2023 Pacific Northwest floods

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]

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

Oregon

edit

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

Washington

edit

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

edit
  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, Jordan; 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.