Flood watch on as heavy rains return

Updated Thursday, Dec. 17 3:30 p.m.

Crews closed Old Sheridan Road on Thursday after water rose high enough to make it difficult for cars to get through. And Highway 22 remains closed east of Dolph Junction due to a sinkhole expected to require a substantial investment in money, manpower and engineering.

The region is under a flood watch through tonight, so additional closures are possible. In addition, St. Joseph Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, so the state Department of Transportation can repair a railroad crossing.

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A flood watch is in effect for most of Northwest Oregon as another storm system heads our way, bringing heavy rains.

Forecasts call for one-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain today and again tonight, with rain slacking off slightly on Friday.

The flood watch will continue through Friday night. Creeks may spill over their banks and fields become pools of water. Already, some roads are flooded, including Old Sheridan Road in southwest McMinnville.

The Willamette and Yamhill rivers are expected to remain below flood stage. Several other rivers, however, may flood and cause problems for travelers -- including the Tualatin and Nehalem rivers.

With the ground saturated, landslides also are possible throughout the area, the National Weather Service says.

Showers and rain remain in the forecast through at least Tuesday. Temperatures should be mostly in the 40s and low 50s during the daytime, dropping into the high 30s at night.