Published:Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:59 PM PST
Serving the South Coast of Oregon

Flood threat remains as more rain looms
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:59 PM PST

Get out the umbrellas and rubber boots — it’s going to be wet for the next few days.

Even as the recent rainfall turned much of the Coquille Valley into Winterlake as the Coquille River overflowed its banks, the National Weather Service has again posted flood warnings  through this afternoon.

“The river is falling slower than previously anticipated,” the NWS said, “and is expected to remain above flood stage into this afternoon.”

At 3:30 a.m., the river level was at 22 feet, still a foot above flood stage.

Officials opened Highway 42 South Tuesday night as the river receded.

No other hazardous weather is expected for the South Coast for New Year’s Day or for the next few days out, though it might be a bit windy on Thursday. The NWS said high pressure will build over the waters offshore today, but another low pressure system is on the way. It is forecast to move across the Washington Coast on Thursday but will still affect the ocean down the coast to California. Swells of up to 20 feet are forecast to hit late New Year’s Day and Friday. It also could bring winds with gusts to 50 mph or more to the coast.

Another system is expected move in Sunday, bringing warmer south winds to the region, the NWS said.


-- CLOSE WINDOW --