Thousands ready to evacuate as flooding hits Pacific Northwest

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete December 11, 2025 at 05:22 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Thousands of residents in the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada face evacuation due to severe flooding caused by an atmospheric river. The US National Weather Service warns of potential catastrophic flooding in Oregon and Washington, particularly along the Skagit and Snohomish rivers, while major highways to Vancouver are closed in Canada. Washington's governor declared a statewide emergency, estimating 100,000 residents may need to evacuate. Evacuation orders are in effect for several communities, including those in Skagit County, Washington, and Tulameen and Eastgate in British Columbia. Rescue operations are underway, and numerous road closures are reported across the affected region due to the rising floodwaters.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

US National Weather Service 40% Snohomish County ×250% Pacific Northwest ×250% Skagit County 60% Robert Ezelle 60% Washington state ×270% Bob Ferguson ×280%

Keywords

flooding 100% evacuation orders 90% pacific northwest 80% atmospheric river 70% heavy rain 60% statewide emergency 60% snohomish river 50% skagit river 50% road closures 40% british columbia 40%