Counties throughout Western Washington have issued immediate orders to evacuate as catastrophic floodwaters threaten riverside and low-lying communities Thursday.

An estimated 100,000 Washington residents could face evacuation orders because of rapidly rising floodwaters, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office said Wednesday afternoon.

Numerous communities in Skagit County on the 100-year flood plain were told to “GO NOW” under a level three evacuation order Wednesday. That area includes Burlington, La Conner, Lyman, Hamilton, parts of Mount Vernon and Sedro-Wooley, and areas along the Skagit River.

The Skagit River is forecast to shatter water level records. At Concrete, the river is nearing its crest of about 42 feet Thursday morning, 14 feet above what’s considered flooding in the area. At Mount

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