Weather updates: Atmospheric river slams Pierce County, Western WA

An atmospheric river is dumping rain on the Puget Sound region, causing flooding and power outages.

Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and activated the National Guard on Wednesday afternoon.

“I have declared a statewide emergency, and I will be requesting an expedited emergency declaration from the federal government today,” Ferguson said. “We need the federal government to grant that request. This situation is extremely serious. The next few days are critical. I want to encourage all Washingtonians to listen carefully to alerts from your county and emergency management departments. If you receive an evacuation order, please follow that order. It’s critical to your safety. Thank you to all the first responders who are in the field helping Washingtonians.”

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Wednesday for the Puyallup River in Puyallup and for South Prairie Creek in East Pierce County. Evacuation orders were issued for part of Orting as the Puyallup River spilled its banks there. State Route 410, a major highway serving East Pierce County, was closed by rising water near Sumner before being reopened in the early afternoon.

“Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas,” the Weather Service said in an advisory. “Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.”

The city of Sumner was preparing for the worst.

“We’re filling sandbags and Hescoes as fast as possible to further protect areas,” the city reported about 1:15 p.m. on X. “The Puyallup River is expected to crest today at 4 pm at levels similar to yesterday morning. It crests again at 10 am tomorrow at about 3’ higher. We expect water on the top of the levee and don’t know if it will go over or not.

“For the White River, the Army Corps is trying to hold water at Mud Mt Dam while the Puyallup River crests and after that, they anticipate having to release amounts we’ve never seen before, likely tomorrow morning.”

Update: Sumner residents should expect potential flood impacts starting 5 a.m. Thursday, the city posted on X at 5:48 p.m. Homes and businesses near the White River are at a Level 1 evacuation, meaning they should prepare to evacuate if needed.

Areas in Sumner that could see flood impacts include the residential neighborhood off 29th Street, as well as businesses along 24th Street, 16th Street and 140th Avenue East, the post read.

“While we hope impacts remain minimal, any change will happen in the early morning hours,” the city wrote on X. “It’s best to prepare as a precaution now.”

A half inch or more of rain was forecast for the Tacoma area through Wednesday and more rain in the forecast for Thursday, with wind gusts of up to 31 mph.

The News Tribune staff will be updating this story throughout the day with the latest weather-related news.

Evacuations underway in Orting

Some residents in Orting are being told they need to leave their homes immediately Wednesday morning due to Puyallup River flooding that poses a “significant threat to life or property.”

“Level 3 ‘Go Now’ order is in place for Phase 1 of Village Green (west of Headly Ave NW),” the City of Orting wrote in a Facebook post at 9:07 a.m. “Messaging will be sent to those homes as well as teams going door-to-door to ensure communication. An evacuation center is opening up at the Multi-Purpose Center (Library) in downtown Orting, if you need a place to stay warm, dry, and fed. “

Residents can sign up for alerts on the city’s website. They can also follow updates on the city’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cityoforting

The city of Puyallup issued an advisory about 11 a.m. Wednesday regarding the rising Puyallup River.

“We are still under a Flood Warning,” according to a post on X. “Residents who live close to the Puyallup River are strongly advised to evacuate. The Puyallup River is continuing to rise today, and we expect flood conditions to worsen through the rest of the day.”

Road closures

• In Puyallup, crews shut down the Riverwalk Trail on Monday, and it remains closed; 4th Street Northeast at North Meridian, by the Fred Meyer parking lot, is closed; North Levee Road at North Meridian is closed. 11th Street Northwest to north of River Road is closed.
• According to Sumner city officials, Stewart Road Bridge is closed until further notice; Houston Road is closed in both directions at Valley Avenue/Cannery Way; State Street is closed where it crosses under state Route 410; the “full length” of Sumner Link Trail is closed.
• State Route 162 is closed in both directions from Emery Avenue South to South Prairie Creek because of water over the roadway, WSDOT reported at 6:13 a.m.
• In Auburn, Green River Road Southeast is closed between 100th Avenue Southeast and the Auburn city limits; D Street Northeast is closed in multiple segments between 49th St NE and South 277th Street and between Auburn Way North and I Street Northeast; South 277 Street is closed between Auburn Way North and 108th Avenue Southeast in Kent.
• Water over roadway on westbound State Route 410 near East Main Avenue/Traffic Avenue beginning at 7:56 a.m. Both directions also closed west of Greenwater, per WSDOT. The closure ranges from Mud Mountain Road to 583rd.

Power outages

• Peninsula Light Co. reported outages on Wednesday morning west of Lakebay and on the southeast end of Fox Island. Most people had been restored by mid-afternoon.
• Tanner Electric Cooperative reported 43 customers without power on the north end of Anderson Island as of 7 a.m. Those customers’ power was restored by about 3 p.m.
• Puget Sound Energy reported 385 customers out of power between the Snoquera and Crystal Mountain areas.
• Tacoma Power reported 90 customers out in scattered locations across its service area as of 9:45 a.m. That number stood at 35 by 1:30 p.m.

School closures and delays

• Carbonado School District: Two hours late and on emergency bus route and no early kindergarten.
• White River School District: Early release and all afternoon/evening activities canceled. Buses will pick students up from the schools at the following release times: high school 1:05 p.m.; Glacier Middle School, 1:30 p.m.; elementary schools. 2:25 p.m.; Early Learning Center, 2:25 p.m.; Kids Club closes at 5:15 p.m. Classes on Thursday will start two hours late. There will be no morning preschool and no out of district transportation Thursday.
• Orting School District: School will start two hours late on Thursday. There will be no morning preschool.

This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM.