Lead: Rivers in northwest Washington continued to rise overnight into Thursday as authorities warned of potential record-breaking crests in the Skagit and Nooksack basins. Evacuations were ordered for low-lying areas — including parts of Skagit and Whatcom counties — and shelters opened in Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Ferndale. The Nooksack at North Cedarville reached a reported crest of 150 feet at 3:30 a.m.; forecasts showed the Skagit approaching near-record levels in multiple locations into Friday morning. Local, state and federal teams mobilized sandbagging, levee monitoring and rescues while officials sought expedited federal assistance.
Key Takeaways
- The Nooksack River at North Cedarville crested at 150 feet at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, higher than the 2021 event that produced roughly $150 million in regional damage.
- The Skagit River gauge near Concrete briefly peaked lower than forecast — 41.13 feet vs. an earlier 43-foot projection around 10 a.m. — and has been slowly falling since.
- Skagit near Mount Vernon was forecast to crest near 38.26 feet at 4 a.m. Friday, within about one foot of the local record (37.4 feet recorded previously).
- Mandatory or voluntary evacuations affected Nooksack, Sumas, Everson, parts of Marietta and Ferndale; about 100+ people sought shelter at Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon.
- Emergency operations: National Guard sandbagging missions (100 troops deployed morning, another 200 expected), USGS river measurements, Army Corps took over Ross Dam operations Monday.
- Infrastructure impacts include multiple state route closures, local bridge and culvert failures, and reports of water seeping through the Mount Vernon floodwall (described by officials as expected).
- Agricultural and small-business losses reported: 12 acres of Laue’s 14-acre tree farm submerged; farms near Everson and Sedro-Woolley reporting crop and equipment exposure.
Background
Western Washington’s river systems — fed by a prolonged period of heavy rain and recent atmospheric river events — are operating at unusually high flows. The region experienced severe flooding in November 2021; that episode set local records and produced major damage in the Nooksack and Skagit valleys. Officials now warn that soil saturation, continued rainfall and rising streamflow increase the chance of levee overtopping and landslides.
Local governments, tribes and federal agencies maintain a layered responsibility for flood response: counties manage evacuations and shelters, the U.S. Army Corps and dike districts monitor and repair levees, and utilities operate hydroelectric and reservoir systems to reduce downstream risk. In this event, the Army Corps assumed operational control of Ross Dam from Seattle City Light on Monday as a precaution, while USGS teams used radar and remote methods to measure river velocity and discharge where access is unsafe.
Main Event
Overnight and into Thursday, the Nooksack and Skagit rivers rose through the action, minor and major flood stages at different gauges. By 3:30 a.m., the Nooksack at North Cedarville reportedly reached 150 feet. Evacuation orders and alerts were sent to residents of Nooksack, Sumas and Everson; Ferndale issued voluntary evacuations for low-lying zones as a precaution ahead of a projected Ferndale crest.
In Skagit County, some residents in the 100-year floodplain began evacuating as gauges showed Skagit River levels approaching near-record heights. Concrete’s gauge peaked about 41.13 feet after an earlier 43-foot forecast, and Mount Vernon remained under a flash-flood watch with water seeping through sections of the downtown floodwall — a phenomenon firefighters described as anticipated drainage through designed pavers.
Shelters opened across the region: Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon hosted more than 100 people, Cascade Christian Church in Sedro-Woolley readied space for dozens, and Red Cross teams prepared additional sites. Volunteers and National Guard members ran sandbag stations; local public works and dike district crews patrolled levees and worked to dislodge log jams threatening bridge piers.
Transportation and services were affected: numerous state routes and local roads closed due to high water or debris, some hospitals canceled outpatient procedures and scaled emergency operations, and city services in Skagit County were suspended for non-essential functions through Friday, Dec. 12.
Analysis & Implications
Hydrologically, consecutive atmospheric rivers and saturated catchments raise the probability that crests will be higher and fall more slowly than in isolated storms. The 150-foot report at North Cedarville — larger than the 2021 event referenced for regional damages — signals a severe peak that will stress levees, pump stations and flood-response capacity. Even where floodwalls exist, seepage, overtopping risk and downstream inundation remain key hazards.
Economically, repeated flooding within a few years compounds losses for farms, businesses and homeowners. Farmers reported submerged fields, flooded greenhouses and barns with several feet of water; tree farms and event venues faced lost inventory and operational interruptions. Local governments will likely need state and federal aid for debris removal, infrastructure repair and direct assistance to residents.
Politically and operationally, the request by Gov. Bob Ferguson for expedited federal emergency declaration underscores the scale of anticipated recovery needs and the desire to unlock federal funding and resources quickly. The Army Corps’ operational control of Ross Dam is a precaution that reduces certain reservoir-related risks, but it does not eliminate downstream flood exposure if river crests exceed design thresholds.
Comparison & Data
| Gauge / Location | Observed or Forecast Crest | Noted Record |
|---|---|---|
| Nooksack at North Cedarville | 150 ft (crested 3:30 a.m., Thu) | — |
| Nooksack at Ferndale | Forecast 22 ft by 4 a.m. Fri, Dec 12 | — |
| Skagit near Concrete | Observed 41.13 ft (lower than 43 ft forecast) | — |
| Skagit near Mount Vernon | Forecast ~38.26 ft at 4 a.m. Fri (near record) | Record ~37.4 ft |
These crests show the event is similar in scale to the 2021 floods at certain gauges; local differences reflect watershed shape, timing of rainfall, reservoir operations and log-jam dynamics near bridges. USGS velocity and discharge measurements are being collected to refine forecasts and downstream impact modeling.
Reactions & Quotes
“We will be here until the need is met.”
Alex Newman, Northwest Washington Red Cross (executive director)
Red Cross leadership emphasized shelter capacity, animal-friendly policies and multilingual assistance as hundreds sought refuge. Volunteers and staff also guided donation and donation-channel requests to official Red Cross portals to ensure effective support.
“Two events like this in five years was not on my bingo card for 2025.”
Allison Pfeiffer, Geology professor, Western Washington University
Pfeiffer placed the floods in a climate context: wetter atmospheric rivers and a saturated landscape increase the frequency of high-flow events. She cautioned that while more storms are likely, exact local outcomes remain tied to timing and antecedent soil moisture.
“The flood has devastated much of Sumas… we are hopeful that the high water will begin to recede soon.”
Bruce Bosch, Mayor of Sumas
The mayor described large-scale evacuations, multiple rescues and a reliance on local responders, border patrol aviation and farmers who aided evacuation efforts.
Unconfirmed
- Exact final crest heights at some Skagit and Nooksack gauges remain forecasts until post-event gauge reviews are completed.
- Full extent and dollar value of property, agricultural and infrastructure damage are still being assessed; comprehensive damage totals are not yet available.
- Reports of specific levee breaches or long-term structural failures are under evaluation by dike districts and the U.S. Army Corps.
Bottom Line
Communities in Skagit and Whatcom counties faced a fast-moving flood threat driven by saturated basins and another atmospheric river. Immediate priorities are protecting life, monitoring levees and bridges, and supporting shelter and rescue operations. Authorities advise staying away from flooded roads and observing evacuation orders and official channels for accurate, up-to-date instructions.
Looking ahead, the region will need coordinated recovery planning and likely state and federal resources to repair infrastructure and support affected residents and businesses. Repeated severe events in a short span highlight long-term choices about land use, investments in flood infrastructure and adaptation strategies for changing precipitation patterns.
Sources
- Cascadia Daily News (regional news coverage)
- National Weather Service (NWS) (federal meteorological forecasts and flood watches)
- NOAA (federal observations and river gauge data)
- American Red Cross (humanitarian sheltering organization)
- USGS (river discharge and field measurements)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (federal water infrastructure operations)
- Office of Gov. Bob Ferguson (state emergency requests and statements)