PORTLAND, Ore. -- Move aside, 1996. The wettest February in Portland history now belongs to 2017.
A heavy weather system dumped about 7 inches of rain over the past four days at Portland International Airport, pushing the February total to 10.05 inches Tuesday, breaking the old record of 10.03 inches from 1996.
That makes this the wettest February since records began at PDX back in 1941.
KGW meteorologist Rod Hill saw it coming.
"At this point, there is a very good chance we will break the record for February by the end of the month, and maybe as early as Tuesday," Hill said Monday.
The record-setting 1996 season saw the "Great Flood" on the Willamette River. But Hill said conditions this year are quite different and a repeat is extremely unlikely.
Archive: The Great Flood of '96
Since the start of the water year on Oct. 1, the city has seen 33 inches of total moisture as of Monday, which is roughly an extra three months' worth of precipitation since last fall.
"The surplus total is just over 11 inches," Hill said Monday. "The water year concludes Sept. 30 and averages a 12-month amount of 36.03 inches."
As for the immediate outlook, Wednesday and Thursday will be a mix of showers and sunshine with highs in the mid-40s. The remainder of the workweek could see sun breaks in between showers, and the snow level will drop. But temps should stay in the 40s.
Flooded roads
The rain has caused a number of roads to either totally or partially close due to flooding. Washington County has a warning for drivers who try and go around road closure signs.
If caught, you could get a $260 citation.
“A road closure… you should take that to mean like a brick wall,” explained Detective Robert Rookhuyzen. “It is literally closed and there is no passing.”
Just last week, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office issued 54 citations to drivers trying to go round road closure barricades. Deputies will keep up the enforcement.
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