Fourth Wettest October Day in Portland’s History Spills Sewage Into Willamette River

The storms also downed power lines, leaving some Portlanders without power Sunday morning.

Rain on window, Portland Oregon, morning of 3-20-2013 - From the Downtown Hilton (gsloan / Flickr)
By Katie Shepherd

Wet enough for you?

Saturday's rainstorm proved the fourth wettest to ever hit Portland in October, dumping 2.13 inches of rain on Portland's streets and overwhelming storm drains that spilled sewage into the Willamette River.

The storm outperformed last year's "Ides of October" storm and the heavy rains on Halloween in 2015, according to the National Weather Service.

The sewage overflow, which consists mostly of storm water, will raise bacteria levels in the river. Officials say the river should be avoided for at least 48 hours.

The storm also downed power lines, leaving thousands in the Portland area without power Sunday morning.

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