In western Washington, severe weather has led to significant flooding and evacuation orders. A levee breach along the Green River, situated east of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, has exacerbated the situation. This incident occurred near Tukwila around noon local time on Monday, coinciding with ongoing rainfall from an atmospheric river.
Levee Breach Details
The Desimone levee, designed to protect over 30,000 residents in Tukwila, Kent, and Renton, failed due to rising water levels. Local authorities have urged people to evacuate the area to ensure safety. A King County Office of Emergency Management representative emphasized this warning early Monday afternoon.
Impact of the Flooding
- A flash flood warning has been issued for more than 45,000 residents in the affected regions.
- The Green River has risen approximately 15 feet over the past week, due to continuous torrential rain.
- When the levee breached, water levels reached nearly 22 feet, marking the highest point in 60 years.
Recent Weather Conditions
Last week, the area faced historic flooding as earlier storms brought record rainfall, drastically raising river levels. The state continues to deal with the aftermath of these floods, as ongoing rainfall from a new atmospheric river poses additional risks.
Upcoming Weather Forecast
As Monday’s storm continues to affect parts of Washington, Oregon, and far northwestern California, rivers are again rising, leading to heightened landslide threats in mountainous areas. A colder atmospheric river is expected to bring further rain from Tuesday through Wednesday, prolonging the recovery efforts and keeping rivers elevated.
Potential Future Storms
The state is preparing for another storm system to arrive on Thursday, with predictions of increased rain, wind, and high elevation snow. This could potentially complicate recovery from the recent flooding and increase the risk of more levee breaches.
This is an ongoing situation with developments expected to unfold rapidly. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather forecasts and heed local emergency management instructions.
