High winds occurred across the northern portion of the Grande Ronde Valley. The winds blew a fir tree onto a Plymouth Acclaim, causing minor damage to the bumper.
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 PDT wrote it up.
High winds occurred across the northern portion of the Grande Ronde Valley. The winds blew a fir tree onto a Plymouth Acclaim, causing minor damage to the bumper. Several other trees were knocked down across the area, including one which fell onto highway 82 north of La Grande. Flying debris and broken trees limbs were both observed in Imbler. Power was lost to 600 residents in north Elgin, Palmer Junction, and Gordon Creek. A total of around 70 homes lost power in Imbler, Summerville, and Fruitdale Lane north of La Grande.
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 Pendleton, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 27, 1:15 PM PST, 5 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OREGON 215 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004 .SHORT TERM...WINDS HAVE INCREASED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA AS A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH THE REGION. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YAKIMA...KITTITAS VALLEYS AND THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND BLUE MOUNTAINS FOOTHILLS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON. THE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THE FRONT IS CURRENTLY HUNG UP ON THE WASHINGTON CASCADES. THERE IS A CLOUD AREA WITH PRESSURE TROUGH AHEAD OF FRONT BUT ACTUAL PRECIPITATION REMAINS CLOSER TO THE FRONT. WITH THE LIMITED MOISTURE CAN ONLY EXPECT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ALONG THE FOOTHILL AND THE MOUNTAINS. THE BEST INSTABILITY IS PUSHED TO THE EAST AS THE FRONT WITH ANY MOISTURE APPROACHES SO THUNDERSTORM THREAT IS RELATIVELY LOW AND SHOULD ONLY BE OVER THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT OVER THE NORTHEAST AS LOW SINKS SOUTH OVER IDAHO. LOWER LEVEL MOISTURE LINGERS OVER THE NORTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH A FEW SHOWERS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH COOLER BY ABOUT 15 TO 20 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY THAN TODAY AND A REALLY COLD NIGHT IN STORE FOR THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT. DRY AND A LITTLE WARMER ON THURSDAY AS RIDGE BUILDS BACK INTO WEST COAST. ML .LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THROUGH TUESDAY...WITH DRY CONDITIONS AND A WARMING TREND PERSISTING THROUGH MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE INTO TUESDAY...AS THE EXTENDED MODELS ARE SUGGESTING THAT A SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. HOWEVER...BELIEVE THAT THE RIDGE WILL REMAIN STRONG WITH THE SYSTEM ONLY BRUSHING EASTERN OREGON AND WASHINGTON...AND WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY. PALMER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... PENDLETON (AIRPORT) 43 64 37 70 / 30 20 00 00 WALLA WALLA 45 66 39 71 / 30 20 00 00 TRI-CITIES 44 70 38 74 / 20 05 00 00 YAKIMA 41 68 35 72 / 10 10 00 00 && .PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...WIND ADVISORY OR ZONES 44 AND 45 THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT. WA...WIND ADVISORY WA ZONE 26 THROUGH 29 THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT. && 93
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR 615 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004 ORZ041>050-WAZ024>030-281200- BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON OR-CENTRAL OREGON OR- EAST COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OR-EAST COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE WA- EAST SLOPES SOUTHERN CASCADES WA-FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS WA- FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OR-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY OR- JOHN DAY VALLEY OR-KITTITAS VALLEY WA-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN WA- LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OR-NORTH CENTRAL OREGON OR- NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS WA-OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS OR- WALLOWA COUNTY OR-YAKIMA VALLEY WA- 615 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION THIS EVENING AND CAUSE A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT AND INCREASING WINDS...WITH WINDS DECREASING AFTER MIDNIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THE WIND...AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WILL OCCUR. SEVERAL ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH 12 AM PDT WEDNESDAY. THESE INCLUDE A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS...A BLOWING DUST ADVISORY FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN...BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS AND YAKIMA VALLEY...AND A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE KITTITAS VALLEY AND THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION WITH A WARMING TREND AND DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
440 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0424 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 E YAKIMA 46.59N 120.38W
04/27/2004 51 MPH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
AVERAGE WIND 40.7 IN LAST 3 HOURS WITH PEAK WIND 50.9.
ROOF SHINGLES HAVE BEEN BLOWN OFF.
0325 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG ELLENSBURG 47.00N 120.55W
04/27/2004 KITTITAS WA TRAINED SPOTTER
STRONG WINDS RESULTED IN 2 POWER POLES KNOCKED DOWN.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
613 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 PM TSTM WND GST BOARDMAN 45.84N 119.70W
04/27/2004 60 MPH MORROW OR PUBLIC
SUSTAINED WINDS 30-35 MPH WITH PEAK GUST TO 60. BLOWING
DUST CAN BE SEEN ALONG HIGHWAY 14.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
615 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BOARDMAN 45.84N 119.70W
04/27/2004 60 MPH MORROW OR PUBLIC
SUSTAINED WINDS 30-35 MPH WITH PEAK GUST TO 60. BLOWING
DUST CAN BE SEEN ALONG HIGHWAY 14.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
710 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0643 PM NON-TSTM WND GST SUNNYSIDE 46.32N 120.01W
04/27/2004 0 MPH YAKIMA WA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SMALL TREE UPROOTED. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.
0628 PM NON-TSTM WND GST THE DALLES 45.60N 121.18W
04/27/2004 58 MPH WASCO OR OFFICIAL NWS OBS
GUSTS TO 58 MPH
0627 PM DUST STORM TOPPENISH 46.38N 120.31W
04/27/2004 YAKIMA WA LAW ENFORCEMENT
STEVENSON ROAD NEAR TOPPENISH CLOSED DUE TO BLOWING DUST.
HIGHWAY 221 BETWEEN PATTERSON AND PROSSER CLOSED DUE TO
BLOWING DUST. REPORTED BY TRIBAL POLICE AND STATE PATROL.
&&
SMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
723 PM PDT TUE APR 27 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 28 N PASCO 46.66N 119.13W
04/27/2004 68 MPH FRANKLIN WA MESONET
HANFORD MESONET SITE AT GABLE MOUNTAIN MEASURED GUST TO
68 MPH.
0647 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 8 E BOARDMAN 45.84N 119.54W
04/27/2004 59 MPH MORROW OR MESONET
CSEPP MESONET SITE--SITE Q03--MEASURED GUST TO 59 MPH
&&
SMITHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, April 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: 5390404.