Portland Weather Saw So Much Rain There Was A Waterfall On Hwy 30

PORTLAND, OR – The National Weather Service said that there was a flood watch in effect for Tuesday. People did not have to look far.

There were the deputies on Highway 30 who saw a waterfall where there had not been one. There were the workers at the Washington County Roads Department who reported high water and flooding on more than 40 roads. There was the mayor of Rainier who had to declare a state of emergency because of the flooding.

The good news is that by Wednesday afternoon, things should be getting better.

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While forecaster with the weather service say that there will likely be rain before 10 in the morning, there should be increasing clearing as the days goes on. Increasing clearing, n the case, means mostly cloudy instead of full-on storms.

Unfortunately, there will be a strong chance of rain and showers through early next week. At least, forecasters are saying, the temperature will be reaching toward the mid-40s on many of those days.

Meanwhile, the Portland Bureau of Transportation has set up three locations where people can get sandbags:

• SE 88th Avenue just south of Holgate Boulevard in the parking lot at Lents Park. Enter parking lot at the bottom of the hill, and follow one-way traffic to the sand pile at the exit on the east side of SE 88th;
• SE 111th Avenue and Harold Street at the southeast corner of the intersection; and
• SW 42nd Avenue and Vermont Street in the lower parking lot of Gabriel Park; enter Gabriel Park from Vermont.

The heavy rains also increase landslide danger.

The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries warns that "heavy rain can trigger landslides and debris flows in steep terrain, and the risk is higher in burn areas.

"Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can contain boulders and logs transported in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more. A debris flow moves faster than a person can run."

Officials say that if you are in a flood watch area:

• Stay alert. Track the flood watch by radio, TV, weather radio or online. If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Listen. Unusual sounds might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. If you think there is danger of a landslide, leave immediately.
• Watch the water. If water in a stream or creek suddenly turns muddy or the amount of water flowing suddenly decreases or increases, this is a warning that the flow has been affected upstream. You should immediately leave the area because a debris flow may soon be coming downstream.
• Travel with extreme caution. Assume roads are not safe. Be alert when driving, especially at night. Embankments along roadsides may fail, sending rock and debris onto the road.

This story will be updated as events warrant.

Photo via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.