Region sees plenty of rain, snow from atmospheric river; surging Whychus Creek crests overnight, area flood watch ends
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A powerful storm that has prompted evacuations in Western Oregon also brought 1-2 inches of rain around Central Oregon overnight and sent some creeks and rivers surging close to or over their banks.
The flooding threat in Central Oregon eased Friday as a flood watch was allowed to expire, but much of the state was still dealing with the atmospheric river's impacts, including evacuations and rescues of stranded people. KGW also reported a Yamhill County man drowned after driving round a "Road Closed" barrier into high floodwaters.
Most National Weather Service observers around Bend reported over an inch of rain, and one on the city's Westside recorded nearly two inches in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. Redmond observers reported a half to nearly an inch of rain, and there were similar impacts in Prineville and Madras.
The city of Sisters said Whychus Creek crested around 2 a.m. Friday and was expected to gradually recede throughout the day.
"The creek remains fast-moving and high, creating potentially hazardous conditions along the banks," officials warned.
"Recent rain has saturated the soil, which can make creek banks unstable and prone to collapse," the 8 a.m. Friday update said. "For safety, please keep pets and children well away from the water’s edge and use caution near the creek until water levels and conditions improve."
The city of Sisters made sandbags available on Thursday. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District said Friday it has two sump pumps available for district residents dealing with water in crawl spaces.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday for the east slopes of the Oregon Cascades, including Sisters, Camp Sherman, Sunriver and La Pine, for another 2-6 inches of snow and winds gusting to 35 mph that could make travel difficult.
A flood watch is in effect for a large area of the state until Saturday, but was allowed to expire for Central Oregon on Friday.
The NWS had issued a flash flood warning late Thursday for Shitike Creek, as the Warm Springs emergency manager advised NWS of water backing up behind a log jam upstream of Warm Springs that could worsen flooding. The warning expired Friday morning as river and creek levels were receding in the area.
Mt. Bachelor got three inches of snow Friday morning as it hopes to build a snowpack and have a delayed season opening soon.
