PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Heavy rain totals and snowmelt have led to flooding and landslides in separate areas around Oregon and along the coast.
On the Oregon Coast, ODOT cameras show Highway 101 has flooded two miles south of Seaside where the Necanicum River approached the road. Police said Hwy 101 at Beerman Creek Road is also closed to low-profile vehicles. The flooding also forced the Seaside School District to close early, police said.
Along the Columbia River Gorge, landslides have closed all lanes of Interstate 84 from Troutdale to Hood River, and another landslide near Wahkeena Falls closed the Historic Columbia River Highway.
U.S. 26 is currently open as an alternate route between Central Oregon and the Portland area.
Crews are working to clear the landslide, but there is no estimated time when the road will be reopened.
In Southwest Washington, numerous roads are covered in water and have been closed. Check the Washington Department of Transportation’s website for the latest updates.
As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, all major eastern routes in Cowlitz County were closed to flooding, including I-84, I-90, Highway 12 and Hwy 14, county officials said in a post to Facebook. Landslides also affected other roads in the county, bringing power lines down in at least one instance, the post indicated.
Flood advisories and watches are in place for areas around the region.
The mix of rain and snowmelt may be too much for rivers and creeks in the region to handle, raising concerns for flooding.
According to the National Weather Service, the main flooding concerns are rivers near the Oregon Coast and Willapa Hills, however, rivers and creeks are expected to flood in the Cascades as well.
Marion County has nearly half a dozen sandbag sites prepared for possible flooding.
ODOT TripCheck
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management is urging drivers to avoid hazardous roads. OEM said their crews are monitoring the roadways, while ODOT warns drivers should be prepared for lengthy delays as more snow is forecasted for higher elevations.
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“We have severe weather advisories, watches and warnings all over the state, including threats of flooding caused by heavy rain and snowmelt,” said OEM Director Andrew Phelps. “This can trigger debris flows and landslides in steep terrain, and the risk is higher in wildfire burn scars.”
Just before 7 p.m. Thursday Portland Fire & Rescue Tweeted that crews were responding to a landslide and a tree blocking lanes on NW Bridge Avenue near St. Helens Road — closing Highway 30.
Forest Grove Fire also tweeted a warning on Wednesday to watch out for flooding and winter weather advisories across the state.