Heavy rains have swept through the western Washington state, flooding roads and farmlands, triggering power outages, and forcing school closures across the region, as forecasters warn worse weather could be on the way.
A powerful atmospheric river has already dumped days of heavy rain on the U.S. state, impacting numerous local areas and hampering traffic. After a short break in the weather on Tuesday, a second round is now moving in, as forecasters have warned that the worst may still lie ahead.
Several rivers are projected to reach or approach historic flood levels between Wednesday and Thursday. Local authorities have also cautioned that the incoming rain could trigger landslides, topple trees, and bring down power lines across affected communities.
Many motorists have already felt the disruption, with floodwaters cutting off many routes.
"There won't be any car going through here in another two hours," said a local resident named Hinzman.
"It's not good. You shouldn't be driving through any of them because the current -- you can see the current -- it's running pretty strong. It's going to get a lot stronger as the river rises," he added.
Residents have been urged to avoid driving through flooded areas, while the rising waters have prompted farmers near riverbanks to move livestock and equipment indoors, as many locals continues to closely monitor water levels.
"I heard the river's cresting in about an hour, which means it should be at its highest peak. And we're just seeing where the water is, seeing what roads might be closed," said another resident called Norton.
Washington state hit by heavy rain, flooding as forecasters warn worst yet to come
The second phase of the urban ring greenway in Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, was made fully accessible to the public on Wednesday, providing citizens with a new type of urban public space integrating cycling, jogging, and walking.
The greenway was completed after over two years of construction, which started in March 2023. It was carried out in two phases.
The first phase, spanning 51 kilometers, was completed in December 2023. The second phase, 50 kilometers long, saw the final gap successfully connected in the early hours of December 3, following the successful rotation of a swivel bridge spanning the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan High-speed Railway. The Shijiazhuang ring greenway comprises 55.23 kilometers of pathways and 81 bridges measuring 45.77 kilometers.
Along the route, 18 service stations are planned, with 56 main entrances and exits established. It links the three major water systems, the Hutuo River, Taiping River, and the city's ring water system, and connects 76 parks and gardens along the way.
The cycling and walking paths are clearly separated by a rainbow-colored line, making it an excellent venue for citizens' leisure and fitness activities.
"It really provides us cycling enthusiasts with an excellent sports venue where we can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Shijiazhuang. Even though it's winter now, our enthusiasm for cycling on the ring greenway has not decreased but increased instead," said Zhao Zesong, a cycling enthusiast.
"During the ride, I also noticed there are many service stations, including facilities for bike repairs and rentals, which makes our daily cycling very convenient," said Zhang Luheng, another cycling enthusiast.
Urban ring greenway made fully accessible to public in north China's Shijiangzhuang
