Ice Storm, Western Columbia River Gorge
- When
- December 26, 12:00 AM PST to December 27, 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Western Columbia River Gorge forecast zone
Ice Storm in Oregon, December 26 to 27, 1996
An ice storm paralyzed the Portland metropolitan area and the Columbia Gorge. Ice accumulations of 4 to 5 inches were reported within the Columbia Gorge.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
An ice storm paralyzed the Portland metropolitan area and the Columbia Gorge. Ice accumulations of 4 to 5 inches were reported within the Columbia Gorge. Interstate 84 through the Gorge was closed for 4 days. Widespread electricity outages and hundreds of downed trees and power lines were reported in the Portland area.
Event by event
2 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Ice Storm, Central Coast Range of W Oregon
- When
- December 26, 12:00 AM PST to December 27, 10:00 AM PST
- Where
- Central Coast Range of W Oregon forecast zone
What these are
- Ice Storm
- Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heavy Snow in Washington, December 26, 1996
- Flooding in Oregon, December 26 to 31, 1996
- Heavy Rain in Nevada, December 26 to 27, 1996
- Winter Weather in New York, December 26 to 27, 1996
- Flooding in Washington, December 26 to 31, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Washington, December 26 to 29, 1996
- High Wind in Colorado, December 26 to 27, 1996
- Ice Storm in Washington, December 26 to 27, 1996
- Winter Storm in California, December 26 to 27, 1996
- Ice Storm in Washington, December 26, 1996
- High Wind in Wyoming, December 26, 1996
- Winter Weather in Vermont, December 26 to 27, 1996
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: 5575750, 5575751.