Oregon, 1998

High Wind in Oregon, February 5 to 6, 1998

February 5 to 6, 1998 · NWS MFR · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A deep surface low travelled northward off of the Oregon coast creating a strong south-southeast pressure gradient. Sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph with gusts of 50 to 70 mph were reported across Southwest and South Central Oregon.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 MFR wrote it up.

A deep surface low travelled northward off of the Oregon coast creating a strong south-southeast pressure gradient. Sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph with gusts of 50 to 70 mph were reported across Southwest and South Central Oregon. This resulted in a few downed trees and power lines. Minor structual damage was reported in Grants Pass with a small section of a roof blown off. The highest reported gusts was reported along the coast at Cape Blanco with 81 mph. Other gusts include: 60 mph at Chiloquin, 65 mph Mt. Ashland Ski Lodge, 55 mph at Onion Mtn., 55 mph at Red Mound, 49 mph at NWSO MFR, 55 mph at Brookings, 50 mph at Bandon, 52 mph at North Bend and 44 mph at Talent. Approximately 2200 homes and businesses lost power in Jackson Co.

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, South Central Oregon

When
February 5, 11:29 PM PST to February 6, 4:00 PM PST
Where
South Central Oregon forecast zone

High Wind, Southern Coast

When
February 6, 4:00 PM PST
Where
Southern Coast forecast zone

High Wind, Umpqua Basin

When
February 6, 4:00 PM PST
Where
Umpqua Basin forecast zone

High Wind, Rogue Basin

When
February 6, 4:00 PM PST
Where
Rogue Basin forecast zone

High Wind, Southern Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains

When
February 6, 4:00 PM PST
Where
Southern Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains forecast zone

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oregon in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, February 1998

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: 5631689, 5631690, 5631691, 5631692, 5631693.