Heavy rain could cause flooding on Friday

Heavy rain and strong winds are going to make for a messy Friday. Here’s what to expect:

TYPE: It will be mostly all rain. Some freezing rain inland and in the mountains early Friday morning is possible.
HOW MUCH: Most of the area will pick up 1.5″ to 3.0″ of rain.
TIMING: All day Friday through Friday night.
WINDS: Peak gusts should get into the 40 to 50 mph range from 6 p.m. Friday through 2 a.m. Saturday. Southeast winds will be strongest at the coast. Some power outages are possible.
FLOODING: A Flood Watch has been issued for Friday morning through Saturday morning. The combination of heavy rain and melting snow will lead to significant ponding on the roads. We’ll be watching the rivers and streams Friday through Saturday. Any ice-covered rivers have the potential to flood due to ice jams.
COASTAL FLOODING: We’re watching the Saturday 10:06 a.m. high tide for minor flooding, beach erosion, and splash over. That tide is already running astronomically high and is one of the highest of the month at 11.1′. The worst of the storm will be over by Saturday morning, but it won’t take much to bring that tide to the flood stage which is 12′ in Portland.

Clouds will have a hard time breaking up on Saturday. A few showers are possible.
Warm temperatures will stay with us on Saturday with highs in the upper 40s and low 50s. Winds will stay gusty as well.
Colder air will invade on Sunday.
A few snow showers are possible Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is looking mostly sunny.