Power Outages and Flooding Strike Southwest Washington and Oregon
A potent storm system swept through Southwest Washington and most of Oregon overnight, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power on Tuesday morning. As of 10 a.m., Portland General Electric (PGE) reported nearly 14,000 customers in the metro area experiencing outages caused by high winds and heavy rain that toppled trees and downed power lines. PGE spokesperson John Farmer noted that around 72,000 customers were affected at the storm’s peak Monday night, although crews had successfully restored power to approximately 91,000 homes by Tuesday morning.
Pacific Power also faced challenges, with about 3,700 customers still without electricity. Local road crews were busy managing downed trees and power lines; Northwest Thompson Road and Northwest Old Germantown Road were temporarily closed due to hazardous conditions.
In addition to the power outages, heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides in southeast Oregon. Highway 20 was completely closed due to flooding caused by the nearby Malheur River, with reports of three to five feet of water on the road. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) issued a flood warning until 11 p.m. Tuesday, urging drivers to stay away from flooded roads.
Schools in the affected regions announced delayed openings, largely due to power outages and challenging road conditions. Utility companies reminded the public to keep a safe distance from downed power lines and to report any hazards to authorities.
As the storm is expected to move out of the area by Tuesday afternoon, rain and wind conditions should subside, according to the National Weather Service. However, residents are advised to remain vigilant for potential outages as cleanup efforts continue.
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