Periods of rain. Potential for heavy rainfall. Temps nearly steady in the upper 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected..
Tonight
Rain likely. Low 37F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
THE GORGE — Another atmospheric river is set to hit the Gorge on Thursday, bringing heavy rains and flood warnings until Saturday, Dec. 20, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), and that's on top of strong gusts and more precipitation overnight.
The risk of tree and rock falls, and power outages continues, exacerbated by the already saturated land from previous days of rain. Based on NWS data, gusts at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport peaked early this morning, reaching 66 miles per hour.
A fallen tree on a property in Underwood.
Chelsea Marr photo
In Skamania County, significant tree falls and rockslides have damaged homes and caused power, phone and 911 outages that have continued through the day in some places, though Skamania PUD is working to restore services.
The board of commissioners signed an emergency declaration due to the “significant escalation overnight,” according to Barbara Ayers, the county's emergency manager, with the hope of accessing further resources.
Klickitat County saw similar damage. Some roads were closed because of fallen trees and power lines, and areas of Trout Lake and Glenwood still had no electricity this afternoon. Public works and PUD crews were out today working to mitigate the damage, keep roadways open and the power on. Flood warnings are in effect for the Klickitat River and other parts of the county, especially near Pitt.
Jeff King, Klickitat County’s emergency manager, urged people not to drive over flooded roadways, using the saying, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” part of a NWS public safety campaign.
In The Dalles, strong winds tore part of the roof off the Water's Edge building, turning the sprinklers on. Adventist Health Columbia Gorge subsequently closed all its clinics at the medical facility, including immediate care, according to a press release. No injuries were reported.
Water's Edge urgent care in The Dalles suffered damage to the roof due to high winds.
Martin Gibson photo
Since the facility serves as a primary healthcare hub for Wasco, Gilliam, Sherman and Klickitat counties, serving over 150 patients daily, the Wasco County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency today, according to a press release.
Downed power lines have caused outages for over 200 customers, and several county roads remain closed due to downed trees and debris, the press release also noted. Wasco County hopes to access state assitance, and expedite the procurement of goods and services to repair critical infrastructure and protect public property, with the declaration.
Both Hood River County and the city have been impacted as well. Many calls for service have come in for downed trees, with significant damage to homes being reported, too. Public works has been working through the day to clear roads.
Hood River experienced widespread power outages, beginning with about 1,500 outages in the morning, with a secondary wave due to a downed transmission line around midday. Hood River Electric Co-op and Pacific Power were both affected.
A downed powerline, forcing a road closure in Hood River.
Zach Thummel photo
Wasco County PUD, and a few crews of Pacific Power linemen from Bend, came to assist in restoring power to the area. Despite these efforts, some outages persist.
Hood River County Emergency Manager Charles Young cautioned people to avoid driving if possible. If necessary, he encouraged folks to slow down, have a larger following distance and be aware of your surroundings, especially when entering cities to see pedestrians better, and “of course, replace your wiper blades” — his usual winter weather recommendation.
He also advised keeping an emergency kit in the car in case downed trees cause road closures on the freeway. Clearing storm drains and gutters around homes can also help reduce the risk of urban flooding, as the stormwater infrastructure can get overwhelmed with anything more than ¼ inch per hour of continuous rain.
A flood warning has also been issued for Hood River at Tucker Bridge, as well as concern for smaller rivers in the area not monitored by NWS.
The agency predicts similar winds and rains to continue in the coming days, and potential flood warnings continue. There is the possibility of flooding on Highways WA142, OR84, and OR26, as well as elsewhere in the area. Drivers can check tripcheck.com before trips to understand road conditions. Documenting damages is important, and Ayers suggested getting photos before and after potential damages occur to ease recuperation.
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