Voluntary evacuations requested due to potential flooding in Northwest
The potential for flooding in the Northwest has prompted evacuation advisories for some residents.
In Washington state, flood watches have been issued for Whatcom County, Skagit County, Snohomish County and King County, according to The Seattle Times.
In Whatcom County, residents in Sumas and Everson have been advised to voluntarily evacuate from their homes.
"Life safety is our primary concern. Road closures begin as early as 4 a.m. Sunday," the alert stated, according to The Bellingham Herald.
Whatcom County said in a news release that the Nooksack River, which flows across much of the region, is expected to crest in a moderate flood range.
"There is uncertainty with how changes to the river channel and damages to the levee system may impact the flooding that results from this storm. Comparing data from past storms to what is predicted, the upcoming storm system appears similar to what occurred during the 2020 'Superbowl Flood,'" the county said.
Steve Reedy, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told the Times that most rivers in the region will likely reach a flood stage by early Sunday. Though flooding to the degree that was seen a few weeks ago is not expected, Reedy warned that continuous rainfall could have created a "compounding issue."
"We really didn't get the chance to know what damage and changes were made to the rivers," he said. "There's a little bit of unpredictability about what will occur with this current round."
