Eliza Aronson

Snohomish County PUD crews work to repair power lines on Wednesday, Dec. 17 along Marine Drive in Stanwood, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)

Wind storm knocks out power to thousands, closes or delays schools

Crews are working to repair downed power lines and remove trees. Flooding warnings or watches remain for several rivers.

 

Water from the Snohomish River spills onto a road on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

How we covered the record-breaking flood

A special edition of Eliza Aronson’s newsletter detailing her and photographer Olivia Vanni’s week of flood coverage.

 

Snohomish PUD crews repair a power line that was hit by a downed tree along Cypress Way on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

High wind warning in effect for northwest Snohomish County

Key developments:

  • “Damaging” wind gusts of up to 55 mph are expected.
  • Residents should prepare for downed trees and widespread outages.
  • Flood warning extended for Skykomish River near Gold Bar

 

Water from the Snohomish River covers Lowell Snohomish River Road and inundates properties to the west on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Federal government grants emergency aid for Washington flood response

The approval by President Donald Trump allows FEMA to step in with federal assistance

Water from the Snohomish River covers Lowell Snohomish River Road and inundates properties to the west on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Brian Loomis and Michelle Moch browse for a live Christmas tree from Adopt A Stream on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Adopt A Stream kicks off annual holiday tree fundraiser

Visit the stream center on weekends through Dec. 23 to purchase a potted pine or spruce to support the foundation’s educational programs.

Brian Loomis and Michelle Moch browse for a live Christmas tree from Adopt A Stream on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Climate Commitment Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, is designed to reduce pollution to 95% of 1990 levels by 2050. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New Climate Commitment Act spending report released

The Department of Ecology has published a new report detailing where revenue generated from the state law has supported climate solutions and resilience projects.

The Climate Commitment Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, is designed to reduce pollution to 95% of 1990 levels by 2050. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

BP’s Olympic Pipeline fully restarts after 2-week shutdown

The oil giant has recovered 2,300 gallons of oil so far at the site of the leak east of Everett.

An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kicking Gas Campaign Director Derek Hoshiko stands for a portrait Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Climate justice group Kicking Gas is expanding efforts to Snohomish County

The nonprofit aims to switch residents to electrical appliances and can help cover up to 75% of installation costs.

Kicking Gas Campaign Director Derek Hoshiko stands for a portrait Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Information panels on display as a part of the national exhibit being showcased at Edmonds College on Nov. 19, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds College hosts new climate change and community resilience exhibit

Through Jan. 21, visit the school library in Lynnwood to learn about how climate change is affecting weather patterns and landscapes and how communities are adapting.

Information panels on display as a part of the national exhibit being showcased at Edmonds College on Nov. 19, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen congratulates Kaleb Wolde (left to right), Avery Postal, Takumi Tanimara and Malia Nymeyer, on winning the President’s Environmental Youth Award that recognizes outstanding K-12 youth environmental stewardship projects across the nation on Nov. 20, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds students win President’s Environmental Youth Award for their Salish Sea documentary

Four former Hazelwood Elementary fourth and fifth-grade students helped create a documentary highlighting the Edmonds Underwater Park, a marine protected area located just off the city’s shore.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen congratulates Kaleb Wolde (left to right), Avery Postal, Takumi Tanimara and Malia Nymeyer, on winning the President’s Environmental Youth Award that recognizes outstanding K-12 youth environmental stewardship projects across the nation on Nov. 20, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The recent Olympic Pipeline leak spilled an undisclosed amount of jet fuel into a drainage ditch near Lowell-Snohomish River Road in Snohomish. (Photo courtesy BP)

BP’s Olympic Pipeline partially restarted after a nearly two-week shutdown

The pipeline is once again delivering fuel to Sea-Tac airport, and airlines have resumed normal operations.

The recent Olympic Pipeline leak spilled an undisclosed amount of jet fuel into a drainage ditch near Lowell-Snohomish River Road in Snohomish. (Photo courtesy BP)

Judge invalidates legal rights for Snohomish River approved by voters

Snohomish County Superior Court ruled the initiative granting the river legal rights exceeded local initiative power.

An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

BP says both pipes remain closed at site of fuel leak near Snohomish

State Department of Ecology and the oil giant continue to clean site and assess cause of leak on the Olympic Pipeline.

An excavator moves a large bag at the site of a fuel spill on a farm on Nov. 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Joshua Wright / Aberdeen Daily World
A King County court halted the Wishbone Timber Sale in 2024. On Oct. 31, the state Department of Natural Resources argued its appeal on the decision.

DNR appeals ruling that it must account for climate change in individual timber sales

The appeal calls into question the priorities of newly appointed Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove.

Joshua Wright / Aberdeen Daily World
A King County court halted the Wishbone Timber Sale in 2024. On Oct. 31, the state Department of Natural Resources argued its appeal on the decision.
A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

State approves Edmonds permit to do flood mitigation work on Perrinville Creek

The permit is the latest controversy in the years-long saga over Edmonds’ management of the stream.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
State Trooper Isaiah Oliver speaks to a BNSF worker at mile marker 31.7 as road closures and evacuations mount in response to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish County adopts its first Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The document analyzes wildfire risks throughout the county and provides resources for people to engage with wildfire resiliency work.

State Trooper Isaiah Oliver speaks to a BNSF worker at mile marker 31.7 as road closures and evacuations mount in response to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A male Anna’s hummingbird chirps as it perches in a thorny bush Wednesday, March 30, 2022, along the water at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington. Anna’s hummingbirds, which measure around 4 inches long and weigh only a few grams, are the most common of four local species and the only hummingbird to remain year-round in the Pacific Northwest. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Adopt A Stream hosts hummingbird ecology class

Western Washington University instructor Greg Green will lead a class on hummingbirds on Saturday at the Northwest Stream Center.

A male Anna’s hummingbird chirps as it perches in a thorny bush Wednesday, March 30, 2022, along the water at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington. Anna’s hummingbirds, which measure around 4 inches long and weigh only a few grams, are the most common of four local species and the only hummingbird to remain year-round in the Pacific Northwest. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Atmospheric scientist: Predicting the weather isn’t that easy

Eric Snodgrass, the senior science fellow at agricultural consultant company, Nutrien Ag Solutions, had no problem telling a room full of farmers on… Continue reading

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
The Lake Stevens outlet channel, also known as Stevens Creek, topped Hartford Drive during record rainfall on Nov. 15. The city is planning to conduct future studies on how to address downtown flooding. (Isabella Breda / The Herald) 20211205

Snohomish County offers resources to help residents to prepare for flood season

It’s that time of year in Western Washington when fallen leaves clog storm drains, rivers rise with heavy rains and the streets and… Continue reading

The Lake Stevens outlet channel, also known as Stevens Creek, topped Hartford Drive during record rainfall on Nov. 15. The city is planning to conduct future studies on how to address downtown flooding. (Isabella Breda / The Herald) 20211205
Spada Lake is seen from Culmback Dam on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, near Sultan, Washington. The reservior supplies roughly 75% of Snohomish County with its water. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett signs contract with Lake Stevens over waterline development

The contract ends a six-year discussion of what type of development is allowed along Everett’s regional waterline.

Spada Lake is seen from Culmback Dam on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, near Sultan, Washington. The reservior supplies roughly 75% of Snohomish County with its water. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)