Oregon, 1994

Damaging Wind in Oregon, May 15, 1994

May 15, 1994 · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$500,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Malheur

When
May 15, 10:00 AM PST to 12:00 PM PST
Where
Malheur County
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
43.193, -117.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe thunderstorms formed in extreme Eastern Oregon near midday. High winds knocked over trees, power poles, power lines, and billboards, and caused areas of blowing dust that contributed to several auto accidents. A weather spotter at Keating, northeast of Baker City in Baker County, reported winds gusting to near 50 knots between 1000 PST and 1130 PST, with trees and large tree branches blown down. The Ontario Airport, in Malheur County, reported steady winds in the 40 to 50 knot range from 1000 PST until 1200 PST, with gusts to 60 knots. Areas of blowing dust reduced visibility to 15 feet near Ontario, contributing to several auto accidents, including a seven car pileup on United States Highway 20 at 1145 PST. No one was seriously injured. Tumbleweeds and other debris were blown into irrigation ditches and dams in the nearby Treasure Valley agricultural area, plugging them up and backing up water. It was several days before all of the weeds and debris were removed and the irrigation systems were fully operational.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oregon in 1994Every state in 1994This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, May 1994

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10344290.