Oregon, 1996

Debris Flows in Oregon, February 5 to 9, 1996

February 5 to 9, 1996 · NWS PQR · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

During the week of February 3rd through the 10th, a river of subtropical atmospheric moisture flowed above northern Oregon. Weather disturbances within this flow produced very heavy rainfall, particularly in the northwestern part of the state.

The toll

Deaths
1
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.

During the week of February 3rd through the 10th, a river of subtropical atmospheric moisture flowed above northern Oregon. Weather disturbances within this flow produced very heavy rainfall, particularly in the northwestern part of the state. The most intense rainfall occurred from the 6th through the 8th. In this 3 day period Portland recieved 5.92 inches of rain, Eugene 8.16 inches, Salem 6.01 inches and Astoria 7.68 inches. Numerous mudslides were triggered, disrupting transportation in mountainous areas of western Oregon and in the Northeast Mountains. One man was killed when a mudslide knocked a tree down onto his car in the town of Philomath. Interstate 84 was cut by a mudslide near Hood River and in the Northeast Mountains, the town of Troy was cut off from the outside world from mudslide and sinkhole damage to all of the roads into the town.

Event by event

6 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.

Debris Flow, Northern Oregon Coast

When
February 5, 12:00 AM PST to February 9, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Northern Oregon Coast forecast zone

Debris Flow, Central Coast Range of W Oregon

When
February 5, 12:00 AM PST to February 9, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Central Coast Range of W Oregon forecast zone
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect

Debris Flow, Greater Portland Metro Area

When
February 5, 12:00 AM PST to February 9, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Greater Portland Metro Area forecast zone

Debris Flow, Central Willamette Valley

When
February 5, 12:00 AM PST to February 9, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Central Willamette Valley forecast zone

Debris Flow, Southern Willamette Valley

When
February 5, 12:00 AM PST to February 9, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Southern Willamette Valley forecast zone

Debris Flow, Northern Oregon Cascades

When
February 5, 12:00 AM PST to February 9, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Northern Oregon Cascades forecast zone

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Debris Flow, Central Coast Range of W Oregon1996-02-0525MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerDirect

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, February 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: 5563667, 5563668, 5563669, 5563670, 5563671, 5563672.