Even with all the rain and wind smacking the Pacific NW this past weekend due to a bomb cyclone offshore, previous wildfires have caused it to become an even more dangerous situation for drivers, including service truck operators traveling through the more extreme environs of the area.
Environmental concerns for drivers include flash flooding, mudslides, and other debris flows—made even more deadly owing to recent fires that have destroyed trees and other vegetation that could have played a role in stopping it.
After wildfires have burned away vegetation, it leaves behind a waxy substance that repels rainwater creating a hydrophobic condition where water is unable to soak into the soil, causing run-off.
This increases the possibility of debris flow activity, such as mud slides, boulder falls, excessive tree falling and, of course, water—making driving conditions in more extreme Pacific NW environments a lot more uncomfortable.
The Portland branch of the National Weather Service has indicated that 0.8 inches of rainfall in a single hour over an area can trigger flash floods and debris flow—and depending on the level of fire damage, the risk to drivers could be exacerbated.
Note that this isn’t just a seasonal warning, it’s a warning for the next few years until vegetation previously affected by fires can either replenish itself or be replenished by human hands.
Photo by Jim Halpert on Unsplash