A weekend respite from downpours in Western Washington will come to a close Sunday evening, as another round of showers and heavy wind will hit communities that have already weathered several days of flooding.
The next atmospheric river will wash over Western Washington between Sunday night and Monday night, followed by another weather system Tuesday into Wednesday, said Harrison Rademacher, a meteorologist with the Seattle office of the National Weather Service.
This cycle isn’t expected to bring as much rain as last week’s torrent, but Rademacher urged residents, especially those who live near rivers, to keep an eye on changing conditions and possible flood warnings.
“We still have quite a bit of swelling on the rivers,” he said. “Winds will start to pick up — and when the ground’s also wet, it’ll be easier for trees and poles to come down.”
Here’s what we know about ongoing flood impacts and what’s to come.
What’s the forecast?
Most of Sunday will feature cloudy skies, with rain beginning later in the evening. A wind advisory is planned from 10 p.m. Sunday through 10 p.m. Monday, as gusts are expected to range between 40 and 45 miles per hour in most areas of Western Washington, according to Rademacher.
Along the coast, some areas could see gusts up to 55 miles per hour, the NWS meteorologist said.
Rademacher predicted high temperatures in the mid-50s for the Seattle area on Sunday, with temps in the lower 40s in the mountains. He predicted those highs will drop a couple of degrees as the week progresses.
Flood warnings remain in place for the Cedar, Green and White rivers in King County, as well as the Skagit River and the Cowlitz River near the Mayfield Dam.
Where have evacuations been ordered?
Floodwaters forced tens of thousands of Washingtonians out of their homes last week, as officials issued evacuation orders in parts of Chelan, Snohomish, Skagit, Pierce and Whatcom counties.
On Friday and Saturday, many people were able to return home and begin to survey the floods’ damage. Other areas,are facing new evacuation orders this weekend as the region’s rivers continue to overflow.
Late Saturday night, residents in parts of South King County, including in Auburn and Kent, were ordered to leave their homes immediately while major roads were still accessible.
What roads are closed?
A large stretch of Highway 2 between Skykomish and Leavenworth remained closed Sunday morning.
Parts of Highway 167 in Kent and Auburn, between South 212th Street and 15th Street Northwest, are also still shut down due to water pouring over the roadway. There is no estimated time for reopening, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The right lane is closed on eastbound Highway 516, near Reith Road in Kent, along with the eastbound offramp on Highway 18, according to WSDOT.
Information about other closures is available on the state’s real-time travel map.
How have elected officials supported relief efforts?
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, calling in the National Guard and requesting assistance from the federal government. On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration to unlock short-term help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Ferguson praised the president’s decision but noted that the state of long-term aid remains unclear.
U.S. senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, along with U.S. representatives Suzan DelBene and Kim Schrier, visited hard-hit parts of the state on Saturday to hear about the ongoing response effort and to express gratitude to first responders.
How can you help?
Local agencies, national rescue organizations and community groups have responded as flooding continues, including the American Red Cross, United Way, the Skagit Community Foundation and the Evergreen State Fair Park, among others.
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs activated the state’s disaster relief center on Thursday, encouraging people to consider donating to a range of crisis-relief organizations. State employees and retirees can make a one-time donation or set up a monthly payroll deduction through the combined fund drive.
For more information on specific charities involved or to set up a contribution, visit give.wa.gov.
Elise Takahama: 206-464-2241 or etakahama@seattletimes.com. Elise Takahama is a health reporter at The Seattle Times, where she writes about public health issues, the business of health care, medical research and health equity gaps in Washington.