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PORTLAND, Ore. - High winds, drenching rains and potential flooding.

That's what many Oregonians have to look forward to as they usher in 2009, according to KATU Meteorologist Rod Hill.

High winds on the coast could pick up by Thursday morning and continue through early Friday, with gusts as high as 60 mph in places like Seaside while the headlands could see gusts up to 85 mph, Hill said.

"This will be the longest stretch of prolonged high winds you folks have seen since that monster storm of two Decembers ago," he said. "That more than likely will produce some power outages."

There is also a high wind watch for most counties in the Willamette Valley located along Interstate 5, where gusts could reach 60 mph. However, those in the Portland area are more likely to see gusts of between 30 mph and 45 mph winds, Hill said.

As for the rain, the coast, coast range and cascades could get between 3 inches and 7 inches while the valley could see as much as 3 inches fall.

Johnson Creek at about Southeast 150th, just north of Foster Road in Portland, is already expected to reach flood stage by 4 p.m. Thursday. CHECK THE FLOOD STAGE POTENTIAL

Waterways expected to reach flood stage by early Friday include:

• Wilson River at Tillamook
• Molalla River at Canby
• Cowlitz River at Kelso, Wash.

Hill expects this to be one of the top five storms of the season.