More than three days of heavy rain and strong winds have caused widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in evacuations and snarling traffic throughout the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Wednesday's storm also claimed the life of a Portland woman, who was killed when a tree a fell on her home.
According to the National Weather Service, about 10 locations in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon have reported a foot or more of total rainfall in three days. Parts of coastal northwest Washington have seen 4 to 12 inches, while interior locations have seen 2 to 5 inches since this past weekend.
Roads in Portland, Ore., have been left impassable by flooding that ejected manhole covers, while mudslides broke sewer pipes and sent sewage into the streets, according to The Weather Channel.
Wednesday morning, Portland General Electric reported more than 27,000 customers without power in six counties. Some 72,000 Puget Sound Energy customers in northwestern Washington were also without power Wednesday morning.
Commuter train and Amtrak service between Seattle and Everett was canceled Tuesday because of a landslide on the tracks as wet, windy weather moved through the Northwest.
Here's a quick look at some of the storm damage.
This photo released by the Oregon Department of Transportation shows a sinkhole on Highway 22 in Yamhill County, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. The National Weather Service on Monday issued a flood watch for much of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. (Oregon Department of Transportation via AP)
Kevin McLeod, co-owner of the Riverview RV Park, wades through floodwaters near a partially submerged car Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, after he hooked up a pump to get rid of water that flooded RV's and other vehicles Wednesday morning in Puyallup, Wash. The National Weather Service says wind and rain are expected to slow Wednesday, but snow may continue to fall in the mountains. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Branches cover a car from a large fir tree that fell on a house overnight and killed a 60-year-old woman in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Strong winds have uprooted trees from the saturated ground. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
Johnson Creek swells near flood stage in Portland, Ore., as the Pacific Northwest was soaked by another night of heavy rain, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. The Oregon Department of Transportation says landslides and high water have closed parts of many state highways. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
Maintenance personnel look at a large sinkhole on Kane Drive in Gresham, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
Neighbors survey damage from a large fir tree that fell on a house overnight and killed a 60-year-old woman in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
Workers survey damage from the large fir tree that fell on the house overnight and killed a 60-year-old woman in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
Residents of the Riverview RV Park, survey floodwaters Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Puyallup, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Drivers make their way through high water in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, as the Pacific Northwest was soaked by another night of heavy rain. The rain that has already drenched the region pushed many creeks and rivers to flood stage as residents in some communities stacked sandbags. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
A double rainbow is seen near downtown Tacoma, Wash., including the state Route 509 bridge over the Thea Ross Waterway, lower right, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Torrential rains pummeled parts of the Pacific Northwest early Wednesday, causing mudslides and flooding roads. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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Jayleen R. Heft
Jayleen Heft is the digital content editor for PropertyCasualty360.com. Contact her at [email protected].
