The Pacific Northwest is notorious for its heavy rainfall, with Oregon towns like Cannon Beach and Newport receiving nearly three times the national average of precipitation. But it’s not just the rain that’s cause for concern—it’s the devastating floods that often follow.

In recent history, the Northwest has faced a number of catastrophic floods, driven by powerful storms, atmospheric rivers and rapid snowmelt. These floods have left a lasting impact on Oregon’s communities, from the historic Great Flood of 1861 to the destructive Christmas Flood of 1964. Here’s a look back at some of the most significant floods in Oregon’s history:

The Great Flood of 1861 to 1862

From November 1861 to January 1862 a series of storms caused widespread flooding in Oregon, Washington and California. Even Utah and Nevada were affected.

Many pioneers had settled in the flood plains of rivers like the Willamette River. They were a place to build a homestead because its flat, productive lands were close to rivers. The rivers provided both water and transportation. But many settlers came to regret their locations as floodwaters rose around them, drowning animals and destroying buildings.

The Great Flood of 1861 to 1862 was so big it turned California’s central valley into a 300-mile long, 20-mile wide inland sea. Thousands of people died along with a quarter of California’s cattle. It even caused the state to go bankrupt.

The Flood of 1894

The Flood of 1894 was the worst flood ever recorded in Portland, reaching a high-water mark of 33.5 feet downtown. The flood covered 250 city blocks and damaged mills, warehouses, docks, and transportation facilities. It also inundated agricultural land, killing livestock and eroding soils. The flood was a catalyst for the construction of Portland’s sea wall in 1929. Historians say it took nearly three weeks for the sewage laden Willamette River to return to normal. People used rowboats to get around and some industrious souls reopened their businesses from boats in the street.

1948: The Vanport Flood

On Memorial Day in 1948, the Columbia River roared downstream, rising 15 feet above the floodplain. Rushing water undermined a railroad embankment and dike surrounding Vanport, which at the time was Oregon’s second largest city. The Vanport flood left 18,000 people homeless, many of whom were African Americans. At 648 acres, the town was the largest public housing project in the United States and only about eight years old. The city was shipbuilding magnate Henry Kaiser’s answer to a lack of housing in the early days of World War II. The official flood death toll was 15 people but others believe it was closer to 102. The difference is attributed to racial discrimination, which was deeply entrenched at the time. Oregon did not pass a Civil Rights Bill until 1953 and the local real estate industry did not remove some of its racist practices for several more years. While many white residents hoped Blacks would leave the area after the flood, other residents welcomed them into their homes, giving them temporary shelter.

1964: The Christmas Flood

The so-called Christmas Flood was devastating. The National Weather Service rated it the fifth most destructive weather event in Oregon in the 20th century. Two storms blew through, one on December 19 and the other on January 31, 1965. Heavy snow was followed by warm torrential rains. An estimated 17 Oregonians lost their lives. Another 19 were killed in Northern California. Ten towns were heavily damaged, especially around Humboldt County. Twenty major bridges were damaged, and 4,000 farm animals were swept away.

The Flood of 1996

The 1996 flood was caused by heavy winter rains, deep melting snow and warm temperatures. With Portland’s seawall at risk of being overtopped, volunteers and city crews, under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers, built a temporary levee. Officials saythat prevented major flooding downtown. Even so, the navigation locks at Willamette Falls were severely damaged.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/12/10/historic-floods-of-oregon-a-look-at-the-states-most-destructive-flood-events-from-1861-to-1996/