January 2009 Flooding Along the Samish River

Editors note: Todays pineapple express and heavy rains are causing flooding on many western Washington streams.  Below is a blog post I wrote back in Jan. 2009

The Pacific Northwest has more than its share of rainy, gloomy weather in the winter.  

The jet stream changes course, the "Pineapple Express" soars in from the tropics near Hawaii and inches of rain falls in the lowlands and the mountains.

In Jan of 2009, over a 48 hour time frame, 6" of rain fell.  In the foothills and lower mountains the rain melted feet of snow pack, all of which contributed to the flooding of western Washington streams.

The snow over the last several weeks insulated and protected small mammals - voles, field mice, from predation by the raptors - hawks and eagles.

Eight American Bald Eagles worked a flooded field swooping down to the water and throwing out their talons at the helpless voles and mice trying to swim to the only high ground - the county roads.

Thousands of acres of blueberry bushes, were covered.

Approaching dusk I drove into the small village of Edison.  Warm inviting lights of the Edison Cafe, The Longhorn Saloon, Slough Foods, The Bread Farm, and Farm to Market Bakery shone out onto the wet street inviting neighbors and visitors to stop by and get dry and warm.

All photos ©Paul K. Anderson and were photographed near the Samish River at the base of the Chuckanut Range between I-5 and just west of Farm to Market Road near Edison.