Severe Storms Wreak Havoc in Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest

A series of powerful storms have unleashed heavy rainfall and severe winter conditions across the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest, leading to widespread flooding, power outages, and hazardous travel.

Beginning December 9, 2025, the Pacific Northwest has been inundated by an unusually long atmospheric river, resulting in significant flooding and emergency rescues. Simultaneously, the Upper Midwest faces a fast-moving winter storm bringing freezing rain, snow, and high winds, causing travel advisories and school closures.

Pacific Northwest Impact

In Oregon and Washington, heavy rainfall has led to substantial flooding, road closures, power outages, and school closures. Emergency responders have conducted high-water rescues, including using inflatable kayaks to assist stranded individuals near Seattle. Major rivers are expected to crest later in the week, raising concerns about further flooding.

The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and warned of potential flash flooding along the coast and into the Cascade Mountains through midweek. An atmospheric river, described as a "jet stream of moisture" from the Pacific Ocean, is responsible for the heavy rainfall and over a foot of snow in the northern Rockies.

Upper Midwest Impact

In the Upper Midwest, including North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, a fast-moving storm has brought freezing rain, snow, and high winds up to 65 mph. These conditions have prompted travel advisories, school closures, and hazardous commuting conditions. The storm is expected to move into the Great Lakes region by Wednesday.

Social and Societal Implications

The storms have disrupted daily life, causing school closures and power outages, and have posed significant risks to public safety due to flooding and hazardous travel conditions. Emergency services have been stretched, conducting numerous rescues and responding to widespread incidents. The economic impact includes damage to infrastructure, potential loss of business, and increased emergency response costs.

Background Information

Atmospheric rivers are narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere that can lead to heavy rainfall and flooding when they make landfall. The Pacific Northwest is particularly susceptible to these events due to its geographic location and topography. The Upper Midwest frequently experiences winter storms, but the combination of freezing rain, snow, and high winds in this event has created particularly hazardous conditions.

Factual Details

• Pacific Northwest:
• Flooding and Rescues: Emergency responders in areas northeast of Seattle conducted several rescues, using inflatable kayaks to pull people from stranded cars and carrying another person about a mile to safety after they were trapped in a wooded area by rising water.
• School Closures: Several schools in the Coast Range and along the Cascades started late due to flooding issues on Tuesday. The Seaside and Toledo school districts closed for the day.

• Power Outages: Portland General Electric reported power outages impacting more than 3,000 customers in the Portland metro area Tuesday morning, mainly in Clackamas County.

• Upper Midwest:

• Travel Advisories: Much of North Dakota was under a no-travel advisory due to freezing rain and slippery roads.
• School Closures: Some schools closed or moved to virtual lessons due to the weather conditions.
• Weather Conditions: The storm brought freezing rain, snow, and high winds up to 65 mph, creating hazardous commuting conditions.

Direct Quotes

• "We're starting to see a lot of rivers begin to rise and move very rapidly with lots of runoff with the rain," said a National Weather Service spokesperson.
• "This is definitely one of those messy winter weather events that we're going to be having come through, depending on where you are in the northern plains here," said Ryan Dunleavy, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Minnesota's Twin Cities.

Historical Context

The Pacific Northwest has a history of significant flooding events due to atmospheric rivers. For example, in February 2020, an atmospheric river event led to record rainfall and widespread flooding in the region. Similarly, the Upper Midwest frequently experiences winter storms, but the combination of freezing rain, snow, and high winds in this event has created particularly hazardous conditions.

Conclusion

As the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest grapple with these severe weather events, communities are urged to stay informed and heed advisories from local authorities to ensure safety.