January 1, Pacific Northwest Faces Flood Fears From Relentless Rain

Wyatt’s Take

• More torrential rain is set to drench the Pacific Northwest, hitting areas already drenched from weeks of wet weather.
• Rivers are running high, and flood risks loom as the incoming system continues.
• Danger rises with warmer air and snow melt on the way.

The Pacific Northwest braces for another surge of heavy rain as a strong storm and atmospheric river approach. The National Weather Service warns that total rainfall could reach up to 5 inches in the mountains, while broad areas may see 1-2 inches through Tuesday.

Flood fears run high after weeks of persistent downpours. The Olympic Mountains and Cascades foothills are likely to receive the heaviest soaking. Seattle has already passed its typical rainfall for this point in the year, and many rivers are nearing dangerous levels.

Western Washington is set for more rain from late Saturday into Monday, compounding damage from recent storms. Two levee failures in Washington swamped entire neighborhoods in Pacific, impacting over 220 homes.

“These atmospheric rivers are the largest rivers on Earth — but they flow in the sky,” meteorologists explain.

Floods have already turned deadly, with a man losing his life in California and another after attempting to cross a flooded road in Snohomish County. Rising snow levels, jumping from 2,500 feet to over 7,000 feet, threaten travel and could worsen flooding as snowpack melts.

Rivers such as the Skykomish, Snohomish, and Skagit are close to overflowing. The next round of storms could put more communities at risk in the coming days.

Stay informed, check in with neighbors, and take steps to protect your home as these storms move in. Sign up to get the latest Middle America News updates straight to your inbox and stay ahead of the storm.

Wyatt Matters

Floods remind us how quickly nature can test our resolve. Even when storms seem endless, communities pull together, helping neighbors and holding strong, just as heartland folks always have.

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