A High Wind Warning was issued for California zones CAZ083/084/085 at 1535 PST on 02/16 and expanded to CAZ081 at 2100 PST on 02/16. All warnings were downgraded to Wind Advisories at 1155 PST on 02/17.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.
A High Wind Warning was issued for California zones CAZ083/084/085 at 1535 PST on 02/16 and expanded to CAZ081 at 2100 PST on 02/16. All warnings were downgraded to Wind Advisories at 1155 PST on 02/17. The above report was the only verifying observation.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 2:20 AM PST, 40 minutes earlier.
SOUTHWEST OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD, OR
220 AM PST TUE FEB 17 2004
.DISCUSSION...
STEADY PRECIP FALLING ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA ESPECIALLY
SISKIYOU COUNTY NWD INTO JACKSON/JOSEPHINE. MFR REPORTING MODERATE
RAIN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. BASED ON THIS AND MORE RAIN TO FOLLOW..WILL
CONTINUE WITH VARIOUS FLOOD WARNINGS. WATER VAPOR SHOWING STRONG
UPPER SYSTEM OFF NRN CAL COAST WITH GOOD JET AND AREA OF
ENHANCEMENT. SURFACE LOW WILL PASS JUST WEST OF OREGON TODAY. THIS
PUTS THE AREA IN A GOOD POSITION FOR STRONG SOUTH WINDS LATE MORNING
INTO AFTERNOON. WILL CONTINUE WITH WIND ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS.
WINDS SHUD QUICKLY DIMINISH DURING THE EVENING. SNOW LEVELS LOWER
THAN EXPECTED RIGHT NOW BUT INCREASING WINDS SHUD MIX OUT COLD AIR
AT THE SURFACE AND SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE LATER THIS MORNING. ANOTHER
SURFACE LOW MOVES INTO NRN CAL LATE TONIGHT/WED ALONG WITH UPR TROF
AXIS. THIS WILL KEEP PRECIP GOING..THEN A BREAK ON THU AS BRIEF UPR
RIDGING OVER THE AREA. WEAK SYSTEM PASSING THRU THU NIGHT/FRI WITH
SHOWERS. MAYBE A BREAK SAT..BUT TIMING THIS FAR OUT BECOMING MORE
DIFFICULT AS ANOTHER SYSTEM FORECAST TO MOVE THRU SUNDAY. WILL GIVE
A LITTLE MORE BROADBRUSH FOR THIS PERIOD. MRF HAS YET ANOTHER
SURFACE LOW SLIDING ACROSS OREGON WED SO A WET PATTERN INTO THE
EXTENDED.
&&
.MFR...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...GALE WARNING FLORENCE, OR TO CA BORDER.
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING ZONES 21,22,24.
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY 21,22
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY ZONES 29>31.
WIND ADVISORY TODAY 24,26.
CA...GALE WARNING OR BORDER TO PT ST GEORGE, CA.
URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD WARNING ZONES 80>83.
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY ZONE 81.
HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY ZONES 83>85.
WIND ADVISORY TODAY ZONES 80,82.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTION TO HEADER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 1130 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 CAZ084-085-ORZ029>031-171430- CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY-KLAMATH BASIN-MODOC COUNTY-NORTHEAST SISKIYOU AND NORTHWEST MODOC COUNTIES-NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY- 550 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY HIGH WIND WARNING FOR TONIGHT. SEE PDXNPWMFR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY HIGH WIND WARNING ENDING TUESDAY. OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ORZ021-022-171430- CURRY COUNTY COAST-SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST- 550 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON .DAY ONE...TODAY HIGH WIND WARNING FOR TONIGHT. SEE PDXNPWMFR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING FOR TONIGHT. SEE PDXFLWMFR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY HIGH WIND WARNING ENDING TUESDAY. SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING ENDING TUESDAY. OHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. PZZ356-376-171430- PT. ST. GEORGE, CA TO CAPE BLANCO, OR 20 TO 60 NM- PT. ST. GEORGE, CA TO CAPE BLANCO, OR WESTWARD 20 NM- 550 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON .DAY ONE...TODAY GALE WARNING FOR TONIGHT. SEE PDXCWFMFR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY GALE WARNING ENDING TUESDAY. OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. CAZ080-082-ORZ024-171430- EASTERN CURRY COUNTY AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY- SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY-WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY- 550 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING FOR TONIGHT. SEE PDXFLWMFR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOOD WARNING ENDING TUESDAY. OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ORZ023-025-027-028-PZZ350-353-370-373-171430- CAPE ARAGO TO FLORENCE, OR 20 TO 60 NM- CAPE ARAGO TO FLORENCE, OR WESTWARD 20 NM- CAPE BLANCO TO CAPE ARAGO, OR 20 TO 60 NM- CAPE BLANCO TO CAPE ARAGO, OR WESTWARD 20 NM-CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY- EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS- SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES- 550 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. CAZ081-083-ORZ026-171430- CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY-JACKSON COUNTY- NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST SISKIYOU COUNTY- 550 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA .DAY ONE...TODAY WIND ADVISORY FOR TONIGHT. SEE PDXNPWMFR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WIND ADVISORY ENDING TUESDAY. OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GERIG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1114 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1109 PM AVALANCHE HAPPY CAMP 41.79N 123.38W
02/16/2004 SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
SY100 REPORTED .87 OF AN INCH OR RAIN PAST 8 HOURS, JUST
STARTED SNOWING.
&&
MWOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1148 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1109 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 E FORT JONES 41.61N 122.78W
02/16/2004 0.00 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
1.00 INCH OF RAIN PAST 8 HOURS. SPRINKLING OF SNOW AT
3000 FOOT LEVEL.
&&
MWOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1151 PM PST MON FEB 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
&&
MWOThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Spotter also reported sustained winds 40-45 mph and that it was the strongest winds in six years. This all occurred between 0300-0700 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2004
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: 5384098.