Western WA flooding could break all-time records as atmospheric river unleashes historic rainfall

Meteorologist Scott Sistek said some rivers are approaching their worst-ever levels, with 12 waterways reaching “major” flood stage across the region.

Western Washington is experiencing one of its most severe flood events in decades after a powerful atmospheric river dumped record rainfall. The Skagit and Snohomish rivers are threatening to surpass historic crests, with meteorologists warning that some communities could see the worst flooding ever recorded.

There is, however, a small silver lining: forecast models have pulled back slightly from their most extreme predictions, and the worst of the rain has already passed.

“For some rivers, we’re talking about breaking all-time records,” Scott Sistek, meteorologist and author of the Emerald City Weather Blog , told “ Seattle’s Mornin