city date back to 1949.
Water rescues are under way in Skagit County, Wash, due to high flood waters:
Image courtesy: Valley Regional Fire Authority
With winds gusting to 50 mph, the Valley Regional Fire Authority, who covers parts of southern King County, has responded to five trees across roads or on homes, plus 13 wires down and other storm related incidents, the agency said.
Over 170,000 people are now without power in Western Washington after ferocious winds gusting over 70 mph hit parts of the region.
The city of Mount Vernon has declared a state of emergency ahead of anticipated major flooding by the nearby Skagit River, which is forecast to approach record high levels Tuesday morning.
"The prediction of possible unprecedented river levels has forced the reduction of many normal City services to allow staff to respond to community, flood-related needs," city managers said. "Flood protection measures (flood wall) has been deployed in downtown Mount Vernon and the Skagit Riverwalk and Plaza are closed."
A surge of west wind is bring damaging wind speeds to Whidbey Island. A gauge just measured a gust of 75 mph in Coupeville while the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station hit a gust of 61 mph.
The town of Hamilton, Wash. was voluntarily evacuated overnight due to rising flood waters and the Red Cross has set up a shelter at a nearby church.
Just over 77,000 are now without power in Western Washington, including over 45,000 in King County that houses Seattle and Bellevue, according to poweroutage.us
Cold front sits draped just off the coast of Washington as part of an atmospheric river. (NOAA/ CIRA/RAMMB)
High winds and saturated soils have contributed to several power outages in Western Washington. About 60,000 are without power as of 10:45 a.m. PST.
Photo: Kevin Moseley
Flood waters cover streets in Bellingham, Wash.
WSDOT image shows flooding in Sumas, Wash.
More flooding photos from Sumas, Wash.
Winds gusted to 58 mph just before 10 a.m. in Seattle. Winds hit 53 mph in Olympia and Hoquiam and 52 in Gig Harbor. The 58 mph gust in Seattle ties for the 4th strongest gust recorded in the 21st Century.
Nearly 43,000 people without power now in Western Washington.
The City of Sumas reports that multiple cars have been washed off the road and drivers are awaiting rescue as flood waters reach the city.
Flooding in Sumas, Wash. (WSDOT Image)
Flood waters have inundated downtown Sumas, Wash. along the Canadian border and closed the road to Canada, Sumas Police report.
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