Northwest battered by wind and rain

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A storm in the Pacific Northwest closed roads, sent rivers over their banks and pounded the coast of Oregon and Washington with dangerous surf..

The governors of Oregon and Washington declared states of emergency.

At least four deaths were blamed on the weather. A 90-year-old woman, Doris Hart, was found dead of a heart attack outside her house in Tillamook County in coastal Oregon. She had a small suitcase, a purse and her medication with her and was apparently waiting for a friend to pick her up, The Portland Oregonian reported.

Both Interstate 5, the major highway route between Seattle and Portland, and Amtrak service between the cities and Vancouver, B.C., were shut down by mudslides. Drivers trying to get from one city to the other were advised to take a detour that involves at least a 7-hour drive in good weather, The Oregonian said.

In Seattle, where at least 5 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, police used rafts to evacuate residents from flooded areas, Coastal rivers in both states flooded.

On Monday, winds were recorded at 129 mph in Bay City, Ore., and 104 mph in Cape Disappointment, Wash., AccuWeather reported.