SW Oregon Residents Encouraged to Stay Alert for Landslides Due to Heavy Rain
The National Weather Service has posted a Flood Watch for portions of southwest Oregon including the Curry County coast and -- specifically -- Brookings, Gold Beach and the US Highway 101 corridor.
The Curry County Flood Watch is in effect through this afternoon. In addition, a NWS Hydrologic Outlook indicates a potential for flooding today across Curry County, western Josephine County, Coos County and western Douglas County.
A stalled front was expected to bring significant rainfall to the area over the weekend. Heavy rain may result in landslides in areas of steep terrain as well as debris flows in and near burned areas from recent wildfires.
Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can contain boulders and logs transported in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more, and they move faster than a person can run.
People, structures and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk.
Stay alert. Track the Flood Watch by radio, television, weather radio or online. If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
