New storm system to bring more rain and potentially strong winds to rain-soaked Northwest

SEATTLE (AP) Residents across the Pacific Northwest were cleaning up the muck and mess left by heavy rains and flooding that were blamed for three deaths, but forecasters said Saturday that more rain

Saturday, November 11th 2006, 6:14 pm

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) Residents across the Pacific Northwest were cleaning up the muck and mess left by heavy rains and flooding that were blamed for three deaths, but forecasters said Saturday that more rain and possibly strong winds were on the way.

A storm system, expected to move in Sunday night, was not expected to be as dramatic as the past week's storms. Forecasters said there was little chance of more flooding; most of the precipitation was expected to fall as snow in the Cascade Mountains. Saturday's snow advisory was for 5 to 10 inches by Sunday morning.

However, up to 1.5 inches of rain was expected for the Puget Sound area in western Washington, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.

Strong winds and possibly heavy rains were forecast for Oregon. National Weather Service forecasters in Portland were concerned that heavy winds will topple trees standing in saturated soil.

Flood warnings in Washington remained Saturday for the Cedar River in King County as well as the Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam and the White River below Mud Mountain Dam. Twenty-four counties asked residents to report flood-related damages in advance of visits by state and federal authorities next week.

In Oregon, flooding carved up a major highway near Mount Hood. The road is closed indefinitely, state transportation officials said.