SEASIDE, Ore. — Heavy rain prompted school and road closures on the Oregon coast Wednesday morning, but some areas have reopened. The closures come as heavy rain continues following a series of atmospheric rivers that have swamped the northwest portion of the state.
Water levels have receded enough to allow traffic through Highway 101 between Seaside and the junction with Highway 26, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) said in an emergency alert.
As of 7 a.m., Highway 101 in Tillamook is still closed due to high water, ODOT said. Detours remain in place. The agency will continue to monitor the water levels for other sections of the highway.
One lane of Highway 101 at milepost 98, one mile south of Neskowin, has opened and is being controlled by flaggers. There is high water on the road and drivers are asked to go slowly. ODOT shared a photo of flooding on the northbound lane on Wednesday morning.
Drivers anywhere along the Oregon coast should slow down for stormy conditions and keep an eye out for standing water on the roads, ODOT said.
Oregon Route 6 remains closed in Tillamook due to high water, although a detour on nearby roads is available, according to ODOT's TripCheck map.
Residents from the nearby Misty River RV Park off of Highway 6 were forced to leave Tuesday due to the Wilson River's rising waters. A combination of high tide and steady rainfall startled residents like Mark Ingram and his wife, who called the sharp rise within two hours "nerve-wracking."
Siletz River's water levels are also rising, though residents told KGW that they've seen worse and that they are going to try and remain calm, as more rain is expected to fall over the next couple of days.
In southwest Washington, State Route 503 near Cougar remains closed until further notice due to water and damages in the roadway, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). WSDOT officials ask people to avoid traveling in the area announced a series of closures on the northbound side of Interstate 5 due to flooding.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for the Cowlitz River in Kelso, Washington through Wednesday evening. Minor flooding is expected on nearby roads.
Heavy rain impacts in the Portland metro area have been comparatively light so far, although officials have warned about the possibility of storm-related flooding and other potential impacts such as landslides. Several state parks, including Cape Lookout, have had flooding.
A flood warning was issued for Willapa River in Southeast Washington. The NWS also warned of minor flooding in Raymond. In Rosburg, Washington, five people who were trapped in flooding conditions were rescued by a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria helicopter crew. The city of Kalama announced it'll have free sandbags available to the public, with the fill station behind the City Public Works Shop at 6315 Old Pacific Highway South.
The flow of steady rain is expected to break up later Wednesday afternoon, though the Flood Advisory for western Oregon and southwest Washington continues until 1:00 a.m. Thursday
School closures
The Tillamook, Nestucca Valley and Neah-Kah-Nie school districts are closed Wednesday due to flooded roads or other heavy rain conditions. Tillamook Bay Community College delayed its start and opened at 10 a.m.
In Clark County, Washington, the Green Mountain School District is closed on a two-hour delay due to a power outage.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.