Winter storm brings threat of flooding to Western Oregon, SW Wash.

PORTLAND, Ore. — With heavy rain in the forecast through Wednesday, parts of Western Oregon and Southwest Washington are facing the threat of flooding.

The winter storm prompted several flood warnings and watches from the National Weather Service, including along the coast and local waterways that are prone to flooding.

Flooding could hit rivers, creeks, and other waterways that drain from the Coast Range, Willapa Hills, and Cascades.

Clackamas County officials issued a warning of their own Monday night, asking people to prepare for potential flooding in the county’s low-lying areas. That included Johnson Creek, which is expected to reach flood stage early Tuesday morning.

While the heaviest rainfall is expected through Wednesday, waterways could continue to rise through the day Thursday.

CLOSURES AND DELAYS

There are a couple school delays in effect due to the weather, primarily along the Oregon coast.

The Tillamook and Neah-Kah-Nie School Districts are on a two-hour delay on Tuesday to give buses and families more daylight to safely navigate roads. They are also cancelling AM preschool on Tuesday.

Tillamook Bay Community College campuses are also on a two-hour delay.

You can keep up with the latest delays and cancellations here.

POWER OUT?

With strong wind gusts coupled with the soaking rain, there’s a chance of trees or debris falling and bringing down power lines.

If you see a downed power line, stay away from it and call 911.

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As of 8 p.m. Monday, Portland General Electric was reporting 12 different outages causing just under 500 customers to lose power. The largest, impacting 173 customers, was reported at about 7 p.m. in the Garden Home area of Southwest Portland.

PGE is asking customers to have a game plan in place should there be a power outage or downed power line.

You should have an emergency kit ready that can take care of you and your family for a few days.

PGE also recommends having your contact information up-to-date with your utility company so you can get updates on any outages.

DRIVING IN THE RAIN

The wet weather could spell trouble on the roads, with decreased visibility, ponding on the road, and slippery conditions.

If you encounter a flooded area, forecasters say you should always ‘turn around – don’t drown.’

“Please do not drive over flooded roads, it is impossible to know how deep the water truly is or if the road has washed out!” the NWS said.

Emergency officials are asking everyone to slow down, as wet roads can be slippery and it’s easier for drivers to hydroplane.

As the winter weather sets in, it is also important to remember the rainy day driving essentials – increase your following and stopping distance, avoid cruise control, and use your headlights.

SANDBAGS

Many of the local counties and cities offer sandbag filling locations to help people protect their homes from rising floodwaters.

If you go to a sandbag filling location, remember to bring your own shovel, as they are typically not provided at the sites.

Clackamas County has several sandbag filling locations across the region.

Hillsboro has two sandbag filling sites for anyone worried about flooding near their home, one at Frances Street Park and another at Griffin Oaks Park.