Alert archive / Oregon / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Portland, OR

September 3, 2026Columbia County, Oregon

NWS Portland, OR issued this tornado warning at Sep 3, 2026, 12:20 PM PDT for Columbia County, Oregon. It was in force for 25 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Sep 3, 2026, 12:20 PM PDT (19:20 UTC)
Expired
Sep 3, 2026, 12:45 PM PDT
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Portland, OR
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Columbia County, OR

The radar

The Portland,OR radar (KRTX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:24 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 3, 12:30 PM PDTFUNNEL CLOUD2 W Columbia City, ORA Trained Spotter reported a strongly rotating funnel extending halfway from the base of the cloud towards the ground.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Salem/Mcnary, OR (KSLE), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 117 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Salem/Mcnary, OR at 12:00Z on 2026-09-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 26 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Salem/Mcnary, OR at 12:00Z on 2026-09-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 147 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
26 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-26 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
730 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
147 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
173 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

370 
WFUS56 KPQR 031920
TORPQR
ORC009-031945-
/O.NEW.KPQR.TO.W.0002.260903T1920Z-260903T1945Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Portland OR
1220 PM PDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Columbia County in northwestern Oregon...

* Until 1245 PM PDT.

* At 1219 PM PDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
  tornado was located near Columbia City, or near St. Helens, moving
  north at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. Trained spotter reports funnel 
           cloud.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  east central Columbia County.

In Oregon this includes U.S. Highway 30 west of Portland between mile
markers 34 and 39.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4600 12285 4599 12284 4598 12284 4597 12283
      4597 12282 4588 12284 4588 12291 4600 12292
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 184DEG 16KT 4592 12287 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Picard
2 follow-up statements
355 
WWUS56 KPQR 031935
SVSPQR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Portland OR
1235 PM PDT Thu Sep 3 2026

ORC009-031945-
/O.CON.KPQR.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260903T1945Z/
Columbia OR-
1235 PM PDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM PDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL COLUMBIA COUNTY...

At 1235 PM PDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Kalama, or 7 miles northwest of Woodland, moving
north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...TORNADO.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. Spotter reported funnel cloud.

IMPACT...Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
east central Columbia County.

In Oregon this includes U.S. Highway 30 west of Portland between mile
markers 35 and 39.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4600 12285 4599 12284 4598 12284 4597 12283
      4597 12282 4593 12283 4593 12289 4600 12290
TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 184DEG 16KT 4599 12286 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Picard
338 
WWUS56 KPQR 031943
SVSPQR

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Portland OR
1243 PM PDT Thu Sep 3 2026

ORC009-031953-
/O.EXP.KPQR.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260903T1945Z/
Columbia OR-
1243 PM PDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL COLUMBIA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 1245 PM PDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Portland.

&&

LAT...LON 4600 12285 4599 12284 4598 12284 4597 12283
      4597 12282 4593 12283 4593 12289 4600 12290
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 184DEG 16KT 4602 12286 

$$

Picard

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Portland, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Sep 3, 10:34 AM PDT, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 10:34 AM PDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATE
National Weather Service Portland OR
1034 AM PDT Thu Sep 3 2026

Updated Aviation discussion

.SYNOPSIS...Another frontal system will bring widespread rain,
breezy winds from the south, and a 20-30% chance for thunderstorms
today. Any passing thunderstorms may produce lightning, heavy
rain, gusty erratic winds, small hail, and/or a funnel cloud.
Chances for lingering showers continue through the weekend with
cooler than average temperatures. Drier conditions early next
week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...Today through Friday night...Observations over the
past 24 hours show rainfall totals across the forecast areas
around 0.30 to 0.75 inches, with higher elevations picking up
0.75 to 1.25 inches. Current radar observations this morning
shows more showers streaming into the area. So, it looks like
our region is in store for another round of widespread showers
today, with similar 24 hour rainfall totals expected.

The upper-level low which brought the rain yesterday will move
overhead of the Pacific Northwest. This will lead to cooler
temperatures aloft and a general increase in overall atmospheric
instability. Model guidance is showing CAPE values anywhere
between 100-500 J/kg across the region. This instability, along
with good lift and moisture from the overall upper-level low,
will support a 20-30% chance for thunderstorms starting late
this morning through at least tonight. Model soundings are
showing minimal shear across the region. This means that long
lived cells are not likely, which means that "storm mode" for
today will likely take the form of "pop-corn" showers and
thunderstorms. If a thunderstorm does pass over an area, it may
produce lightning, heavy downpours, gusty and erratic winds,
small hail, and/or a funnel cloud. Given that even cooler air
aloft is expected today, an isolated cold-core funnel cloud
can't be ruled out (5-10% chance). By Friday, the upper-level
low continues to sit overhead, maintaining chances for lingering
showers and another 15-20% chance for afternoon thunderstorms.

These systems will continue to bring the first substantial
rainfall of the season. Models are still calling for 48 hour
totals (Wed morning-Fri morning) exceeding at least 1 inch of
rainfall. While this wet weather won't be a "fire season
ender," it will definitely slow down fire season. /42-10

.LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday...Over the weekend, the
majority of ensemble members continue to show broad upper-level
troughing over the Pacific Northwest. However, there is uncertainty
with whether or not we remain dry or continue with lingering
showers. While 75% of ensemble members suggest showers continuing
over the region Saturday-Sunday, the other 25% keep us dry.
What we can say with higher confidence is that this upper-level
low will maintain below-average 500 mb heights and keep high
temperatures slightly cooler than average for this time of year.
Early next week, the majority of ensemble members show the
upper low weakening and beginning to move eastward. This would
favor drier conditions, but there remains uncertainty with how
much high pressure will re-build over our area, and how warm/dry
we get. /42-10

&&

.AVIATION...Through 18Z Friday...Moist, southwest flow aloft will
persist today as a low pressure system moves toward the Oregon
coast. This system will maintain widespread rain showers across
the area with around a 15-30% chance of thunderstorms through this
afternoon, highest chances along the coast. Predominately VFR
conditions are expected to prevail, except with the heavier
showers which are likely to produce brief periods of MVFR to IFR
reductions in visibility and CIGs. Rain is expected to gradually
taper off from north to south through this evening. Probabilities
for widespread MVFR or worse remains relatively low at around 20%
or less, except at KONP where probs are closer to around 30-40%.
Generally expected south to southeasterly winds with brief gusts
possible up to 20 kt. Any thunderstorms that do develop will have
the potential to produce lightning and gusty/erratic winds.

KPDX AND APPROACHES...Predominately VFR expected with brief and
intermittent MVFR conditions possible with heavier showers.
Generally less than a 20% chance for MVFR at any given hour
through the period. There is also around a 10-20% chance for
thunderstorms through this afternoon. South to southeast winds
around 5-10 kt expected to ease after 02z Friday. /DH

&&

.MARINE...Current observations show seas around 9-11 ft at 8-10
seconds with southerly gusts up to 30 kt. These conditions are
expected to continue through tonight as a fresh west/northwest
swell overnight into Thursday maintains conditions. Due to the
continued sea state and breezy winds, a Small Craft Advisory is in
effect through at least tonight. There'll also be 15-30% chance
for thunderstorms through Thursday with the best relative chances
Thursday afternoon. Any of these storms will be capable of producing
gusty/erratic winds, small hail, and lightning.

While relatively active weather with lingering rain showers will
continue into the weekend, marine conditions will subside by
Friday with seas holding in the 4-6 ft range by Friday afternoon.
Similar conditions persist into early next week while winds
occasionally gust to 15-20 knots.

&&

.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

OR...None.
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for PZZ210-
     251>253-271>273.

&&

www.weather.gov/portland

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The office that day

Everything else NWS Portland, OR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 3, 12:40 PM PDTSpecial Weather StatementPQRColumbia20 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Oregon, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.