Name: High Wind in Oregon, November 23, 1998
Start: 1998-11-23T11:00
End: 1998-11-23T17:00
Location: Oregon

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $250,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

The second in a series of powerful pre-Thanksgiving storms brought high winds to the north Oregon coast again. In Clatsop county, Cannon Beach reported gusts to 65 mph, and in Lincoln county Newport had sustained winds 51 mph gusting to 71 mph and Sea Lion Caves reported 60 mph sustained winds with gusts to 73 mph. Numerous other reports of downed trees and power outages along the coast were received. This storm also caused high winds in the Willamette Valley, particularly in the Salem area. At 328 pm a gust to 68 mph was recorded by the National Weather Service at Salem airport. Gusts of 50 to 58 mph were reported in the Northern Willamette valley as well. Numerous reports of trees blown down were received, and a portion of the roof was blown off of the high school in Jefferson, 12 miles south of Salem. The Independence bridge near Salem was closed to traffic temporarily due to damage from a tree blown down in the wind. About 100000 customers were without power for part of the day, mostly in Marion county.

Event by event

4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Central Coast

When: November 23, 11:00 AM PST to 3:00 PM PST
Where: Central Coast forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

The second in a series of powerful pre-Thanksgiving storms brought high winds to the north Oregon coast again. In Clatsop county, Cannon Beach reported gusts to 65 mph, and in Lincoln county Newport had sustained winds 51 mph gusting to 71 mph and Sea Lion Caves reported 60 mph sustained winds with gusts to 73 mph. Numerous other reports of downed trees and power outages along the coast were received. This storm also caused high winds in the Willamette Valley, particularly in the Salem area. At 328 pm a gust to 68 mph was recorded by the National Weather Service at Salem airport. Gusts of 50 to 58 mph was reported in the Northern Willamette valley as well. Numerous reports of trees blown down were received, and a portion of the roof was blown off of the high school in Jefferson, 12 miles south of Salem. The Independence bridge near Salem was closed to traffic temporarily due to damage from a tree blown down in the wind. About 100000 customers were without power for part of the day, mostly in Marion county.

High Wind, Northern Coast

When: November 23, 11:00 AM PST
Where: Northern Coast forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

High Wind, Northern Willamette Valley Including Portland Metro Area

When: November 23, 3:00 PM PST to 5:00 PM PST
Where: Northern Willamette Valley Including Portland Metro Area forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

The second in a series of powerful pre-Thanksgiving storms brought high winds to the north Oregon coast again. In Clatsop county, Cannon Beach reported gusts to 65 mph, and in Lincoln county Newport had sustained winds 51 mph gusting to 71 mph and Sea Lion Caves reported 60 mph sustained winds with gusts to 73 mph. Numerous other reports of downed trees and power outages along the coast were received. This storm also caused high winds in the Willamette Valley, particularly in the Salem area. At 328 pm a gust to 68 mph was recorded by the National Weather Service at Salem airport. Gusts of 50 to 58 mph was reported in the Northern Willamette valley as well. Numerous reports of trees blown down were received, and a portion of the roof was blown off of the high school in Jefferson, 12 miles south of Salem. The Independence bridge near Salem was closed to traffic temporarily due to damage from a tree blown down in the wind. About 100000 customers were without power for part of the day, mostly in Marion county.

High Wind, Central Willamette Valley Including Salem

When: November 23, 3:28 PM PST
Where: Central Willamette Valley Including Salem forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph)
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

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 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, November 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: 5673914, 5673915, 5674024, 5673916.