Storms continue to slam Pacific Northwest
SHERWOOD, Ore. -- Storms continued to pound the Pacific Northwest on Saturday after a week when Oregon and Washington state were hit by heavy rain, floods, mudslides and a tornado.
Just south of Portland, the Tualatin River has 10 times more water in it than normal. It has swollen to 115 feet above sea level, nearly submerging vehicles and closing roads.
In nearby Sherwood, Philip Hahn and his wife Lisa have what looks to be lakefront property. Their land is submerged under 10 feet of fast-moving floodwater.
Hahn told CBS News the water has been rising "a couple of feet at least every day."
According to the National Weather Service, this has been the wettest December so far on record in Portland.
Damage from the storms is estimated to be at least $20 million in Oregon and Washington state.
Along the coast, flooding and landslides have forced the U.S. Coast Guard to close all ports along a 500-mile stretch of coastline due to debris in the water.
In the mountains, ski resort operators are making money off this storm. On Mount Hood, skiers are riding on 36 inches of fresh powder. At this time last year, some mountain areas had less than five inches.
Elsewhere, in Northern California, 25-foot waves nearly swallowed a pier in Pacifica. Near Los Angeles, a portion of the Ventura Pier fell into the ocean.
Back in Sherwood, Phil Hahn has been pacing and watching as the water has advanced 300 yards - just 150 feet from the Hahns' front door.
"Once it reaches this this berm right here, this whole area out here will flood very, very quickly 'cause it's flat as a pancake," Hahn said.
Hahn said in the span of 12 hours, the water rose 10 feet.