💧 Green River Levee near Tukwila fails

More Flooding on the Way and Landslides Possible

The National Weather Service says another storm will continue through Wednesday, with about 2 to 4 inches of rain expected in foothill areas and 4 to 6 inches on higher ground. This will hopefully mean snow where we need it most, but also will mean more flooding and landslides. Strong winds are expected again tonight, continuing into Wednesday. [Seattle Times]

What’s Happened So Far: On Monday, King County dispatch reported the Green River levee near Tukwila failed. The National Weather Service’s Seattle office issued a flash flood warning, saying it could create “life-threatening flash flooding” on the east side of the levee. Residents and businesses east of the Green River in the Orillia area in Tukwila, Renton, and Kent are under a GO NOW evacuation notice. Over the weekend, parts of Auburn, Kent, and elsewhere in King County also received Level 3 evacuation orders. Farms throughout Snohomish and Skagit Counties are underwater. Leavenworth cancelled Christmas celebrations. The Nooksack River swept away an entire family home.

WSDOT Says to Anticipate More Landslides Along Interstate 90 and Highway 2: State traffic engineers are keeping a close eye on things. However, maps for landslide risk are still incomplete over a decade after the Oso Landslide. The Seattle Times has this in-depth story on the mapping process.

Flood Warnings Are in Effect for These Rivers:

• Cedar River at Renton and near Landsburg
• Green River near Auburn
• White River near Mud Mountain and at the R Street Bridge in Auburn
• Skokomish River at Potlatch
• Skagit River near Concrete and Mount Vernon
• Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam is affecting Lewis County
• Stehekin River at Stehekin

How to Help or Get Help: KUOW has a useful list of shelters, free sandbag locations, and other emergency services. They also have this article for homeowners on getting financial relief after the flood. As we shared on Monday, the Washington Secretary of State runs the Washington State Combined Fund Drive, which ensures donations go to organizations doing active work on the ground.

USPS Released Recommended Ship By Dates for the Holidays 🎁

And you only have one more day if you’re mailing with USPS. Their recommended deadline for shipping is Dec. 17 for most services. FedEx and UPS recommend shipping by Dec. 23 for overnight delivery. Basically, as USPS says, “Don’t delay, mail and ship today!” [FOX13]

Sen. Murray Co-Sponsors Bill to Prohibit Using AI for Medicare Approvals 🤖

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is teaming up with Oregon’s Sen. Ron Wyden and plans to introduce legislation to stop the federal pilot program that would use AI reviews for Medicare approvals in states including Washington. Washington has about 1.6 million Medicare enrollees. According to a report from the American Hospital Association, 62% of Medicare Advantage patients had care delayed because of their insurance provider in the past two years. [Seattle Times]

Parking Enforcement on Slowdown Due to Contract Negotiations 🎫

Seattle’s parking enforcement officers are still towing cars, but writing fewer tickets after failing to reach an agreement on a contract that would raise their pay and allow them to take paid lunch breaks, among other union demands. While they are part of the Seattle Police Department, the parking enforcement officers have a separate contract and have their pay capped at just over $37 an hour. [PubliCola]

Loved Ones Share Memories of Christian Nelson, Man Killed by Seattle Police 🕯️

Those close to Christian Nelson say he lit up every room he went into. He had dreamed of moving to Seattle. He liked the cold, rainy weather and how he could get a little bit of everything: the mountains, the beach, the city. He finally made the move last year. But, they say the man they saw in recently-released, body-camera footage seemed to be in crisis and needed help. [Seattle Times]

Lime Bike and Scooter Riders Love Seattle, Pike Place Especially 🚲

According to Lime’s “2025 Ride Replay,” electric scooter and bike-share riders took 9.7 million trips in Seattle — a 61% jump from 2024’s total. And Pike Place Market was the No. 1 end location for trips in North America this year. [GeekWire]