Heavy rain hammers NW, raising river levels, downing trees
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The National Weather Service says heavy rains have filled many streams and rivers in western Oregon and much of the area is under a flood warning or watch.
KATU Meteorologist Joe Raineri said more rain is on the way today for the Portland area and the Northwest region in general. The long-term outlook also includes more rain. Raineri said this March will end up as one of the wettest on record with about 7 inches of rain in total.
"With all the rain we've seen the last 24 hours, there is concern for area rivers to rise this weekend," Raineri said. "This morning there is minor flooding for the Nehalem and Wilson Rivers along the coast. In Kelso, the Cowlitz River is seeing a little flooding too."
Other rivers near flood stage include the Tualatin River near Dilley, the Grays River near Roseburg and the Mary’s River near Philomath. Mill Creek in Salem was near the tops of it's banks Friday morning as well. Washington County reported some rural roads were closed due to flooding.
A large tree limb came crashing down in the downtown Portland south park blocks at about 12:30 a.m. Friday morning, squishing a parked car and knocking out windows in the Gallery Park Apartment building on S.W. Park Avenue.
No injuries were reported and residents could be seen vacuuming up broken glass in the early morning hours. Park Avenue was closed by police where the limb came down.
In Oregon City, a large tree came down right across Brighton Avenue, blocking traffic, but no vehicles were hit and no injuries were reported.
ODOT has lifted some travel restrictions on Highway 101 south of Seaside after high water had vehicles restricted to 5 mph on Thursday. Water has receded at the trouble spot but more rain is on the way.
Through Saturday, rainfall could total 3 to 7 inches near the coast and 1 to 3 inches in the Willamette Valley. One bright spot is the snow pack. Raineri said all the rain this month has boosted the snow pack in the Cascades by 30 percent to 110 percent of average.
Residents in Salem were still trying to dry out after having to deal with flooding in January but there are still plenty of sandbags stacked around homes in Southeast Salem and most have been there since the last deluge.
The January rains left entire neighborhoods underwater. More than two months later most of the water is gone but with heavy rains continuing residents are ready.
"If it comes again, I guess we will build a bigger berm around the house and try and see if we can outdo Mother Nature again," said Marc Stevens, who's not leaving anything to chance. "Right now, the way the creek is looking, it's got quite a bit to rise, but it's Oregon so you never know."
He stockpiled an entire pallet full of sandbags, knowing January's flood likely would not be the last he would see in 2012.
"I had a gut feeling that the winters are going so late for the past five years, that if the trend continues we're probably going to need them again," Stevens said.
Forecasters also are watching for flooding in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon because of rain and melting snow.
Watch Joe Raineri's latest forecast update:
