Chaos in Washington Today! Giant Flash Flooding Swept Away Homes, Cars in Seattle

Chaos in Washington Today! Giant Flash Flooding Swept Away Homes, Cars in Seattle

He City of Auburn in Western Washington has declared a local state of emergency as a powerful atmospheric river event triggered severe, potentially record-breaking, flooding across King County and surrounding areas this week. Sustained heavy rainfall has pushed the Green and White Rivers to major flood stages, leading to widespread road closures, property inundation, and urgent evacuation warnings for low-lying residents. The Pacific Northwest has been deluged by an "atmospheric river," a weather phenomenon delivering intense, continuous rainfall that shattered daily precipitation records in the region. Simultaneously, the White River is experiencing moderate to major flooding, impacting Auburn, Pacific, and Sumner. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that dangerous, fast-flowing floodwaters are present in many areas. The visual impact of the flooding has been stark. A Chevron gas station located at the intersection of 277th and Auburn Way N/Central Ave was partially submerged, with the pumps and convenience store minimart inundated by several feet of water. Emergency crews strongly urge citizens to observe road closures and strictly avoid driving, walking, or wading through any flooded areas, reinforcing the message: "Turn around, don't drown". Small landslides have also been reported due to saturated soil conditions, adding another layer of hazard. Widespread road closures, infrastructure damage, and urgent warnings for residents to evacuate low-lying areas underscore the severity of what officials are calling some of the worst flooding in decades. Meanwhile, The Puget Sound region, encompassing Seattle and surrounding King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, is grappling with a severe weather crisis as an unrelenting atmospheric river system triggers significant, widespread flooding. Authorities have issued emergency declarations, shut down major transit routes, and urged thousands of residents to seek higher ground as rivers swell to potentially historic levels. While the core urban basin of Seattle proper, with its robust drainage systems, has largely avoided catastrophic central-city inundation, the impact has been severe in adjacent valleys and critical transport corridors. Major arteries have been severely compromised. Interstate 5 (I-5) experienced temporary closures near the Tukwila/Sea-Tac junction due to standing water and debris. The primary impact zone extends south to communities along the Green, White, and Puyallup rivers, and north to the Snohomish and Skagit valleys. King County declared a Phase 4 flood warning (the highest alert level) for the Green River. Near the suburban areas bordering Seattle, such as Kent and Renton, low-lying industrial parks and infrastructure are inundated.


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Дата на публикация: 11 декември, 2025
Категория: Друго