Heavy rains and strong winds continue to barrage residents in Oregon and Washington, as they brace for potential flooding and incredibly dangerous winds in the coming days. The storm, which snapped trees, flooded streets and cut power to almost 50,000 residents also caused at least one death, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service reported that Thanksgiving should be dry, although it has issued several wind and flood advisories and warnings in the area until then.
In Seattle, close to two inches of rain fell in six hours on Monday, the AP reported. Seattle Public Utilities meteorologist James Rufo-Hill told the AP, "It was a pretty big storm for most of the city-lots of rain in a relatively short amount of time." He added that many neighborhoods "really got drenched."
Power outages reaching 24,000 were reported by Puget Sound Energy in Washington, although most service was restored by Monday evening. Pacific Power in Oregon reported another 24,000 power outages, with most still without power by Monday night.
The storm's sole fatality was 52-year-old Oregon hunter Nathan Christensen of Seattle. Christensen was hit in his tent on Monday morning when wind gusts reaching more than 70 mph snapped a tree above him.
The AP also reported that a Portland police officer was injured when a tree fell during all-terrain vehicle training. Oregon police rescued a homeless woman, identified as Susan Seale, and her pet dog when her campsite was surrounded by rising floodwaters.
Two vehicles were hit by a tree on Highway 101 near Naselle, Wash., it was reported. However, the Washington State trooper and the female driver of the other vehicle were able to escape their vehicles, which then burned down.
Despite surpassing the worse of the storm, Weather.com said that the "axis of the heaviest rain and snow is expected to shift southward into southern Oregon and northern California." Additional rainfall, between one to four inches, is expected to fall from western Washington to northern California, it reported.
The storm also brings massive amounts of snow to the area. According to Weather.com, "Another 6-12" of snow is possible in the mountains of western Washington, western Oregon and northern California through Wednesday."
Latest Watches, Warnings or Advisories for Oregon:
A wind advisory is in effect in southwest Oregon (Klamath Basin) for winds traveling south at 30 to 40 mph, with gusts 60 mph. The advisory, which will remain in effect until 1 p.m. PST, impacts Highways 97, 140, 66 and 70.
Another wind advisory in southwest Oregon affecting Central and Eastern Lake County, Northern and Eastern Klamath County and Western Lake County is in effect until 4 p.m. PST. Gusts there are expected to reach up to 75 mph.
For a full list of wind and flood watches, warnings or advisories for Oregon, visit the National Weather Service.
Latest Watches, Warnings or Advisories for Washington:
Three flood warnings have been issued in Washington this morning. The flood warnings are for Chehalis River at Centralia affected Lewis County; Chehalis River near Grand Mound affecting Thurston County and Chehalis River at Porter affected Grays Harbor County. The warnings in Lewis County and Thurston County will remain in effect until Wednesday, Nov. 21 and the warning in Grays Harbor County will remain in effect until Thursday, Nov. 22.
A wind advisory was also issued for the following areas: East Puget Sound Lowlands; Everett and Vicinity; Seattle, Bremerton Area; Southwest Interior and the Tacoma Area. The advisory, which is in effect until 6 p.m. PST, warns of winds reaching 45 mph.
For a full list of wind and flood watches, warnings or advisories for Washington, visit the National Weather Service.
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