Washington may face ‘atmospheric rivers’ days after flooding

Washington state may face the threat of “atmospheric rivers” nearly a week after the area witnessed damaging floods. Forecasters said the phenomenon could once again drench the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. 

More moisture from atmospheric rivers — huge plumes of moisture extending over the Pacific and into the Northwest — is expected to bring up to 3 inches of rain in some areas hit by the recent flooding, according to reports Associated Press citing forecasters. 

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The United States National Weather Service said that moderate to heavy rain can be expected in the area through Wendesday, as the first in a series of systems move across the region.

Washington continues to assess millions of dollars in damage from the last atmospheric rivers that devasted the state earlier this month. Whatcom County, one of the main regions to be impacted, has reportedly sustained damages amounting as high as $50 million.

Whatcom County officials said that the damage for recent flooding was estimated at $15 million to $20 million for houses, “tens of millions of dollars” for public infrastructure and up to $20 million for area business centers, the Bellingham Herald reported on Tuesday.

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Rain drenched the county for three days and the Nooksack River surged over its banks November 14, inundating the communities of Everson, Nooksack and Sumas.

During that time the United States -Canada border closed in the small city of Sumas, three bridges in Bellingham were closed and landslides blocked Interstate 5 south of Bellingham, according to reports from Associated Press.

Jon Hutchings, director of the Whatcom County Public Works Department, said it’s been 30-plus years since the flooding of this scale hit the area.

Meanwhile, damage assessments have continued in 13 other western Washington counties that Governor Jay Inslee declared as disaster areas with the hope of getting federal aid.