Deadly flooding strikes Northwest as 'Pineapple Express' storm sends rivers raging in Washington, Oregon
Neighborhoods, roads and highways from the Pacific coast to the foothills of the Cascades were covered with floodwaters, and at least two people in Oregon were killed in the flooding.
Relentless rainfall triggered flooding in 4 states
The recovery process is underway after an atmospheric river event triggered deadly flooding in the Pacific Northwest.
SEATTLE – Washington was slammed with major flooding this week after days of relentless rain from a deadly Pineapple Express atmospheric river event pounded the Pacific Northwest and sent rivers overflowing their banks.
Neighborhoods, roads and highways from the Pacific coast to the foothills of the Cascades were covered with floodwaters, and at least two people in Oregon were killed in the flooding.
PHOTOS: WASHINGTON UNDER FLOOD THREAT AS RAINFALL, SNOWMELT CAUSE MAJOR RIVERS TO RISE
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 1 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 2 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 4 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 5 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 6 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 7 of 22Flooding in Silvana, Washington, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Willow and Jim's Country Cafe/Facebook)
![Skykomish River Flooding]()
Image 8 of 22Four people and a dog were rescued from Al Borlin Park in Monroe, Washington on Dec. 5, 2023. (Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue)
![Washington flooding]()
Image 9 of 22Flooding leads to water rescue in Snohomish County, Washington. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)
![Washington flooding]()
Image 10 of 22Flooding 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 11 of 22A flooded street about a quarter mile from the north fork of the Stillaguamish River. Dec. 5, 2023. (@Mysticeti24 / X)
![From behind some trees, the Stillaguamish River rises around homes in a neighborhood and floods the road. Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 12 of 22From behind some trees, the Stillaguamish River rises around homes in a neighborhood and floods the road. Dec. 5, 2023. (@JohnHopperstad / X)
![A tree floats along a flooded park in Arlington, Washington. Dec. 5, 2023.]()
Image 13 of 22A tree floats along a flooded park in Arlington, Washington. Dec. 5, 2023. (@JBrushertphoto1 / X)
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Image 14 of 22A flooded Stillaguamish River, as seen from Heller Bridge in Arlington, Washington. Dec. 5, 2023. (Chelsea Kapica / Snohomish County Parks)
![Skokomish River Flooding]()
Image 15 of 22The Skokomish River floods in Washington's Mason County on Dec. 5, 2023. (Washington State Dept. of Transportation)
![Grays River Valley Flooding in Washington]()
Image 16 of 22Flooding in Washington's Grays River Valley on Dec. 5, 2023. (Washington State Dept. of Transportation)
![Grays River Valley Flooding in Washington]()
Image 17 of 22Flooding in Washington's Grays River Valley on Dec. 5, 2023. (Washington State Dept. of Transportation)
![Flooded home in Granite Falls, Washington]()
Image 18 of 22A home is flooded from the swollen Stillaguamish River in Granite Falls, Washington on Dec. 5, 2023. (Benjamin Jurkovich / Washington Weather Chasers)
![Flooded home in Granite Falls, Washington]()
Image 19 of 22A home is flooded from the swollen Stillaguamish River in Granite Falls, Washington on Dec. 5, 2023. (Benjamin Jurkovich / Washington Weather Chasers)
![Seattle Mudslide]()
Image 20 of 22A mudslide blocks Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail on Dec. 5, 2023 (Seattle Parks Department)
![Seattle Mudslide]()
Image 21 of 22A 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 22 of 22The 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)
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon said a man's body was pulled from Johnson Creek on Monday after witnesses said he fell into the rapidly-moving water.
And another man’s body was found entangled in tree branches within Bronson Creek in Washington County, Oregon, on Tuesday.
Rescues made, fines issued
Coast Guard rescues flood victims by helicopter
Vehicles became submerged in floodwater near the Oregon-Washington state line on Tuesday. The Coast Guard reported at least five people were rescued
The U.S. Coast Guard reported rescuing five people from flooding on Tuesday near Rosburg, Washington.
A helicopter crew was able to safely rescue four people who were trapped in their home while it was surrounded by at least 4 feet of water.
Washington on alert for flooding as Pineapple Express storm slams Pacific Northwest with heavy rain
FOX Weather Correspondent Max Gorden is in Silvana, Washington, where flooding is occurring after an atmospheric river storm known as a Pineapple Express brought heavy rain to the Pacific Northwest over the past few days.
They were also able to rescue a man who was stranded on the top of his truck that became stuck in floodwaters.
All the victims were taken to hospital and were listed in stable condition.
First responders had been warning drivers to avoid driving on roads that were covered with water, but several people ignored those warnings and became trapped.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said they needed to rescue a driver near Silvana who had driven around road closure signs and became stuck.
Deputies said she was safely rescued and then issued a $432 ticket for driving around the signs.
7 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLASH FLOODS
In Monroe, four people and a dog needed to be rescued from Lewis Street Park after they were surrounded by the swollen Skykomish River and Woods Creek, according to Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOUSE FLOODS
Homes flooded in Granite Falls
Watch: Washington river rises, floods neighborhood along Stillaguamish River
Video recorded in Granite Falls, Washington, shows the Stillaguamish River overflowing its banks and starting to flood roads and homes in the area.
Videos from along the Stillaguamish River in Granite Falls, Washington, show water rushing into homes and across roads and vehicles trying to navigate through the flooding as the river reached a record-high crest.
"It's been at least 20-plus years since I've seen it this bad," Curtis Dobson told FOX 13 Seattle. "This is really bad."
One of those stuck by flooded roads was Jessica Rodrick, who was itching to get back to her two kids in Darrington. Jessica and her husband spent hours looking for a path around the sunken roads.
"This is probably the craziest I’ve ever seen it," Rodrick told FOX 13 Seattle.
Watch: River rages in Washington sending water into homes, streets
Video recorded in Granite Falls, Washington, shows floodwaters covering roads and flowing from homes after the Stillaguamish River overflowed its banks on Tuesday.
According to the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks blog, the county's Flood Warning Center was opened to monitor conditions and and has warned that road closures were possible after the Snoqualmie River rose to a Phase 3 out of 4 on the county's flood alert scale.
According to the blog, the river's three forks were recorded flowing at 20,670 cubic feet per second (CFS) leading to potential of moderate flooding.
Washington State Patrol said on X that troopers had responded to more than a dozen crashes since midnight in Snohomish County, with multiple areas with standing water.
FLOOD WATCH, WARNING AND EMERGENCY: HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
Several records broken
Watch: Stillaguamish River rages at Granite Falls, Washington
Video recorded by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shows a raging Stillaguamish River at Granite Falls on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
It was a record-breaking day across the region when it comes to temperatures, rainfall and river crests.
Seattle set records on Tuesday for both warmth and rainfall.
The Emerald City reached a record temperature of 59 degrees and reported a daily rainfall total of 2.39 inches. The rainfall total now ranks as the wettest day of the year and the third-wettest December day on record.
The Stillaguamish River at Granite Falls and Arlington crested at 21.34 feet – which is now an all-time record crest of the river.
Many rivers and streams have crested, but the return to below flood stage could take a few days.
HOW MUCH FLOOD WATER DOES IT TAKE TO DAMAGE A CAR?
A graphic showing the river stages in the Northwest over the next few days.
(FOX Weather)