Heavy rains have increased the potential for record-breaking levels of the Skagit River, prompting local officials to order evacuations.
A flood warning remains in place Wednesday evening for the Skagit River near Mount Vernon and Concrete as well as portions of Whatcom County, including Everson and Sumas along the Nooksack River. The Skagit River remains in moderate and minor flood stages while the Nooksack is in minor flood stage.
In Skagit County, the Skagit River in Concrete is expected to crest at 48 feet around 4 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11. The Skagit River in Mount Vernon is expected to crest at 42 feet around 4 a.m., Friday, Dec. 12. Meanwhile, the Nooksack River is expected to crest at 150 feet Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. The Nooksack River in Ferndale will crest at 22 feet around 4 p.m., Thursdsay.
Rain is anticipated overnight in Bellingham and Mount Vernon on Wednesday into Thursday evening. Up to an inch of rain is possible, according to the National Weather Service. Rain may taper off Thursday morning in the region before picking up in the afternoon.
Mount Vernon, and upriver communities of Hamilton, Rockport, Marblemount and Concrete are ordered to evacuate to high ground as soon as possible, the county said. All residents living in the 100-year floodplain should be prepared for an evacuation notice within the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile in Whatcom County, the South Fork Nooksack River at Saxon Bridge was last observed at 6.49 feet and is expected to reach 10.81 feet at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. This level would be considered major flooding.
The Nooksack River at North Cedarville is expected to crest at 150.08 feet at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, which would be major flooding. It was last observed at 146.8 feet at 2:15 p.m.
The Samish River near Burlington is projected to crest at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. That river gauge shows only a measure of river flow, not height. At its peak, the river is expected to be flowing at 11,327.53 cubic feet per second, which is considered major flooding. It is currently flowing at 2,880 cubic feet per second, a minor flooding rate.
This story will be updated throughout the day. See more:
6:29 p.m.
Wednesday evening, Skagit Regional Health closed its Riverbend and Station Square clinics due to the area flood advisory. They will remain closed on Thursday, a hospital spokesperson told CDN.
Skagit Valley’s hospitals remain open and all other Skagit Regional Health clinics are operating normal hours, but conditions are changing, the spokesperson said.
The hospital will be updating this page frequently, so check back for updates as conditions change.
5:35 p.m.
Nearly 400 Bellingham residents are without power around Northridge Park as of 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. The outage began around 12:34 p.m. due to an equipment failure, according to Puget Sound Energy’s Outage Map. Power restoration is estimated for 6 p.m. Wednesday.
5:08 p.m.
Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale is closed due to flooding. This includes Tennant Lake Boardwalk, Fragrance Garden, boat launch and all park trails.
“The park will remain closed until floodwaters recede and park inspections are completed,” the county said in a notice.
5:06 p.m.
Skagit County will close non-essential services due to flooding. That includes all district court and superior court services, the county announced in a news release at 5 p.m.
“This decision has been made to ensure the safety of our employees and residents, and to allow emergency response teams the ability to focus on critical operations,” the county said in the release. “County officials are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local and state agencies to respond to the impacts of the flood.”
Essential services, including emergency management, public safety and road maintenance, will continue to operate.
“Residents are also encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel, stay informed through official channels, and follow any evacuation or safety advisories issued by local authorities,” the county said.
5 p.m.
A screenshot of Mount Vernon’s emergency evacuation areas and routes. (Photo courtesy of City of Mount Vernon)
Mount Vernon has issued a Level 3 evacuation. All people within the flood plain should leave immediately.
“Follow directions from 911, police, fire departments, or local government agencies,” agencies announced on Facebook. “Do not return home until officials have determined it is safe.”
The American Red Cross is opening a shelter at the First United Methodist Church, 1607 E Division St.
4:27 p.m.
Nooksack Valley Food Bank will be closed tomorrow in Everson and Sumas due to flooding.
4:15 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen wrote on social media at 1:06 p.m. that his office is working with emergency responders and local and federal leaders “to ensure your safety and a rapid and successful recovery effort.”
“I encourage everyone to review flood preparedness guidelines and take appropriate precautions,” he wrote.
4:02 p.m.
Lummi Nation has declared a state of emergency due to “severe flooding, hazardous travel conditions, and rapidly rising water levels across the Lummi Reservation.”
Of the four roads out of the reservation, three of the four are closed as of Wednesday afternoon.
“Continued tidal influence, rainfall or additional flooding may result in the Reservation becoming temporarily isolated until conditions improve,” vice-chairman of the Lummi Indian Business Council Terrence Adams wrote in a news release.
The Lummi Nation will fully activate the emergency management team and incident command system, mobilize tribal resources for safety and emergency response, support transportation, shelter, medical access and emergency operations if needed, and coordinate with local and federal partners for assistance.
3:47 p.m.
Flooding in Sumas is imminent, said the city government at 3:34 p.m., and residents should evacuate. City officials will shortly be sounding the flood sirens at city hall, according to a Go Alert shared by the City of Sumas.
Residents should leave as soon as possible, as the evacuation routes out of Sumas will be closed once the water reaches them. Shut off utility mains, alert family and neighbors, dress appropriately, and ensure you have your emergency Go bag, the city said.
Sumas said there will be emergency shelters posted for people who have nowhere to go.
3:36 p.m.
The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office has mobilized to help provide assistance to local fire resources in Skagit and Snohomish Counties. At least four swift water rescue teams are in place to help in response efforts.
Level 3 evacuations are in effect across Snohomish and Skagit counties. Flood waters are threatening hospitals, jails and adult living facilities as well as homes.
3:29 p.m.
Gabriel Mercado, 29, owns District Brewing in downtown Mount Vernon. His restaurant is directly behind the flood walls keeping the Skagit River at bay. On Wednesday afternoon, Mercado piled sandbags high at the doors and used black duct tape to seal the doors shut.
Two years ago, the flood walls held up, Mercado said. But at the time, the water was right under the top of the wall.
Gabriel Mercado stands in front of his doors at District Brewing in downtown Mount Vernon. (Annie Todd/Cascadia Daily News)
“So if it’s supposed to be 5 feet above that, I mean the water can just slip all the way down,” he said. “Luckily we are up on the hill, so it’s just gonna smack my front door and then hopefully head on down.”
Another Mount Vernon resident, Jeremy Holmes, works at the Porterhouse Pub. He also serves in the National Guard and has been activated to help with flood efforts. He’s a born and raised Skagit Valley resident and knows that floods are just a part of life.
“It’s not a matter of if we flood, it’s a matter of where and when,” he said. “Everyone wants to act like [the flood is] the first time and it’s the worst. But a flood’s a flood, and we just deal with them.”
3:21 p.m.
Amtrak trains operating between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, are suspended Dec. 11–12. Alternate bus transportation may not be available due to flooding.
3:04 p.m.
The City of Ferndale has advised residents that several areas in Ferndale are likely to be impacted by flooding:
- South of Main Street between 4th Avenue and the Nooksack River
- The Whatcom Transportation Authority Ferndale Station facility, the Ferndale Food Bank and the Pilot/McDonald’s retail complex
- 1580 Main St., 1625 Main St., and the vicinity
- South of Washington Street and east of 2nd Avenue, north and east of BNSF railway
Residents can seek shelter and hot food at the Ferndale Severe Weather Shelter at the United Church of Ferndale (2034 Washington Street) and Good News Fellowship (1252 Axton Road). People can contact the shelter at 360-380-2200, and the fellowship at 360-510-5096.
2:27 p.m.
The Lummi Indian Business Council is closing many of its services early today due to flooding impacts. The LIBC offices and Lummi Clinic will close at 2:30 p.m. Lummi CARE will operate with a limited crew until normal closing time.
“The Emergency Management Team will assess king tide impacts tomorrow at 5:00 AM,” Lummi Communications said in a Facebook post. “A decision regarding Tribal operations for Thursday, 12/11/2025 will be made immediately after.”
2:19 p.m.
At the Sumas Historical Society & Museum, staff are moving precious items to the second floor. Jessica Koehler, Sumas City Council member, was at the museum Wednesday. She pointed out the watermark from the 2021 flood on a vintage filing cabinet.
Jessica Koehler, Sumas City Council member, shows watermarks from the 2021 flood at the Sumas Historical Society & Museum. (Owen Racer/Cascadia Daily News)
2:17 p.m.
Volunteers and Everson City employees work in the rain, filling sandbags and distributing them for free to community members at the Everson City Public Works Shop.
“Everyone is pretty calm, they’re just trying to stay ahead of it,” said Wayne Brester, with All Phase Excavating. Brester was in charge of dumping loads of sand into the top of the Megga Bagger.
As the team bucket brigade quickly filled up the beds of trucks and the trunks of cars with sandbags, a line of cars stretched out the facility gates, down the road and around a corner with people patiently waiting for their turn.
People fill sandbags in Everson. (Isaac Stone Simonelli/Cascadia Daily News)
2:14 p.m.
Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency Wednesday afternoon.
“I have declared a statewide emergency, and I will be requesting an expedited emergency declaration from the federal government today,” he said in a news release. “We need the federal government to grant that request. This situation is extremely serious. The next few days are critical.”
The declaration will mean Washington can seek federal funds to aid in recovery. Ferguson also activated the National Guard. Brionna Ago, a spokesperson with the Governor’s Office, told CDN that the Guard will be staging tonight in the Marysville area and will be ready to respond to requests from Skagit County.
Ferguson urged Washingtonians to listen to alerts and evacuation orders from counties and emergency management departments.
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu also signed an emergency proclamation on Wednesday afternoon. The proclamation allows the government to quickly combat emergency situations and provide appropriate assistance to flood victims.
Sen. Maria Cantwell on X (formerly Twitter) at 1:35 p.m. said that she is “alarmed to hear that the Skagit River will peak 4-5 feet above the record crest level.”
“Please please please stay alert and follow evacuation orders,” Cantwell said. “This is not just another flood.”
2:11 p.m.
Little Squalicum Pier is closed until further notice due to large sinkholes appearing on the trail, according to a Bellingham Parks and Recreation Facebook post. High tides and wave action are expected to have caused the damage.
People should avoid the pier until repairs can be made.
1:37 p.m.
Near Concrete, the Skagit River is on the verge of reaching 30 feet, which is considered “moderate” flooding in that area. It was last observed at 29.82 feet at 1:15 p.m., according to the National Water Predication Service.
A gauge near Mount Vernon registered 27.14 feet at 12:15 p.m., just under the 28 feet considered minor flooding in that area. The Samish River near Burlington was still lower than minor flooding levels as of 12:15 p.m. At both these points, water levels are well above the level at which NOAA recommends action from local governments.
The Nooksack River near North Cedarville is about to reach minor flooding levels as well, while the portion of the river near Ferndale is lower but still above the “action” stage.
12:35 p.m.
Jon DeJong, of Eaglemill Farms near Lynden, said his farm hasn’t had too many issues with severe flooding in the past. The roads being closed are an inconvenience, though. One of the greater difficulties, he said, is ensuring the safety of employees.
As someone who’s had to deal with this before, DeJong said he knows “where you can go and where you can’t go.” He doesn’t want people working for him to “try to drive through water that they shouldn’t drive through.”
There’s not a whole lot the farm can do to prepare, he said. Flooding just “makes a lot more work, and it’s wet doing it.”
12:32 p.m.
Flooding could occur in low-lying areas near the Nooksack, and could overflow near Everson and impact nearby communities, Whatcom County Public Works said in a news release issued on Dec. 10.
Community members can get free sand and sandbags on a first-come, first-served basis from the Northwest Annex at 5280 Northwest Drive. Sandbags are not prefilled. People filling sandbags should enter the property from Northwest Drive.
12:03 p.m.
Western Washington University said in a statement released Dec. 10 that staff are continuing to monitor ongoing flooding and are in contact with local and regional weather authorities “to support safety and preparedness.”
11:59 a.m.
The City of Sumas issued a flood warning at 11:20 a.m.
“We are expecting flooding to occur soon,” the city wrote in a Facebook post. “It is now time to act as soon as possible.”
Residents are urged to gather a go bag and any items they might need if an evacuation order is issued, maintain a list of emergency contacts, locate and be ready to shut off your gas, electric and water mains, and contact friends and neighbors. Do not attempt to shut off your electric system while standing in water.
A map shows where people can pick up sandbags in Sumas. (Photo courtesy of City of Sumas)
“Next Steps: If an evacuation order is issued, and you are physically unable to evacuate your home, please call emergency services at 360-599-2823 and you will be placed on our evacuation list to receive assistance in the evacuation process,” the city said in its post.
Sandbags are available to residents at the City Shop on Kneuman Road until 7 p.m. tonight.
11:29 a.m.
Hamilton City Hall remains open for now as rain pours. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)
Kym Eldridge, the town clerk for Hamilton, said people are taking the forecast seriously.
“It’s an almost unthinkable number, 47. A lot of people are worried. This is a worst-case scenario,” she said. “The biggest thing is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It’s not worth putting yourself in danger.”
She said many residents have already left town. For those who don’t use social media, she recommends checking the county website for updates.
“Eventually, I’ll be shutting down roads,” Eldridge said.
The Red Cross is working with the town to stand up an evacuation center this afternoon.
11:24 a.m.
The Army Corps of Engineers took over the management of Ross Dam from Seattle City Light at about 2 p.m. on Monday in anticipation of flooding.
The trigger for that is reliant on the forecast of inflows at Concrete, said Jenn Strang, a media relations manager with City Light. A specific number has to be surpassed within an eight-hour period.
“[The Army Corps of Engineers] step in like eight hours before the forecast thinks that the river will hit that mark and in this case, knowing what they knew, they actually stepped in earlier. They stepped in a day and a half ahead,” Strang said.
As of about an hour ago, Ross Lake was about 15 feet shy of what is considered full, Strang confirmed.
Seattle City Light is using its cameras to keep an eye out for debris hazards both above and below the dam.
11:08 a.m.
The Nooksack Indian Tribe announced that its tribal administration building and health clinic would be closing at noon today due to inclement weather.
“Please travel safely, check on elders and vulnerable family members, and use caution on local roads,” the tribe wrote in a Facebook post.
10:59 a.m.
As of Wednesday morning, the Skagit River is still contained by its dikes, but late Thursday and early Friday, “is when we will be put to the test,” said Jason Vander Kooy, commissioner for Dike District 1 west of Mount Vernon.
“I’m worried, but we’re doing all we can right now,” he said, noting the district has “multiple operations going” to secure low areas of the dikes.
If the river rises higher than about 37 or 38 feet, “it’s a problem for us.” Vander Kooy is also concerned about water seeping under the dikes.
“Our dikes are in real good shape,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of projects over the last 20 years. But we’re only as strong as our weakest link.”
10:54 a.m.
PeaceHealth leaders at all three hospitals are closely monitoring weather updates and forecasts, a spokesperson said.
“With Skagit County facing the most serious flood risk, United General in Sedro-Woolley has activated Incident Command and is holding regular briefings with department leaders. We’ll be communicating with caregivers there as needed,” according to PeaceHealth.
10:20 a.m.
Gov. Bob Ferguson tweeted Wednesday morning asking Washingtonians to stay alert for flood warnings from officials.
“Many Rivers in Western Washington are forecasted to reach major flooding levels,” he said. “For example, Skagit County is asking those in low-lying, flood-prone areas to prepare for possible evacuation.”
