Oregon, 1996

Debris Flows in Oregon, December 25 to 31, 1996

December 25 to 31, 1996 · NWS PQR · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A series of strong Pacific storm systems brought a variety of disrupting weather events to Northwestern Oregon and Southwest Washington beginning late Christmas night and continuing through the end of the year. Heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches throughout the region on December 26th and 27th triggered numerous mudslides.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PQR wrote it up.

A series of strong Pacific storm systems brought a variety of disrupting weather events to Northwestern Oregon and Southwest Washington beginning late Christmas night and continuing through the end of the year. Heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches throughout the region on December 26th and 27th triggered numerous mudslides. A second strong storm from the 29th through New Years Eve dumped an additional 3 to 5 inches of rainfall. At one point Interstate 84 from Troutdale to Hood River was cut by eight mudslides.

Event by event

6 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.

Debris Flow, Northern Oregon Coast

When
December 25, 11:55 PM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Northern Oregon Coast forecast zone

Debris Flow, Central Oregon Coast

When
December 25, 11:55 PM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Central Oregon Coast forecast zone

Debris Flow, Central Coast Range of W Oregon

When
December 25, 11:55 PM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Central Coast Range of W Oregon forecast zone

Debris Flow, Lower Columbia

When
December 25, 11:55 PM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Lower Columbia forecast zone

Debris Flow, Greater Portland Metro Area

When
December 25, 11:55 PM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Greater Portland Metro Area forecast zone

Debris Flow, Western Columbia River Gorge

When
December 25, 11:55 PM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Western Columbia River Gorge forecast zone

What these are

Debris Flow
A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oregon in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, December 1996

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: 5575772, 5575773, 5575774, 5575775, 5575776, 5575777.