Latest evacuation updates: More Level 3 evacuations in Pierce County issued before noon Thursday

Due to unique weather conditions paired with a “supercharged” atmospheric river, approximately 5 trillion gallons of rain have engulfed western Washington over the past seven days, creating record flood levels in the process.

In response to the immense flooding, as many as 100,000 Washington residents are facing evacuation orders.

We anticipate potentially 100,000 Washingtonians facing evacuation orders. The situation is fluid and changing all the time. We expect rivers to hit historic levels as early as 4 a.m. tomorrow, lasting into Friday morning.

Make sure you are signed up for emergency alerts with…

— Governor Bob Ferguson (@GovBobFerguson) December 11, 2025

More than 20 river points reached Flood Phase 3 or 4 (the highest level) in Washington. More than 30,000 households lost electricity by Wednesday night.

Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders are in place in multiple areas, including anyone living within the 100-year floodplain of Skagit County and parts of Orting in Pierce County.

Skagit County evacuations

The governor shared via the National Water Prediction Service that the state could see 18 major floods and 15 moderate floods.

“Catastrophic flooding is likely,” Ferguson said on social media. “Please pay close attention to local officials and sign up for emergency alerts with your county.”

In Skagit County, those living in Burlington, La Conner, Lyman, Hamilton, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, and most areas along the Skagit River were told to evacuate as rivers in the county reached record levels.

The Skagit River near Concrete is expected to crest at 43 feet around 10 a.m. Thursday, the Nooksack River at Ferndale is expected to crest at 22 feet by 4 a.m., Friday, and the Skagit River near Mount Vernon is expected to crest at 39 feet around 10 a.m., Friday.

#Skagit River expected to crest at 42 feet – this is the levy holding it back in the flood plain… @KIRONewsradio pic.twitter.com/1KgHnHgCtD

— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) December 11, 2025

The Nooksack River at North Cedarville already crested at a record-breaking 150 feet Thursday morning at 3:30 a.m. The Skagit River near Mount Vernon is forecast to break any previous water-level records.

Watching the Skagit River in the historic flood area… just outside #MountVernon – expected to crest at 42 feet tomorrow! ⁦@KIRONewsradio⁩ ⁦@Mynorthwest⁩ pic.twitter.com/ro4N0ydhPn

— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) December 11, 2025

Western Skagit County and northwestern Snohomish County are under a Flash Flood Watch through late Friday night as the National Weather Service warns of the potential failure of levees and dikes along the Skagit River.

#AtmosphericRiver hitting #MountVernon and the #Skagit River… extreme flooding expected… everyone in the flood plain sandbagging @KIRONewsradio pic.twitter.com/pLIHJmkRNT

— Luke Duecy (@LukeKIRO) December 11, 2025

Three emergency shelters have been established in Skagit County — Concrete High School, located at 7830 S. Superior Ave. in Concrete; the Family Promise at Central United Methodist Church, located at 1013 Polte Rd. in Sedro-Woolley, and the Bethany Covenant Church, located at 1318 S. 18th St. in Mount Vernon.

Pierce County evacuations

Residents in specific areas of South Prairie have been told to evacuate just before 12 p.m. Thursday.

Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation notices were issued for those who live between SR 162 and South Prairie Road E., west to Emery Avenue N.

According to The Tacoma News Tribune, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is going door-to-door to notify people in the area.

Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation notices have been issued for people living between SR 162, east of Rainier Avenue S.E., to Veterans’ Park.

Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations were previously established in Orting on Wednesday.

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue publicly stated that people living in the area of Williams Boulevard N.W., Mellinger Avenue N.W., and Stone Street N.W. need to evacuate now.

An additional Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation order has been issued for community members who live in the area near High Cedars Golf Course community, south of the Puyallup River near 150th Avenue E., 188th Street E., 184th Street E., 176th Street E., 168th Street E., off Pioneer Way E., 177th Street E., and Patterson Road E.

“Please be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” Central Pierce Fire & Rescue.

Evacuation Information for the Orting Community

There is a LEVEL 3- GO NOW evacuation notice for community members that live in the area of Williams Bvld NW, Mellinger Ave NW, and Stone St NW.

There is a LEVEL 2 – BE SET evacuation notice for community members that live in the… pic.twitter.com/o4iuDfks36

— Central Pierce Fire & Rescue (@CentralPierce) December 10, 2025

“River levels within Orting are extremely high. City of Orting levee improvements are working as designed,” Central Pierce & Fire stated. “Our concern is the levees upstream on the Puyallup River in the south end of town. We are actively monitoring river levels in that area.”

Sonomish County evacuations

Just south of Monroe, residents in Tualco Valley were ordered to evacuate by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday evening due to significant flooding expected within all county rivers.

Residents in Sultan did not receive Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders, but officials recommend those living south of Date Avenue and west of Fourth Street to seriously consider evacuating.

Ferguson asks FEMA for emergency declaration

Earlier Wednesday, Ferguson announced he’ll be asking FEMA for an emergency declaration.

“We need the federal government to grant that request. This is critical,” he said at a news conference Wednesday.

Ferguson shared a strong message for Washingtonians.

“We’re praying for, we’re doing everything we can to help you in your situation, and we also ask you to listen carefully to the experts who are providing information to you,” he said.

Atmospheric river to wane Thursday

The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) stated that the atmospheric river should come to an end Thursday due to the weather pattern’s onshore flow finally weakening.

“While the heaviest rainfall is subsiding, lingering rain through Friday will exacerbate ongoing major river flooding, and landslides will continue across portions of western Washington state and northwest Oregon for several days,” WPC said during a forecast discussion.

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