Water rescues, evacuations in Washington as rivers rise toward record high levels

• Relentless rain: A second round of heavy rain from an atmospheric river is pounding parts of Washington and creating serious flooding that is forcing water rescues.

• Evacuations underway: Evacuation warnings or orders are in place in parts of Washington and Oregon as the flood danger rises.

• Records could fall: Several rivers in Washington are forecast to hit major flood stage, the most severe level, through Friday as heavy rain drains into the waterways. Some are threatening record levels.

Washington’s Skagit River is expected to rise at least 6 feet above its previous record due to heavy rain and flooding, Gov. Bob Ferguson said.

“It’s a critical, critical situation and truly historic in the more than 100 years we’ve been tracking our river systems,” Ferguson told CNN on Wednesday.