Oregon and Washington State on Flood Alert

The good old North West Corner weather is at it again. Both Oregon and Washington States are on flood alert as weather authorities issue a severe weather warning. If you've spent a lot of time outside like I have over the last few hours, you could not have failed to notice how wet it is out there.

Heavy rain is expected over the next few days, with today seeing at least an inch of rain in some areas. From Seattle in Washington State, to Eugene in Oregon, we are being told to expect the worst.

The already accumulated water from heavy rain and snow melt, have caused both land to be saturated and rivers to swell. Already landslide have been reported at the weekend in Northern and Eastern Oregon, and more are to be expected.

The flooding is to be at least as bad as it was in December 2007 authorities have warned. But will not be as bad as events in 1996, which were a disaster for the area.

Quoting to Oregon Live News Tyree Wilde, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service said, "Once we get this heavy rain and run off from snow melt, we're gonna get some flooding and there's certainly the potential for landslides. All but the very highest elevations are going to get soaked."

Currently moving in off the coast is a weather system with a lot of moisture in it. There is a warm front associated with the system that is looming over Oregon and Washington States, giving the potential for some heavy down pours.

The mixture of wet weather, snow melt along with saturated land and rivers, have been described as perfect for flooding and landslides. So be vigilant, make sure if you do live in landslide areas, that you heed any warnings issued. Try and keep an eye on weather stations. Maybe use the dopler radar at weather.com, or Fox 12's weather and news sources.

Driving conditions will be dangerous, so please keep your distance from other cars, and slow down. We saw all to well what a laps in concentration along with weather conditions can do, during the winter storms over the last few weeks. Drivers and commuters can find travel information on Trip Check's website.

If you live by any of the following rivers, it has been advised you watch for flooding:

» Wilson River At Tillamook

» Trask River At Tillamook

» Nehalem River At Foss

» Nehalem River At Vernonia

» Johnson Creek At Sycamore

» Johnson Creek At Milwaukie

» Chehalis River At Centralia

Sources: My own input as local correspondent, Trip Check, Weather.com, Oregon Live, Fox 12, ndaa weather.gov National Weather Service.