High winds, rain blowing across Oregon
(Update: Wind gusts could hit 65 mph in La Pine, Sunriver, 70 mph in E. Klamath, Lake counties)
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Central Oregon from 10 p.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday, warning that gusts could reach 60 mph in the Bend area, peaking Tuesday morning.
The warning predicts 25-40 mph southerly winds with gusts up to 60 mph.
“The highest gusts will be seen in the Bend area, with decreasing winds toward Redmond,” the NWS said. “Winds will increase tonight and peak Tuesday morning before diminishing by mid-afternoon Tuesday.”
“Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power lines,” the warning stated. “Scattered power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.”
Late Monday, the NWS boosted the maximum forecast possible wind gusts to 65 mph for the east slopes of the Cascades, including La Pine and Sunriver until 3 p.m. Tuesday.
A slightly later high wind warning, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, forecasts possible gusts to 70 mph for eastern Klamath and Lake counties, including Highway 31 between Paisley and Silver Lake and Highway 395 north of Valley Falls to Alkali Lake
The warnings came as a nother round of high winds and heavy rain was drenching western Washington and Oregon.
The National Weather Service had issued a high wind warning with gusts expected to reach 60 miles per hour or more Monday evening on the coasts, with winds reaching 40 miles per hour possible in the interior.
Authorities say the Portland area could see up to 3 inches of rain into Tuesday, raising concerns about flooding and landslides.
Forecasters also warned of ponding and urban flooding in inland valleys and said river flooding is possible. They expect 1 to 3 inches of rain in inland valleys.
Last Friday, high winds toppled trees and power lines, causing tens of thousands to lose power and roads to be closed across Washington and Oregon. Interstate 84 travelers reported gusts up to 90 mph and a semi overturned on Friday, with more such incidents occurring on Sunday, Oregon State Police reported.
