Powerful wind gusts knocked out power to more than 500,000 customers across Washington and Oregon early Wednesday, as the latest atmospheric river intensified over the flood-devastated region. The Skagit River forecast indicates it will rise back into major flood stage early Wednesday. While record levels are not expected, major flooding would still result in significant impacts in this already hard-hit area. Thursday, the highest risk for flash flooding looks to shift more southward, over coastal regions of Oregon and then Northern California by Friday.
SEATTLE – Powerful wind gusts knocked out power to more than 500,000 customers across Washington and Oregon early Wednesday, as the latest atmospheric river intensified over the flood-devastated Pacific Northwest.
U.S. COAST GUARD HEROES JOIN FOX WEATHER TO DISCUSS DRAMATIC BACK-TO-BACK RESCUE OPERATIONS THAT SAVED FOUR LIVES
This powerful storm is beginning to move out of the region, dropping heavy rain and renewing the threat of river flooding after rivers reached record heights last week in Washington. Meanwhile, yet another atmospheric river is forecast to arrive in this same area Thursday.
(FOX Weather)
Powerful wind gusts compounded the existing power outages caused by the ongoing flooding across Washington early Wednesday.
WATCH: DRONE VIDEO SHOWS FLOODING ACROSS PACIFIC, WASHINGTON AFTER LEVEE FAILURE
A 71 mph wind gust was clocked at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound, and a 138 mph gale was recorded on Mount Hood, Oregon.
Early Wednesday, power outages impacted more than 350,000 customers in Washington and another 200,000 in Oregon.
Powerful wind gusts knock over semi-truck on US 195 in Colton, Washington on Wednesday morning.
(@WSDOT_East/X)
Washington’s Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said trees were downed on U.S. Highway 101 south of Aberdeen Wednesday morning as well as on State Route 161 south of Puyallup.
Both high winds and fallen trees closed the White Pass across the Cascade Mountains on Wednesday. WSDOT officials posted images on social media of a semi-truck that was toppled by wind gusts on U.S. 195 outside of Colton, in the southeastern part of the state near the Idaho border.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIGH WIND WARNINGS
The NWS issued a rare Severe Thunderstorm Warning for that area Wednesday morning, highlighting the potential for destructive wind gusts.
High Wind Warnings are in effect across northwest and west central Washington through Wednesday morning.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the Skagit River in northwestern Washington is expected to rise back into major flood stage Wednesday. While record levels are not expected, major flooding would still result in significant impacts in this already hard-hit area.
WASHINGTON COUNTIES GRAPPLING WITH RECOVERY AMID ONGOING FLOOD CONCERNS
That comes after flash flooding was reported across parts of the Greater Seattle area in King County, where two levees have failed since Monday.
PACIFIC, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 16: In an aerial view, a neighborhood is engulfed in floodwater on December 16, 2025 in Pacific, Washington. Evacuations have been ordered in 3 suburbs south of Seattle after recent levee failure. Atmospheric rivers are expected to continue in the coming days as northern Washington continues reeling back from historic flooding late last week. Mass flooding along the Pacific Northwest caused historic flooding, tens of thousands of evacuations, and dozens of Coast Guard rescues.
((Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) / Getty Images)
County officials had to rescue people from their homes in the city of Pacific early Tuesday after a levee failure allowed the White River to spill into neighborhoods.
DIRECTOR OF KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPEAKS ABOUT FLOODING, LEVEE FAILURES
Another levee failed Monday afternoon along the Green River in Tukwilla, some 20 miles north of the Pacific, and repairs are underway. No injures have been reported associated with either levee break.
EVACUATION ZONE: FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is in King County, WA where a levee broke amid life-threatening flooding. Evacuation orders have been issued throughout the area.
Meanwhile, the first death associated with Washington’s historic flooding was reported Tuesday when Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department said a man drowned after he drove his car onto a flooded road, just south of Snohomish.
ONE PERSON KILLED AFTER DROWNING ON FLOODED ROAD AMID HISTORIC INUNDATION, LEVEE FAILURES ACROSS WASHINGTON
According to the state, several heavily-used roads remain inundated.
Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a news conference Tuesday that a long stretch of U.S. Highway 2, a major cross-state highway through the Cascade Mountains, is expected to remain closed for months between Skykomish and Leavenworth due to major washouts.
U.S. Highway 2 washed out in Tumwater Canyon.
(WSDOT/Facebook.)
“There’s a major, major issue on that highway,” Gov. Ferguson said. He went on to say that he expects many residents and businesses will be impacted by the closure.
Nearly a dozen other state highways closed due to flooding, according to officials. WSDOT has repaired approximately 60 roads since the flooding started last week.
HISTORIC FLOODING SUBMERGES WASHINGTON FARM
Gov. Ferguson said the state is already working to obtain emergency support for the 14 counties impacted by flooding and is providing $3.5 million for short-term relief.
Gov. Ferguson issued a State of Emergency last Wednesday and President Trump approved Washington’s Emergency Declaration, allowing FEMA to help the state with disaster relief.
Ominous clouds loom over Seattle on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, as latest atmospheric river begins to intensify.
(Robert Ray/FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
Another atmospheric river targets the Pacific Northwest Thursday
After a brief reprieve Wednesday afternoon, colder air is expected to move into the region on Thursday, allowing for heavy mountain snow and rain at lower elevations.
Flood Watches have once again been issued across Washington and Oregon, including the Seattle area, through Thursday.
A Flood Warning has been extended for the Skagit River in Mount Vernon and Concrete, Washington.
(FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, increased snowfall in the mountains will help limit additional flooding.
WINTER STORM WATCH EXPLAINED: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND WHEN IS IT ISSUED?
Winter Weather Advisories are now in effect across the southern Cascades through Wednesday, with over a foot of snow likely at higher elevations and Blizzard Warnings have been issued across the higher terrain of the northern Cascades as well as the Olympic Mountains.
(FOX Weather)
On Thursday, the highest risk for flooding is expected to shift south over coastal regions of Oregon before moving into Northern California by Friday.
