Two men look at a partially submerged recreational vehicle in the flooded Skagit River in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., on Monday.
Elaine Thompson / AP
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Two men look at a partially submerged recreational vehicle in the flooded Skagit River in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., on Monday.
Elaine Thompson / AP
A major wind and rain storm that began Friday is causing flooding and landslides in the Pacific Northwest near the Canadian border, leading to the closure of an interstate highway, evacuations and power outages. .
On Monday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared severe weather state of emergency for 14 counties in the western part of the state.
Rain and wind landslides as well as saturated soil from a previous storm resulted Interstate 5 . closed overnight. The West Coast’s main North-South Expressway, which has been blocked in both directions, partially reopened on Tuesday morning.
A man steers his personal watercraft along a road flooded by water from the Skagit River on Monday in Sedro-Woolley, Wash.
Elaine Thompson / AP
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A man steers his personal watercraft along a road flooded by water from the Skagit River on Monday in Sedro-Woolley, Wash.
Elaine Thompson / AP
Dramatic video about drones posted of Bellingham, Wash., shows abandoned cars on flooded streets and people using kayaks to get around.
Many parts of the state faced evacuations, and more than 158,000 customers in western Washington were without power at one point Monday afternoon, The Associated Press report. Many schools were also closed or delayed.
Flood warning still in effect for some counties on Tuesday afternoon, but the National Weather Service said the high waters were expected to recede.
A rock and landslide briefly closed part of Interstate 5 through Bellingham, Wash., on Monday.
Washington State Department of Transportation via AP
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Washington State Department of Transportation via AP
A rock and landslide briefly closed part of Interstate 5 through Bellingham, Wash., on Monday.
Washington State Department of Transportation via AP
“Thanks to all the teams working to keep the Washingtonians safe,” Inslee tweeted Monday evening.
The devastating flood also extended to Oregon, where officials in one area rescue 20 people and three dogs from a flooded RV park.
Massive flooding across the state has closed roads, trapped people in their homes and knocked out power in one area, Salem Statesman Magazine reported.
An “atmospheric river” brings extreme weather
The inclement weather on Monday was caused by “atmospheric river” has brought rain and high winds to the Pacific Northwest for several days, according to the AP.
Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of water vapor in the sky that often release rain or snow as they make landfall, NOAA speak.
Local residents walk to a flooded street in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., on Monday.
Elaine Thompson / AP
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Elaine Thompson / AP
Local residents walk to a flooded street in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., on Monday.
Elaine Thompson / AP
Because the atmosphere is warmer more moisturizing, which means that climate change is making rain and extreme flooding events even worse.
British Columbia is also facing heavy rain and wind
The storm’s devastating impact was felt across the Canadian border, where wind and storm warnings were in effect across British Columbia on Monday.
The entire city of Merritt has been ordered to evacuate after a municipal wastewater treatment plant failed, CBC report, and authorities used helicopters to rescue 275 people trapped on the main highway.
Conscious have seen rain, wind and even snow forecast According to CTV News Vancouver.
