The Northwest has been in a very wet weather pattern since mid-December. There has been extensive flooding, numerous mudslides, and other weather-related problems, in direct contrast to last winter's very dry conditions.
31 Days of Really Wet Weather
The National Weather Service released the following statement on January 18:
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Portland OR
225 pm (PST) Wednesday January 18 2006
| ...Significant precipitation falls across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington from December 18, 2005 through January 17, 2006...A persistent wet weather pattern has produced measurable rainfall for 30 of the past 31 days across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington (from December 18 through January 17). This weather pattern has frequently produced very heavy rainfall that caused flooding over a large portion of the area. Rainfall totals from some selected stations from December 18 through January 17 are listed below: |
Location |
Precipitation
(inches) |
Normal
|
% of Normal
|
Astoria |
26.89
|
9.45
|
285%
|
Portland Airport |
13.52
|
5.04
|
268%
|
Salem |
18.76
|
5.78
|
325%
|
Eugene |
17.53
|
7.23
|
243%
|
Vancouver |
14.45
|
5.71
|
253%
|
Hillsboro |
15.27
|
5.77
|
265%
|
Troutdale |
13.72
|
5.86
|
234%
|
Government Camp |
22.41
|
13.1
|
171%
|
Marion Forks |
27.37
|
11.18
|
245%
|
Laurel Mtn |
54.86
|
19.18
|
286%
|
Bonneville |
23.97
|
11.63
|
206%
|
Scotts Mill |
25.6
|
12.25
|
209%
|
Cougar WA |
29.17
|
17.64
|
165%
|
Detroit |
34.79
|
13.43
|
259%
|
Cottage Grove |
16.94
|
7.13
|
238%
|
www.weather.gov/portland
Oregon Climate Service went back into our archives to determine if any of these were new records. We found that many of the 31-day totals listed above were new records, or nearly so. For example:
Station |
Dec 18-Jan 17
total (inches) |
Record (in.)
|
Year set
|
This year's rank
|
Astoria |
26.89
|
24.82
|
12/12/98
|
1
|
PDX |
13.52
|
14.75
|
01/17/56
|
3
|
Salem |
18.76
|
18.32
|
01/03/34
|
1
|
Hillsboro |
15.27
|
15.46
|
01/02/97
|
2
|
Laurel Mtn |
54.86
|
53.80
|
01/02/97
|
1
|
Corvallis Hyslop |
19.88
|
19.43
|
01/02/97
|
1
|
Local Flooding, Mid-Willamette Valley
Rivers in the Corvallis-Albany-Philomath area have risen to levels
not seen since 1996 and 1997. Smaller tributaries flooded first, followed
by the Willamette, which reached its maximum levels on January 19, 2006.
The Advanced
Hydrological Prediction System graph for the Willamette
River at Albany shows the river exceeding flood stage but predicted to decline
over the next several days.
A few pictures taken in the Corvallis area appear below:
53rd St. near Mary's River  |
Walnut Grove in Avery Park  |
Brooklane Dr. near Hwy 20
|
Brooklane Dr. near Hwy 20
|
Mary's River @ Brooklane Dr.
|
Park across Willamette from Corvallis  |
Pedestrian walkway in Mary's River flood plain  |
|
Aerial Photos -
January 19, 2006 in the Corvallis-Albany area taken by George Taylor. Thanks to Dick Kizer and Mike Halbleib for the aircraft and piloting:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
