Thousands of people remain displaced in the Pacific Northwest after several days of torrential rains caused by an intense atmospheric river. In some areas of western and central Washington state, more than 30 centimeters of rain fell, causing rivers to overflow, widespread flooding, and dramatic rescues. One of those rescues was that of Eddie Wicks and his wife, who live on a farm near the Snoqualmie River. When the water flooded their home, King County rescue officers managed to evacuate them and their dog in an operation captured on video. “The water started rising much faster than ever before,” affected residents recounted. Authorities warn that recovery will be long and dangerous. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson toured the affected areas and warned that the recovery process will be complex, costly, and prolonged. “It’s going to take a long time, and at times, it can be dangerous,” he said. Authorities fear that high water levels will persist for days and that levee failures or new landslides could occur. Dozens of roads remain closed, and multiple water rescues have been carried out due to debris and dangerous currents. The flooding affected not only homes and businesses but also agricultural areas. At the height of the evacuations, some 170 horses, 140 chickens, and 90 goats were moved to a Snohomish County park, where many were still under the care of local authorities on Saturday. Extreme cold moves toward the Midwest and South. As Washington grapples with flooding, a blast of arctic air moves toward the South and East. North Dakota recorded temperatures as low as -12°F, with wind chills near -33°F. Cities like Minneapolis and Chicago are expecting the lowest temperatures of the winter.with lows that could drop to -15°F in the Minneapolis area and around -1°F in Chicago.

Cold weather alerts reach the southern part of the country

The National Weather Service issued extreme cold warnings extending into Alabama and Georgia. Sub-zero temperatures are expected in cities like Montgomery and Savannah between Sunday night and Monday morning.

Meteorologists warn that the weather pattern will remain unstable for the next few days, with more rain forecast in the Pacific Northwest, which could worsen the damage already seen.