Flooding

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says high tide flooding has become more common as sea levels rise and is affecting residents of coastal towns and states. Floods that used to only occur during large storms now occur more regularly from simple causes.

A strong storm fueled by an “atmospheric river” brought rain, snow and threat of flooding and avalanches on Monday to the Pacific Northwest. Forecasters said a new daily rainfall record was set in Seattle Monday with 2.33 inches of rain and the rainfall total over 48 hours was close to surpassing the normal precipitation for all of February.

The main east-west highway in Washington state reopened over the mountain passes after being closed for almost four days due to a winter storm that made travel too dangerous.

At least one person was missing and presumed dead as snow turned to rain and deluged the Pacific Northwest, causing flooding, landslides and avalanche danger in the mountains.

The latest storm to hit the Pacific Northwest brought flood warnings, the shutdown of mountain passes, school closures and icy roads Thursday.

State health officials are investigating the three omicron variant COVID-19 cases confirmed in Washington so far. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins and KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick look at that response and other issues facing state government right now.

Officials are asking residents in northwest Washington to remain vigilant as another atmospheric river brings heavy rain to an area that experienced severe flooding earlier this month. A flood watch is in effect Tuesday through Thursday for Whatcom County.

Localized flooding in Washington from another in a series of rainstorms doesn't appear to be as severe as an extreme weather flooding event earlier in the month.

The Nooksack River registered some of its highest flood levels ever in the recent flooding that authorities now say caused as much as $50 million in damages. But that doesn’t fully account for the impact on salmon runs and habitat restoration work managed by area tribes.

Damages from flooding last week in northwest Washington’s Whatcom County could reach as high as $50 million, officials said, as forecasters warn that multiple “atmospheric rivers” may drench the Pacific Northwest in the coming days.