Heavy Showers Bring Threat of Flooding, Landslides to Oregon Coast, Inland

(Oregon Coast) – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood watch for some counties on the Oregon coast, as well as around inland Oregon and Washington. The flood watch stands from Saturday afternoon through Monday morning for northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.

The rivers being watched for flooding on the coast are primarily in Tillamook county, in the areas around Tillamook, Garibaldi and Nehalem and south of Lincoln City. The NWS did not mention flood possibilities for other parts of the coast, but considering the amount of rain to come in, this could happen in spots like the southern tip of Seaside.

The NWS said it is keeping an eye on Washington and Oregon rivers such as the Wilson, Trask, Nehalem, Siletz, Cowlitz, Grays, Upper Tualatin, Johnson Creek and Pudding rivers.

As much as three inches could pour down in some areas in any six-hour period – especially the coast. There is expected to be a break on Sunday, and then another front will let loose that evening through Monday.

“Many rivers will rise sharply Saturday, with flooding possibly as early as late Saturday afternoon,” the NWS said in a bulletin. Flooding of urban creeks and ponding in roads is likely in the city areas.

A massive deluge on Thursday created major flooding in many Portland streets, including a brief but inconvenient mess for commuters on SW 87th, which resulted in one motorist getting frightened into a ditch, further blocking traffic.

Canyon areas and steep forested bluffs, like along the coast range and Highway 101, could be prone to landslides.

“Structures and roads located below steep slopes may be at serious risk from rapidly moving landslides,” the NWS said.

Possible problem spots like this to look out for along the coast include parts of 101 near the Sand Lake Junction (just south of Tillamook), south of Cannon Beach, south of Seaside, between Lincoln City and Pacific City, Cape Foulweather (between Newport and Depoe Bay), around Cape Perpetua (Yachats), and the Cape Creek Bridge north of Florence.