Reggie Brown, of Centralia, carries her daughter Ocean, 4, on her shoulder as he walks through floodwaters on Highway 507 with his wife, Jonesl Brown, on Friday in Centralia, Wash. The highway was flooded after heavy rain caused the Skookumchuck River to rise to its north bank.
Pete Caster / The News Tribune via AP
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Pete Caster / The News Tribune via AP
Reggie Brown, of Centralia, carries her daughter Ocean, 4, on her shoulder as he walks through floodwaters on Highway 507 with his wife, Jonesl Brown, on Friday in Centralia, Wash. The highway was flooded after heavy rain caused the Skookumchuck River to rise to its north bank.
Pete Caster / The News Tribune via AP
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – At least one person was missing and presumed dead when snow turned to rain and split the Pacific Northwest on Friday, causing flooding, landslides and avalanches in the mountains.
A 72-year-old man never returned from leaving his residence to move his car to higher ground Friday morning west of Olympia, Washington, in Cosmopolis, according to Scene Grays Harbor Chief of Staff Brad Johansson.
The man’s residence was on a flooded road, and authorities feared his car was swept into floodwaters down a steep bank next to his driveway, Johansson said.
Snow and rain forced the closure of two major Washington state highways – Interstate 90 and Interstate 5 – with flooding also inundating roads throughout Western Washington and Oregon.
In southwest Washington’s Lewis County, a 20-mile (32-kilometer) section of Interstate 5 was closed in both directions south of Chehalis because of flooding from the Chehalis River. All Interstate 5 lanes in that area reopened Friday afternoon.
The main route through Washington’s Cascades – I-90 via Snoqualmie Pass – was closed Thursday due to the risk of avalanches, heavy snowfall and low visibility. Stevens Pass on US 2, White Pass on US 12 and Blewett Pass on US 97 also closed on Thursday.
Transportation officials said all four passes connecting Western Washington with Eastern Washington will likely be closed through Sunday because of hazardous conditions.
Rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River began to flood some streets in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as rivers in the area and the flow of snow began to hasten flooding further south.
Steve Bloom / The Olympian via AP
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Steve Bloom / The Olympian via AP
Rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River began to flood some streets in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as rivers in the area and the flow of snow began to hasten flooding further south.
Steve Bloom / The Olympian via AP
And part of one of the only other roads that crosses the state, State Route 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River, was closed for several hours Friday because of a fatal crash near Lyle, Finn said.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued an emergency notice Friday because of a severe winter storm that began December 17. State agencies and local jurisdictions are coordinating resources to address them. damaged property and infrastructure, assess storm damage, and make repairs. .
Washington State University canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday to allow students more time to return to Pullman in Eastern Washington after severe winter weather, officials said on the university’s website. learn.
Near Stevens Pass northeast of Seattle, the city of Leavenworth declared a state of emergency and asked for National Guard help after 91cm of snow fell in 24 hours.
City leaders concerned about snow’s weight on buildings and homes, KCPQ-TV report.
In the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, firefighters responded to a house that slid down a hillside. Live video from KING-TV has emerged showing one-man rescue teams working to put out the fire just outside the house.
According to the Seattle Fire Department, a man trapped in the basement of the home was able to escape. Firefighters said a woman escaped alone while one dog was dead and another was missing.
Dozens of watches and warnings were in effect in Washington and Oregon, including a flood warning for the northern Oregon Coast following heavy rainfall.
A man wades through rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River to take photos in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as rivers in the area and the flow of snow begin to hasten flooding in the negative south. bar.
Steve Bloom / The Olympian via AP
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Steve Bloom / The Olympian via AP
A man wades through rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River to take photos in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as rivers in the area and the flow of snow begin to hasten flooding in the negative south. bar.
Steve Bloom / The Olympian via AP
The National Weather Service said Hoquiam, Washington, in Grays County received a record 5.78 inches (14.68 cm) of rain Thursday. Other regions saw nearly half the amount of rain they expected to see in January in a single day, according to the weather service.
Southwest Washington experienced its worst flooding in a decade, and some rivers peaked more than 18 feet (5.5 meters) late on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
East of Seattle on Friday, parts of downtown Issaquah were closed after Issaquah Creek released water through the streets. Several houses flooded and at least one apartment building had to be evacuated, KIRO-TV report.
In Centralia and around Thurston County, streets flooded Friday and Washington National Guard members were helping to fill sandbags and other requests, the guard said on Twitter. About 50 people on Friday sought shelter at a site in Centralia, according to the American Red Cross.
In northwest Washington, snow fell in Bellingham while roads flooded throughout Whatcom County. High tides and winds have caused coastal flooding around homes in Birch Bay, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Tides that flooded homes and businesses also affected towns including Edison and University Place.
In northwestern Oregon, coastal flooding following heavy rains has disrupted communities. Astoria received more than 4 inches (10.1 cm) of rain on Thursday, breaking the record for that day’s rainfall set in 1914.
The nearby city of Warrenton has declared a state of emergency due to widespread flooding, and school districts in Astoria, Warrenton, Knappa and Seaside canceled classes Friday.
In Oregon, Interstate 84 reopened after a landslide closed nearly 50 miles (80 km) of the highway from Troutdale to the Hood River on Thursday.
Forecasters say rain will ease over the weekend but landslides will continue to be at risk on Saturday as the soil remains saturated.
