Flooding Breaches Washington Levee
Days of heavy rain triggered widespread flooding in western Washington, claiming the life of one person near Seattle on Tuesday.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office announced the death of the man who drove through warning signs and was submerged in 6 feet of water in a ditch. Rescue crews responded to the scene but the man, believed to be 33 years old, was found dead early Tuesday. It occurred near Snohomish, northeast of Seattle.
Meanwhile, a new flash flood warning was issued overnight in King County, Washington, after another levee failed. Early Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle confirmed a breach of the White River in the city of Pacific and announced an evacuation notice for the city.
Residents told local news station KOMO that they heard helicopters telling them to evacuate.
The NWS said HESCOS on the White River were failing. HESCOS are barriers filled with sand or soil, designed to protect against flooding.
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Tuesday morning’s emergency follows a breach in the Desimone Levee on the Green River on Monday afternoon, just days after historic flooding battered parts of the state.
Floodwaters moved toward Interstate 405, threatening nearby neighborhoods, businesses and critical access routes.
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Crews inspect a crack in a levee along the Green River in Tukwila, Washington, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.
(AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
A “GO NOW” evacuation notice was in effect for residents and businesses east of the Green River, particularly in the Orillia area of Tukwila, as well as parts of Renton, Kent, and Auburn.
Officials warned that conditions were extremely dangerous and deteriorating quickly.
The flash flood warning covered nearly 47,000 people, but was reduced within a few hours to an area covering 7,000 people.
Authorities in Renton and Tukwila said Monday afternoon that the flooding was confined to small, industrial areas and that no residents were being evacuated.
The levee failures follow days of heavy rain and widespread flooding that inundated communities, forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and led to numerous water rescues across western Washington.
Compounding the danger, another atmospheric river is expected to impact the region through Tuesday, bringing additional heavy rain and gusty winds that could worsen flooding and further destabilize riverbanks and levees.
Emergency management officials continue to monitor the situation and urge anyone in low-lying or flood-prone areas to move to higher ground immediately.
Residents are advised to stay tuned to official alerts and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
