There will be three back to back rain storms blowing into Oregon this week.
Per the December 27th, 2011 National Weather Service forecast, it will be wet and windy but no widespread flooding anticipated. See the NWS local forecast web page for details: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Saint+Helens&state=OR&site=PQR&lat=45.8871&lon=-122.928. Click NWS refresh link to get the latest forecast or enter your zip code.
The full text of the special weather statement is listed below.
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA-
GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY-
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-WILLAPA HILLS-
SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-
GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...FLORENCE...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...
GRANDE RONDE...TIDEWATER...SWISSHOME...ST. HELENS...CLATSKANIE...
HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...SALEM...
MCMINNVILLE...DALLAS...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...HOOD RIVER...
CASCADE LOCKS...MULTNOMAH FALLS...SANDY...
SILVER FALLS STATE PARK...SWEET HOME...GOVERNMENT CAMP...
DETROIT...SANTIAM PASS...VIDA...LOWELL...COTTAGE GROVE...
MCKENZIE BRIDGE...OAKRIDGE...WILLAMETTE PASS...PARKDALE...ODELL...
COLDWATER RIDGE VISITORS CENTER...MOUNT ST. HELENS...FRANCES...
RYDERWOOD...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...CATHLAMET...LONGVIEW...KELSO...
CASTLE ROCK...STEVENSON...SKAMANIA...VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...
WASHOUGAL...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR
136 PM PST TUE DEC 27 2011
...WET AND WINDY CONDITIONS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...
A STRONG JET STREAM WILL DIRECT A SERIES OF WET AND WINDY SYSTEMS
ACROSS SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK IN RAPID SUCCESSION. THESE SYSTEMS WILL HAVE SNOW LEVELS WELL ABOVE PASS LEVEL. HIGH WINDS ARE EXPECTED AT THE COAST AND IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE COAST RANGE AT TIMES...BEGINNING TONIGHT. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE AT TIMES INLAND...INCLUDING TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY.
WHILE NO PARTICULAR SYSTEM APPEARS THAT IT WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD
FLOODING...RIVERS AND CREEKS WILL RISE FAIRLY QUICKLY. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES OR MORE ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE ALONG THE
COAST...COAST RANGE...AND IN THE CASCADES...WITH MORE THAN 2
INCHES IN THE VALLEY.
AS THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND APPROACHES...A COLD FRONT WILL COME
THROUGH ON FRIDAY BRINGING SNOW BACK TO THE CASCADES. WHILE MUCH
OF THE SNOW WILL FALL AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS...SNOW LEVELS WILL BE
DROPPING BELOW PASS LEVELS...SUCH THAT SNOW COVERED ROADS ARE
POSSIBLE FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY SATURDAY.
RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON ARE URGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER FORECASTS DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
