PORTLAND -- Oregon Department of Transportation crews reopened a section of closed Highway 18 Wednesday after it was blocked by trees felled by this week's storms.
Rain and winds knocked down at least 25 trees, ODOT officials said Wednesday morning. Crews had the road largely cleared of debris and trees by noon.
The highway was closed following Tuesday's storm from U.S. 101 to Grande Ronde.
National Weather Service officials warned of dangerous and fast-moving debris flows of boulders, logs and mud.
”It is very bad, this is one of the better storms that we’ve had in the last couple of years,” ODOT's Brian Morey said.
A wind gust at Mt. Hebo east of Pacific City registered 97 mph. Gusts hit 81 mph in Astoria, said KGW meteorologist Nick Allard.
ODOT issued a high water advisory on U.S. 101, just south of Seaside, at Beerman Creek. Motorists should slow down through the area, which had 14 inches of water on the roadway.
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KGW Reporter Mark Hanrahan contributed to this report.
