Rain, high winds expected this afternoon

Rain hammered the Portland-Vancouver metro area Friday night, resulting in multiple reports of flooded roadways and high water around the area, but the big storm is still forecast for this afternoon.

The National Weather Service office in Portland issued a warning Friday for high winds today, saying residents from the Willamette Valley up to Clark County should brace for possible power outages or traffic hazards as winds with gusts up to 60 mph whip through some parts of the region.

There was still some question Friday night as to where the storm — which has been building offshore — will go, National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Cullen said. That course can affect wind and precipitation forecasts, but the area can still count on high winds and steady rain either way.

“Across the metro area and Clark County you can certainly expect sustained winds of 25 to 40 mph,” he said. “Peak gusts will probably get up to the 45 to 60 mph range.”

The rain is expected to continue, but not at any amount that will cause flooding beyond ponding in low-lying areas and spots with poor drainage, or standing water in roadways with clogged storm drains.

However, it’s possible the band of heavy rain that soaked the area Friday night will mean a higher starting point for today’s rains, Cullen said, which could make what would have otherwise been fairly minor urban flooding more problematic.

Today’s forecast for Vancouver calls for winds to start picking up in the afternoon, then decline into the night. New rain amounts of up to 1 1/2 inches are possible through today.

The Vancouver Farmers Market said the predicted high winds led them to postpone today’s market to Sunday.

“Wind can create a dangerous environment in a market, and the safety of our customers and vendors is a priority to us,” market organizers told patrons Friday.

The market will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and will resume its normal Saturday schedule next weekend.

The nonprofit homeless service provider Share is increasing capacity at its two family shelters, Share Homestead in Hazel Dell and Share Orchards Inn, by 14 spaces ahead of the weekend’s weather. The spaces will go to families, couples without children and single women needing shelter from the elements.

Washington State University Vancouver said it will cancel its Saturday Preview Day activities for incoming students and their families, along with all other afternoon and evening activities.

About seven-tenths of an inch of rain fell Friday at Pearson Field, as of about 8 p.m., bringing the 72-hour rainfall total for the area to 2 1/4 inches.

Deep standing water cropped up on roadways around the county Friday evening, including multiple intersections around Camas.

“It’s just the typical too much rain for the storm drains to handle,” Camas police Sgt. Doug Norcross said.

Wind gusts in the Vancouver area reached the upper-20 mph range, with gusts at Pearson Field reaching 35 mph.

About 1,300 outages were reported in the county throughout the day, according to Clark Public Utilities.

The weather service said it expects winds to subside Sunday, but the rain will continue as a weaker low-pressure front moves over the area.

Showers are forecast for much of next week.