Skagit River reaches major flood level, highest since 2006, Washington

After a week of relentless rain, the Skagit River near the city of Mount Vernon in Washington reached major flood levels of 9.7 m (32 feet) at 22:00 PST on Thursday, November 23, 2017 (06:00 UTC, November 24). Flood stage is at 8.5 m (28 feet).

Flooding closed more than a dozen roads in Skagit County and forced authorities to prepare for possible evacuation of some 250 people on Thanksgiving Day.

The river crested at 10.10 m (33.15 feet) at 14:30 UTC, November 24 and is down to 10.02 m (32.88 feet) as of 18:15 UTC (10:15 PST). 

The last time this river was nearly as high as today was on November 7, 2006 when a crest of 10.31 m (33.85 feet) occurred, the National Weather Service office in Seattle said.

The City of Mount Vernon said the new flood wall is working as expected. Photos below courtesy of the city show south end of flood wall and downtown section:

Skagit River near Mount Vernon, WA on November 24, 2017. Credit: City of Mount Vernon, WA

Skagit River near Mount Vernon, WA on November 24, 2017. Credit: City of Mount Vernon, WA

Skagit River near Mount Vernon, WA on November 24, 2017. Credit: City of Mount Vernon, WA

Skagit River near Mount Vernon, WA on November 24, 2017. Credit: City of Mount Vernon, WA

The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 241 km (150 miles) long.

Featured image: Skagit River, WA on November 24, 2017. Credit: Benjamin Jurkovich