A second levee failed just outside of Seattle as rivers once again surge from more atmospheric river-fueled rain, setting off deadly flooding in parts of western Washington. Precautionary evacuations were ordered for around 1,

Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam also remains under flood warnings on Tuesday, “until further notice,” as the river flow has risen above 25,000 cfs—the flood stage threshold. Flooding is expected from Mayfield Dam downstream through Toledo, covering farmlands and roads, mainly near Toledo, as flows stay near 29,000 cfs through Wednesday.

While flooding may not reach the historic levels seen last week, a KIRO 7 meteorologist said the overall impacts could actually be worse.

Inside the cockpit of a NOAA Gulfstream IV during an atmospheric river mission in February 2025. Image credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego.

(THE CONVERSATION) Along the U.S. West Coast, atmospheric rivers are dreaded for the damage they can cause, but they are also essential to the region’s snowpack and water supply, as Qian Cao, a hydrologist at the University of California, San Diego, explains.

Washington is prone to intense spells of fall rainfall, but these storms have been exceptional, and more rain is on the way this weekend.

Two landslides have triggered evacuation warnings for some neighborhoods. Now with more rain in the forecast, the situation could get worse.

Lots of sun, along with periodic high clouds, and temperatures from the mid 60s to the low 70s are still in that forecast for the Kern River Valley, Desert and Kern County mountains this week. Breeziness will become more common by mid to late week as pressure gradients tighten but all-in-all these areas have the easier forecast.