Storm brings flood threat to Oregon, Washington

PORTLAND – A Pacific storm sweeping through the Northwest brought heavy rain to Washington and Oregon over the weekend, causing multiple landslides that shut down roads across the region and threatening to top rivers already swollen with snowmelt.

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. Landslides also closed sections of three southwest Washington highways, including state Route 14 near Cape Horn, state Route 411 near Hazel Dell Road in Kelso and state Route 508 at Bear Canyon.

Kyle Foreman, Grant County’s public information officer, said two people were injured when their cars were struck by a rockslide about two miles north of Soap Lake in Washington. The rockslide also forced the closure of state Highway 17.

Forecasters said numerous mudslides were reported in the north Oregon coast, including two near Tillamook, and in the Cascade Range.

The rain threatened to push some rivers and streams over their banks at a time when many waterways were rising because of warming temperatures and melting snow. 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.

Logan Harris, a spokesman with King County Flood Warning Center, said the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers crested Sunday afternoon and were receding.