Winter Storm in Oregon, February 20 to 21, 1998

A strong slow moving frontal system supported by a 150 to 170 kt jet brought strong winds, heavy rain and snow, and small stream flooding to Southwest Oregon. Winds ahead of the front ranged between 30 to 60 mph but gusted up 98 mph on the coast. Reports include: Port Orford 62 mph, Bandon 75 mph, Phoenix 45 mph, Onion Mtn. 70 mph, North Bend 56 mph, Gold Beach 98 mph, Cape Blanco 98 mph, Cape Ferrelo 70 mph. As the frontal band moved to the Caifornia border late on the 20th the winds subsided but precipitation dramatically increased resulting in impressive mountain snow and urban and small stream flooding in some valleys. 1 to 3 inches of rain most of which fell in a 8 hr. period overnight and early the 22nd resulted in minor flooding of roads including highway 99, Biddle rd. and W. Main St. in Medford, Other flooded roads in Jackson county inclued Highway 238 in the Oak Grove Area, Agate Rd in the upper Applegate area, and Candas Dr. in Eagle Point where water was up to doorways. Numerous streets and areas of low lying flooding in Josephine Co. Minor flooding in Douglas Co. mainly along Deer Creek where some apartments were threatened. Impressive snowfall amounts fell in the moutains with 2 to 3 feet falling in the Southern Oregon Cascades and Syskiyous in a 12 hr. period while lighter accumulations fell as low as 1000 feet in Southwest Oregon. I-5 over Siskiyou Summit was closed for an extended period. Accumulations include: Mt. Ashland 30", Crater Lake 22", Siskiyou Summit 19", Hyatt Lake 13", Crescent 11", Chiloquin 6" Lower elevation snow between 1-3000 ft. included: Wimer 3" and Shady Cove 2".