Atmospheric Rivers One Of The Top Weather Stories Of 2025

When looking back on some of the biggest weather stories of 2025, the Pacific Northwest was near the top of that list.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey said the atmospheric rivers that smashed the Pacific coast were a rough way to wrap up a relatively dry year.

“Western Washington bore the brunt of the December flooding that peaked on December 10th and 11th with record crests in portions of the Snohomish, Cedar and Nooksack rivers, just to name a few," Rippey said.  "Tens of thousands were asked to evacuate damage occurring both in farmland areas and residential communities.”

Those atmospheric rivers, Rippey pointed out, moved south, impacting Oregon, and eventually southern California by Christmas time.

“Many locations picking up anywhere from 4"-12" of rain, some locally higher amounts, heavy mountain snow, and that led to significant flash flooding and debris flows, which peaked on Christmas Eve across Southern California,” Rippey added.

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