Story Photos
 Just East of North Bend, a State Patrol road-block diverts traffic from I-90 East, during the Snoqualmie Pass closure, Thursday in Seattle. Falling snow and a high threat of avalanches convinced officials to close three main east-west mountain passes in Washington state on New Year's Day and at least two of the highways were expected to remain shut down into Friday. In the lowlands, officials are watching the rising rivers. (Photo by Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)
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Rain brings threat of floods, slides
Friday, January 2, 2009 1:10 AM PST
By Tony Lystra
Printable version
E-mail this articleThe National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Cowlitz River in Kelso amid pounding rains and melting snow Thursday, but said it expected only minor flooding and no property damage.
The river was expected to rise to its flood stage of 21.5 feet early Friday morning and crest one or two feet above flood stage Friday afternoon.
Andy Bryant, a Weather Service hydrologist, said the floodwaters would merely wash over access roads and affect lowland areas.
“I would be surprised if there were any structures that ended up with flooding,” Bryant said. “The areas that have levy protection shouldn’t have any problems.”
Winds were milder than expected, but Cowlitz PUD crews still scrambled with tree limbs that knocked out power to more than 300 customers in the Cougar area and along Kalama River Road.
The Washington State Patrol said the Exit 22 ramps on Interstate 5 were closed in Woodland after water rushed over them.
In Wahkiakum County, the Grays River was “getting a little high on the west end” and water was beginning to swallow State Route 4, said Deputy Sheriff Mike Balch.
“We’re just kind of keeping flood watch with the rest of the state,” he said.
Meteorologists said the storm system pushing in off the Pacific could bring as much as 7 inches in Oregon’s Coast and Cascade ranges.
Throughout Washington and Oregon, the storm was threatening to flood rivers that were already running high with moisture from the snowstorms that socked the region last month.
Higher temperatures are expected to cause more snow runoff, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
State geologists said the combination adds up to landslide weather.
“Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together,” the state’s geology agency said in a statement. “A trickle of falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides.”
The Weather Service said the storm brought high winds and seas to the Oregon coast, with gusts measured up to 60 mph Thursday and waves that might rise 25 feet.
Washington’s three main east-west mountain passes were closed Thursday by snow and avalanche danger. Cross state drivers are being directed through the Columbia River Gorge.
Up to 18 inches of snow was expected in Washington’s Cascade Mountains Thursday night, keeping avalanche danger high.
While Stevens and White passes were expected to remain closed into Friday, transportation officials said Thursday evening they might be able to reopen Snoqualmie Pass within a few hours.
Washington has seen at least two weather-related deaths in the past week, while 10 people have been killed in recent British Columbia avalanches.
Forecasters said Seattle and other Western Washington cities as far south as Centralia could see as much as 2 inches of snow by Friday morning.
Snow began to fall in Cowlitz County early Friday morning.
The Weather Service has issued four flood warnings beyond Cowlitz County: for a Portland metro-area stream, Johnson Creek, and three coastal streams, the Nehalem River in Clatsop and Tillamook counties, the Wilson River near Tillamook and the Siletz River in Lincoln County.
It said the main stem of the Willamette may crest at bankful in spots, but is not expected to flood.
The Oregon Department of Transportation reported that water reaching 16 inches high closed Oregon 22 about four miles west of the junction with Oregon 18. High water also closed U.S. 101 between Seaside and U.S. 101’s junction with U.S. 26.
The Nehalem River is expected to crest at 24.9 feet, about 11 feet above flood stage, about 10 a.m. Friday, said Sheriff Todd Anderson of Tillamook County.
The county opened a shelter at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds and warned residents and businesses in flood areas to evacuate.
In Vernonia, where some victims of the December 2007 floods are still living in FEMA trailers, city officials were alerting people where shelters could be found — if necessary.
“Anytime there’s a flood warning that comes out, everybody gets a little nervous,” Police Chief Michael Kay said. “Our main is goal was to be as prepared as possible, so if it did start to flood we could immediately start helping our residents.”
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for Central Oregon through 10 a.m. Friday.
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort shut down Thursday afternoon because of a power outage. The lifts could have run on backup power, but electricity was spotty in the lodges.
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