Flood warning in effect after thunderstorm Tuesday afternoon
Cars drive through water along Commercial Street Southeast around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
A flood advisory is in effect for the Salem area following heavy rain, thunder and lightning Tuesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service said thunderstorms could produce rainfall “in excess of one inch per hour, causing minor flooding” in areas with poor drainage. The advisory lasts until 5:45 p.m.
Drivers on some Salem streets just before 5 p.m. navigated rivers and some sidewalks were completely covered by water. No Salem roads are closed, said Heather Dimke, a management analyst with the city’s public works department.
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The warning covers portions of 10 western Oregon counties, including Marion and Polk.
The National Weather Service cautioned drivers to avoid flooded roads, since most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
Correction: A photo caption incorrectly identified Commercial Street Southeast.
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
