There's catastrophic flooding across western Washington after more than a dozen rivers hit a major flood stage, trapping residents in their homes and submerging vehicles. Carter Evans reports and Lonnie Quinn has the forecast.

Washington

Western Washington is experiencing catastrophic flooding due to prolonged heavy rainfall, with rain totals nearing 1.5 feet in some areas. Over a dozen rivers have reached major flood stage, submerging homes and vehicles, and prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. The Snohomish River has already set a new record, cresting 19 feet above flood stage, and the Skagit River is expected to break previous records as well.

Authorities have deployed up to 300 National Guard troops to assist with rescues and sandbagging as the region braces for further flooding. Meteorologists warn that while there will be a brief respite, more rain is forecast to return, potentially worsening conditions and causing additional flooding in the coming days.

Families flee homes amid catastrophic flooding in western Washington

Good evening. I'm John Dickerson. I'm Maurice Dubois. We begin with the flood emergency in the pacific northwest in the Seattle area. Rain totals are approaching 1.5 ft. It's been coming down since sunday and rivers are still rising tonight. Some approaching historic levels. The governor of Washington state says as many as 100,000 people could be forced to scramble for safety and there is still the potential for catastrophic loss of life. The region has been hit by what forecasters call an atmospheric river. Or a river in the sky. Carter Evans leads us off from Mount Vernon, Washington, 60 miles north of Seattle. What are you seeing carter? Well, speaking of rivers, this is the Skagit River behind me and just look how high it is. The community of Mount Vernon installed these flood barriers for a scenario just like this, heavily reinforced. But will it be enough? Catastrophic flooding across western Washington. The town of Hamilton in Skagit County was inundated with water nearly reaching rooftops. More than a dozen rivers have hit major flood stage, trapping residents in their homes, submerging vehicles and forcing road closures. Most of our rescues, we've had people sitting on the hood or the roof of their car out here. First responders are using boats to rescue stranded people. Tens of thousands have been told to evacuate before it's too late. We want to communicate to Washingtonians. The situation is extremely unpredictable. The Snohomish River already broke a record cresting 19 ft above flood stage. Seven year old Jocelyn Rosas choked back tears as she returned to see her home in Monroe underwater. The only clothes I got is just my budget. What's it like to see her like this? It's hard. It's hard because we to explain to her why we moved over here. It was her father Jose told me they moved to this park two months ago after his wife was diagnosed with cancer and it was a financial decision. You needed to save money for her treatment. Yes, we did. We did that because of that. Now it's gone. Up to 300 National Guard troops have already been deployed sandbagging and helping with rescues as the state braces for even more extreme flooding. Mhm. Now the river isn't expected to crest until tomorrow morning and it is expected to break previous flood records, which means it could very well top this barrier and that's one reason why businesses downtown have been sandbagging all day to block the water. Carter Evans. Thank you. Lonnie Quinn has been tracking the storms there in the northwest for days. He's here now with that and the next invasion of arctic air Lonnie. Okay guys, I want to talk about the situation in Washington state because it's been raining straight for five days now. Thankfully, the best news of all tomorrow and saturday, it really kind of tapers off. But unfortunately, sunday, the atmospheric river is back at it. Let's go to the maps right now. I want to show you a projection. So the rain starts again and it's sunday, monday getting now into Tuesday. Let's go now into Tuesday. Then you're gonna see Wednesday, even early thursday morning, more rain and that's on top of some huge totals. Quinault has already picked up 16.5 inches of rain. Sky Comish has picked up 13.4 inches of rain and you heard from carter Evans how the rivers, the Snohomish River is setting a record. It's forecast to crest tomorrow. What you didn't hear is by how much it's probably gonna break a record that's been in the book since 1990 by not an inch or two by about a half a foot. That means river water from the Snohomish will go places that that river water has never been. Thankfully, the Snohomish by the time it's a saturday at some point during the day, it should go below flood stage. Unfortunately, gentlemen, I think it's going back there as we push into next week or they need a break. Okay, Lonnie Quinn, thanks so much.

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