While rain and flooding is expected to decrease in western Oregon, there is a coastal flood advisory in place until Friday afternoon.
Gerald Macke is with the National Weather Service in Portland. He says flood waters are receding in most parts of the state. But, a major storm off the coast is causing high winds and waves on the Pacific Ocean.
Macke says the ground is so drenched on the northern and central coast that more rainfall could cause problems.
Macke: “If you get an inch of rain the biggest place to worry right now is actually the coastal range and towards the coast as far as rainfall tonight. Anything that gets wet an inch or two makes a big difference there and it can cause additional mudslides.”
Macke says even though there is a flood advisory he does not expect it to rain as much this weekend as it did earlier this week.
The cold front that brought heavy rain and flooding also means more snow in the mountains.
According to Macke, Tuesday’s strong weather caused the snow level to drop.
Macke: “Snow levels have gone from about 7,000 or 8,000 feet down to 4,000. So at 4,000 feet pretty much throughout the Cascades you can expect to see snowflakes from now through mid-week next week.”
Mount Bachelor is open and reporting 34 inches of snow. Willamette Pass and Hoodoo Ski Resorts have not yet opened this season.
