Portland, OR – A widespread Flood Watch is now in effect across Portland and much of northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington, with heavy rain expected to begin late Wednesday night and continue through late Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.
According to the National Weather Service in Portland, an atmospheric river is forecast to bring prolonged periods of heavy rainfall at a time when rivers are already running high and soils remain saturated from earlier December storms. Forecasters say urban flooding and small stream flooding could develop quickly, especially during the first round of heavier rain on Thursday.
Rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches are possible across parts of western Oregon and Washington, with locally higher amounts in the Coast Range and Cascades. In the Portland metro area, impacts could include flooded streets, clogged storm drains, and rising creeks, particularly in low-lying and poor-drainage neighborhoods.
The flood threat is expected to shift from urban areas to larger rivers by Thursday night into Friday. Several rivers in the region are forecast to reach minor flood stage, including waterways feeding into the Willamette and Columbia rivers.
Officials also warn that landslides and debris flows are possible, especially near steep hillsides, burn scars, canyon mouths, and areas below slopes such as the West Hills and Columbia River Gorge corridors.
In eastern Washington, separate flood watches remain in effect Monday for portions of the Yakima Valley. The Yakima and Naches rivers are forecast to approach or exceed flood stage by Wednesday or Thursday, potentially impacting farmland, roads, and nearby communities.
Residents are urged to monitor forecasts, avoid flooded roadways, and be prepared to act if Flood Warnings are issued. More information is available at weather.gov.
