After three days of heavy rainfall, swaths of Western Washington racked up 12 to 16 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle. The skies began to calm on Thursday, Dec. 11, according to NWS, but affected rivers and waterways are still flooded with the excess water dropped by two atmospheric river storms that moved over the region back-to-back.
Also known as "a river in the sky" or "Pineapple Express," atmospheric rivers are long, narrow corridors of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere that form when warmer air from the tropics moves toward the poles ahead of powerful storm fronts. They work similarly to rivers on the ground but can carry more water over thousands of miles.
As the storm subsides, significant river flooding is expected to continue through the weekend, according to the NWS. Drone footage of the Puyallup River, provided by local police, showed overflow beyond its banks into the city on Wednesday, Dec. 10, while the NWS Seattle warned of 16 river points forecast to reach major flooding on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Authorities have urged residents to monitor official updates, watch for water on roads and “drive carefully” as several flood warnings and watches stay in place across the state. A state of emergency is also still in place, with tens of thousands on evacuation watch.
Photos show the aftermath of the torrential downpour, including cars submerged halfway in flood waters and residents using boats to navigate flooded areas.
See photos of devastating flooding in Washington
A drone view shows a person walking between baseball fields flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows a home surrounded by water in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows a property flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.Bob Peterson uses a boat to search for items that floated away from a little league baseball field in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows vehicles in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows baseball fields flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows a home surrounded by water in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows Bob Peterson using a boat to search for items that floated away from a little league baseball field in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A drone view shows farmland in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.A car drives through standing water on Commercial Street SE on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Salem, Ore.A drone view shows an property flooded by the Wallace River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Gold Bar, Washington, U.S., December 10, 2025. REUTERS/David RyderA drone view shows a person walking in floodwaters in an area flooded by the Wallace River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Gold Bar, Washington, U.S., December 10, 2025. REUTERS/David RyderA drone view shows a person stranded in an area flooded by the Wallace River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Gold Bar, Washington, U.S., December 10, 2025. REUTERS/David RyderDeputy Sheriff Kalani Apilado helps Brandon Phasith carry belongings while evacuating amidst rising floodwater, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Sultan, Washington, U.S., December 10, 2025. REUTERS/David RyderA person carries a child through rising floodwater near a sandbagged business entrance, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Sultan, Washington, U.S., December 10, 2025. REUTERS/David RyderA drone view shows a vehicle stranded in an area flooded by the Wallace River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Gold Bar, Washington, U.S., December 10, 2025. REUTERS/David Ryder
Drone view shows heavy floods in Washington and Oregon
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A drone view shows a person walking between baseball fields flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.
A sign warning drivers about flood water is partially covered by water in an area flooded by the Snohomish River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Snohomish, Washington, December 11, 2025.A drone view shows Bob Peterson using a boat to search for items that floated away from a little league baseball field in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.Rescue personnel carry luggage for evacuated residents in an area flooded by the Snohomish River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Snohomish, Washington, December 11, 2025.
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A drone view shows homes in an area flooded by the Snohomish River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Snohomish, Washington, December 11, 2025.Bob Peterson uses a boat to search for items that floated away from a little league baseball field in an area flooded by the Snoqualmie River, as an atmospheric river brings rain and flooding to the Pacific Northwest, in Fall City, Washington, U.S., December 9, 2025.
Contributing: Reuters, Jeanine Santucci, Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
