PORTLAND, Ore. — A Pacific storm sweeping through the northwest brought flood warnings Sunday in parts of several counties in western Washington and Oregon.
The National Weather Service said that heavy rains in the region likely would cause flooding through as late as Tuesday in some areas, but there were no reports of serious problems in many affected areas Sunday afternoon.
Forecasters warned that weekend storms may push some rivers and streams over their banks. Many waterways are already on the rise because of warming temperatures and melting snow.
By midday Sunday, some rivers in Washington and Oregon had reached flood stage, and more were expected to rise above that level through Tuesday.
“Flooding could wind down as early as Monday morning in some areas, but others may not see that until Tuesday,” since it takes time for water to flow through some of the bigger rivers, said Dennis D’Amico, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
In Oregon, emergency officials have advised residents of six homes in south Tillamook County to evacuate, the Oregonian reported.
Fire crews in Randle in southwest Washington have been going door-to-door warning residents to watch the rising Cowlitz River and be prepared to evacuate if necessary, Fire Chief Jeff Jaques said Sunday.
The Oregon geology department said people living in or driving through steep areas should be wary of potential landslides and debris flows.
Forecasters say numerous mudslides have been reported in the north Oregon coast, including two near Tillamook, and in the Cascade Range.
Oregon transportation officials on Sunday closed U.S. Highway 20, also called Santiam Highway, near Cascadia in central Oregon after a landslide brought about 150 cubic yards of mud, rock and debris into the road.
KOIN-TV reports that there’s an increased danger of mudslides from Cottage Grove, Ore., northward well into Washington, mainly in the Coast Range and the western Cascades through Monday.
In Portland, city officials were preparing for road closures, the Oregonian reported.
Logan Harris, a spokesman with King County Flood Warning Center, said the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers crested Sunday afternoon and were receding. “It’s good news in that the rivers appear to have stabilized,” he said. “It doesn’t appear that the water levels will increase. There will still be some moderate flooding as the water works it’s way downstream.”
Landslides closed sections of three southwest Washington highways Sunday morning, including Highway 14 near Cape Horn, Highway 411 near Hazel Dell Road in Kelso and Highway 508 at Bear Canyon.
A wind advisory was in effect Sunday afternoon for northern Idaho, the Palouse and southeast Washington. The weather service forecasted wind speeds between 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
Drier and cooler weather to come Wednesday should help runoff, said Rocco Pelatti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane.
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