Photos: Atmospheric river floods several towns in Washington after days of heavy rain
Photos and videos from Washington show the results of heavy rain combined with record-warm temperatures from the tropically-infused atmospheric river storm that sent several rivers over their banks Tuesday.
Washington state experiencing dangerous flooding
Heavy rain and snowmelt are slamming the Pacific Northwest, causing rivers to rise and cause floods. Dec. 5, 2023.
ARLINGTON, Wash. – Floodwaters swamped some areas of Washington Tuesday as a relentless atmospheric river dropped torrential rain across much of the Pacific Northwest.
Rainfall totals for the event reached 3 to 7 inches in the Olympic and the Cascade Mountains in Washington, with a localized maximum of 8 to 10 inches in the Cascade foothills northeast of Seattle.
RIVERS RISING, HOMES FLOODED IN WASHINGTON AS DEADLY ‘PINEAPPLE EXPRESS’ DRENCHES PACIFIC NORTHWEST
A home is flooded from the swollen Stillaguamish River in Granite Falls, Washington on Dec. 5, 2023.
(Benjamin Jurkovich / Washington Weather Chasers / FOX Weather)
The heavy rain combined with record-warm temperatures from the tropically-infused storm to send snow levels to 8,000-10,000 feet, allowing significant runoff into the region's river system and sending many over their banks.
The Stillaguamish River, which lies about an hour and a half drive north of Seattle, not only reached major flood stage, but set its highest crest of record. The river spilled into several homes, prompting evacuation warnings, and closed several local roads.
Flooding leads to water rescue in Snohomish County, Washington.
(Snohomish County Sheriff's Office / FOX Weather)
In the town of Silvana, a woman had to be rescued after she drove around a road closure sign and her car became stuck. She was brought to dry land, and given a $432 fine for ignoring the sign, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said.
In the video below, the swollen Stillaguamish can be seen rushing under the Heller Bridge in Arlington, and rising.
A flooded Stillaguamish River, as seen from Heller Bridge in Arlington, Washington. Dec. 5, 2023.
(Chelsea Kapica / Snohomish County Parks / FOX Weather)
The high waters were too much for some trees to handle, and one was spotted being carried downstream near a flooded park.
A tree floats along a flooded park in Arlington, Washington. Dec. 5, 2023.
(@JBrushertphoto1 / X / FOX Weather)
The Stillaguamish River also flooded several homes in neighborhoods that flank the river, including the town of Granite Falls.
A home is flooded from the swollen Stillaguamish River in Granite Falls, Washington on Dec. 5, 2023.
(Benjamin Jurkovich / Washington Weather Chasers / FOX Weather)
RIVERS RISE IN WASHINGTON WHILE CLIPPER BRINGS SNOW TO MIDWEST
"Neighbor says he loves living on the water in summer, and this is the not so fun part of it," said John Hopperstad with FOX 13 Seattle.
Moderate to major flooding is expected along the Skagit, Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skokomish rivers in Western Washington, and communities along those rivers were told to prepare for flooded roads and water creeping into homes and other buildings.
![From behind some trees, the Stillaguamish River rises around homes in a neighborhood and floods the road. Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 1 of 9From behind some trees, the Stillaguamish River rises around homes in a neighborhood and floods the road. Dec. 5, 2023. (@JohnHopperstad / X)
![Washington flooding]()
Image 2 of 9Flooding leads to water rescue in Snohomish County, Washington. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)
![A flooded street about a quarter mile from the north fork of the Stillaguamish River. Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 9A flooded street about a quarter mile from the north fork of the Stillaguamish River. Dec. 5, 2023. (@Mysticeti24 / X)
![Grays River Valley Flooding in Washington]()
Image 4 of 9Flooding in Washington's Grays River Valley on Dec. 5, 2023. (Washington State Dept. of Transportation)
![Grays River Valley Flooding in Washington]()
Image 5 of 9Flooding in Washington's Grays River Valley on Dec. 5, 2023. (Washington State Dept. of Transportation)
![Skokomish River Flooding]()
Image 6 of 9The Skokomish River floods in Washington's Mason County on Dec. 5, 2023. (Washington State Dept. of Transportation)
![Seattle Mudslide]()
Image 7 of 9A mudslide blocks Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail on Dec. 5, 2023 (Seattle Parks Department)
![Seattle Mudslide]()
Image 8 of 9A mudslide blocks Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail on Dec. 5, 2023 (Seattle Parks Department)
![The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office shared this photo of a car that was stranded in high water on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. The driver was safely rescued.]()
Image 9 of 9The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office shared this photo of a car that was stranded in high water on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. The driver was safely rescued. (@SnoCoSheriff/X)
HOW FLOODWATER CAN MAKE YOU VERY SICK
In Monroe along the flooding Skykomish River, four people and a dog were rescued from Al Borlin park after becoming trapped by rising waters.
Four people and a dog were rescued from Al Borlin Park in Monroe, Washington on Dec. 5, 2023.
(Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue / FOX Weather)
Along I-5 in Seattle, workers had to shut down an off-ramp because of standing water. Only about 12 inches of water is enough to carry away a small vehicle.
HOW MUCH FLOOD WATER DOES IT TAKE TO DAMAGE A CAR?
To the east of Seattle, the Snoqualmie River reached moderate flood stage:
Southwest of Seattle, the Skokomish River rose enough to cause part of the road pictured below to disappear.
The Skokomish River floods in Washington's Mason County on Dec. 5, 2023.
(Washington State Dept. of Transportation / FOX Weather)
The heaviest rains have ended and rivers have begun to recede. More rain is in the forecast for the end of the week, but will be more showery and lighter in intensity and not expected to have any impact on local rivers. Drier weather is in the long-range forecast.