Northwest Storms

Portland Is Under Water: Sewers Overflow, Roads Flood as Relentless Storms Hit the Northwest

A chain of Pacific storms that began last week has caused heavy, sustained rainfall in western Oregon, creating major headaches in and around Portland.

The storms are forecast to last through the week, which means the threats of flooding and landslides will worsen. Here are the latest impacts: 

Oregon

According to Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, heavy, sustained rainfalls have overflowed the city’s combined sewer system into the Willamette River Monday. Residents are urged to avoid contact with the river from the Sellwood Bridge to the Columbia River due to increased bacteria in the water. 

KATU reported that at least 100 families were evacutated from an apartment complex in southeast Portland due to rising waters.

In Eagle Creek and  Estacade firefighters went door to door Monday night asking residents to be prepared to evacuate if the Clackamas River continues to rise.

"It's scary because you can't see it, from the house, you don't know where it is," Danee Rardin told KATU. "I drove home from work on Highway 30 and that was a trek, that was scary, actually. I don't know, we'll see. I won't sleep tonight."

The Tigard Police Department tweeted that high waters were reported in multiple areas throughout the city. The flooding shut down roads, including Dartmouth Street and the intersection of Bonita Road and 72nd Avenue.

Travel in Portland was also disrupted as MAX lines and bus routes experienced delays due to the flooding, reports KATU. The city's streetcar was stopped by the Portland Bureau of Transportation in the Southwest Waterfront. 

Three landslides shut down all the lanes at Corbett Hill Road in the early afternoon Monday, KOIN reports.

Multiple roads were also closed in Clackamas County, including in Lake Oswego where several cars were stranded in high water. Residents were evacuated from one neighborhood and the American Red Cross is opening a shelter at Clackamas Park Friends Church in Milwaukie.

A section of road along Kane Drive near Mount Hood Community College was washed out by flooding, leaving a gaping hole, according to the Gresham Police Department.

OregonLive.com reports that the Oregon Zoo had to be shut down due to flooding on the visitor pathways.

Washington

U.S. 12 was closed due to a rock slide Monday morning, reports KIMA TV. Several rocks approximately three feet in size fell into the roadway and a vehicle was overturned near the site, according to the Yakima County Sheriff's office. The driver suffered a hand injury.

California

NWS San Francisco issued a coastal hazard warning Monday, stating that a large, long period westerly swell will impact coastal waters until early Tuesday. The resulting high surf creates dangerous conditions for swimming, including deadly rip currents and sneaker waves. 

http://www.weather.com/storms/severe/news/pacific-northwest-storm-impacts