Tens of thousands of Washington residents received urgent “Go Now!” evacuation orders from December 7 to 14, 2025. An atmospheric river dumped around 5 trillion gallons of rain in one week, according to estimates from Jupiter Intelligence. Rivers crested at record levels unseen in 35 years. Two major levees breached, leading to widespread flooding in affected areas. Governor Bob Ferguson called the event unprecedented, though forecasts had signaled risks days in advance.
The storm stemmed from a narrow band of tropical moisture stretching 11,000 kilometers from near the Philippines. It struck Washington on December 8 and persisted for seven days, delivering more rain than the state’s typical annual water use. The Skagit River peaked at 37.7 feet on December 12, surpassing its 1990 record, as documented by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). Mount Vernon’s floodwall protected 225 buildings and kept downtown dry, but nearby defenses failed and revealed key vulnerabilities.
Western Washington faced a 10-day barrage from the stalled atmospheric river. CW3E rated it Category 5, the highest on their scale. By December 12, over 75% of monitored rivers ran at 90% of historical peaks. Integrated Vapor Transport exceeded 1,000 kilograms per meter per second, steered by the jet stream. Climate models suggest this intensity would be unlikely without human-caused warming increasing atmospheric moisture.
Urgent Evacuations in Key Counties
Skagit County issued a midnight evacuation order for Burlington residents on December 12. Around 1,000 people left their homes in the dark as floodwaters rose. National Guard teams conducted door-to-door checks and used helicopter bullhorns for warnings, as Gages Slough overflowed into homes. Families like Mario Rincón’s, with a newborn, remained displaced for days.
Rivers across the region broke records. The Skagit exceeded prior marks by inches. The Snohomish reached 24.55 feet, a rare 300-year flood event. The Nooksack topped its 2021 high near Cedarville. Five gauges set new records, while 16 hit major flood stage. Senator Patty Murray toured Mount Vernon’s floodwall on December 14. She highlighted how it protected businesses she had once reached by wading through knee-deep water two decades earlier.
Levees buckled under the strain. The Desimone levee near Tukwila cracked on December 14, releasing Green River water into industrial zones and prompting evacuations of about 1,100 people from Kent, Renton, and Tukwila. At 3 a.m. on December 16, the White River levee failed at Pacific, flooding apartments so quickly that rescuers pulled residents from windows.
Heavy Rain Fuels Snowmelt and Disruptions
Mountain areas recorded over 10 inches of rain in 72 hours. Olympia airport logged 3.03 inches on December 8, its wettest December day since 1979, with peaks up to 14 inches in some spots. Warm air kept passes above freezing for a week; Yakima hit 72°F on December 10. This rain-on-snow effect melted snowpacks, saturated soils, and drove sharp runoff increases.
Projections indicate 8-10% more December warming over the next 25 years, heightening flood risks. Winds and fallen trees cut power to 254,000 in Washington and 136,000 in Oregon, with gusts of 85-90 mph on December 16-17. US Highway 2 closed for 49 miles between Skykomish and Leavenworth due to slides and washouts; partial access resumed December 29, but full reopening may take months. Leavenworth postponed holiday lights, Stevens Pass delayed opening, and Skagit Valley farms reported crop losses.
Sumas, flooded badly in 2021, saw the Nooksack crest above 150 feet again. Coast Guard helicopters airlifted families from rooftops. Nearly 700 households sought aid by December 15. Border crossings closed, and Amtrak suspended Seattle-Vancouver service.
Swift Response and Long-Term Challenges
Governor Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on December 10. Over 100 National Guard members reached Marysville in 18 hours, faster than the standard 72. By December 12, 300 troops supported Skagit, Snohomish, and King counties. Rescuers fielded 629 calls, many from drivers ignoring closures. Coast Guard helicopters extracted families from rooftops under 15 feet of water; one death occurred after bypassing barriers.
President Trump approved a federal emergency on December 12, covering 75% of costs in 16 counties and tribes under coordinator John Harrison. Individual aid awaits separate approval. Nonprofits responded quickly: United Ways released funds, Amazon donated $1 million, and Airbnb offered 700 free nights. Whatcom County identified 700 families in need. Damages reached hundreds of millions, with levee repairs, highway fixes, and decisions in places like Sumas on rebuilding versus retreat ahead. Atmospheric rivers provide 30-50% of West Coast rain and grow stronger with warming, underscoring the need for updated defenses.
Sources
National Guard Responds to Historic Flooding in Western Washington. Washington Military Department, December 22, 2025
CW3E Event Summary: 8-12 December 2025. Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, University of California, San Diego, December 23, 2025
Trillions of Gallons of Rain: Atmospheric Rivers Overwhelm the Pacific Northwest. Jupiter Intelligence, December 2025