2023 Pacific Northwest floods
Marine Drive south of Stanwood, Washington, flooded by the Stillaguamish River
Overall effects
Fatalities2

In December 2023, an atmospheric river caused flooding in the Pacific Northwest.[1] Rainfall and temperature records were set in the U.S. state of Washington.[2] Two deaths have been attributed to this flood.[3] One person died in Portland.[4]

Oregon

The Oregon Coast saw highway and school closures, and Cape Lookout State Park closed as well.[5][6][7]

Washington

A mudslide south of Kelso caused Amtrak to suspend passenger rail service on the Cascades and Coast Starlight between Seattle and Portland, Oregon.[8]

The Stillaguamish River in Snohomish County reached 21.34 feet (6.50 m) at Arlington, setting a new record high.[1] The river inundated the community of Silvana[1] and cut off portions of State Route 530.[9] Local teams made 13 rescues along the Stillaguamish River and responded to several other calls for stranded people cut off by the Skykomish River in Monroe.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Zhou, Amanda (December 7, 2023). "In tiny Silvana, flooding is a way of life. It's getting worse". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Atmospheric river soaks Pacific Northwest with record-breaking rain and unusually warm temperatures". AP News. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Trotta, Daniel (December 5, 2023). "Atmospheric River Pounds US Northwest; Two Deaths Reported". U.S. News & World Report. Reuters. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Wolfe, Elizabeth; Shackelford, Robert; Gilbert, Mary (December 5, 2023). "1 dead as powerful atmospheric river pummels Northwest with over 8 inches of rain". CNN. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  5. ^ Foden-Vencil, Kristian (December 5, 2023). "Flooding closes highways along Oregon Coast". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  6. ^ De Dios, Austin (December 6, 2023). "Flooding on the Oregon coast, swollen creeks in Portland as forecast calls for more rain". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  7. ^ 2 bodies found in creeks as atmospheric river drops record-breaking rain in Pacific Northwest, AP News, December 6, 2023
  8. ^ Kroman, David (December 5, 2023). "Amtrak service between Seattle and Portland canceled due to landslide". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Tall, Jonathan; Tizon, Maya; Hansen, Joradn; de Lapparent Alvarez, Aina (December 5, 2023). "Stillaguamish River flood breaks record after 6 inches of rain". The Everett Herald. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  10. ^ de Lapparent Alvarez, Aina; Hansen, Jordan; Tizon, Maya; Tall, Jonathan (December 6, 2023). "Over a dozen rescues in Snohomish County after record flooding on Stilly". The Everett Herald. Retrieved December 6, 2023.


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