Torrential rains cause major flooding in NW Washington

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee connected Monday declared a authorities of exigency successful 14 counties successful the northwest portion of the authorities aft a week of terrible upwind near rivers flooded and thousands without power.

The authorities of exigency declarations travel aft the portion was deed with 2 "atmospheric river" events successful back-to-back weeks, bringing respective days of torrential rainfall to the area.

The National Weather Service's bureau successful Seattle says that 3 rivers successful the portion are presently astatine "major" flood stages.

CNN reports that hundreds of radical successful Whatcom County — which borders Canada — person already been displaced from their homes. If rivers proceed to rise, flooding could origin much harm successful the area.

The rising waters forced Coast Guard officials successful the portion to behaviour respective chopper hunt and rescue missions connected Monday. CNN reports that 10 radical — including 4 children — were rescued successful their homes successful Clallam County.

In confederate Whatcom County, some directions of Interstate 5 were closed adjacent the metropolis of Bellingham connected Monday owed to the menace of mudslides and flooding.

In summation to dense rainfall, the portion experienced dense upwind gusts connected Monday afternoon. According to the Seattle Times, gusts of 60 mph were recorded connected the shorelines of Snohomish.

The Times reported Monday nighttime that arsenic galore arsenic 158,000 customers had mislaid power. Poweroutages.us, which tracks outages crossed the country, reported that astir 50,000 customers were inactive without energy connected Tuesday morning.

Luckily, NWS meteorologists told the Seattle Times that upwind events would beryllium "tamer" successful the coming days. Wednesday and Thursday are projected to beryllium "mostly dry" and "partly sunny."