Skagit River flooding worse than expected, hits homes, roads

HAMILTON, Wash. – Officials say that flooding was worse than expected on the Skagit River north of Seattle.

Water in Skagit County was receding Friday morning with the river level dropping, the Skagit Valley Herald reported.

The flooding peaked Thursday, closing roads and prompting several homes in Hamilton to be evacuated during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The National Weather Service said the river at Concrete reached 36.56 feet Thursday afternoon. That’s the highest it’s been since 2006.

The event was initially forecast Tuesday as minor flooding and now officials say the agency is reviewing its model to figure out why the flooding was higher than anticipated.

Rain and snow melt combined may be the cause, as heavy rain early in the week was followed by record-breaking temperatures in parts of Western Washington.