High Wind in Oregon, March 19 to 20, 2005

Name: High Wind in Oregon, March 19 to 20, 2005
Start: 2005-03-19T14:00
End: 2005-03-20T18:00
Location: Oregon

March 19 to 20, 2005 · NWS PQR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

A frontal system moving onto the coast brought high winds to the area. Yaquina Bridge reported gusts to 68 mph, Sea Lion Caves gusts to 76 mph, Cannon Beach gusts to 70 mph, Newport Jetty gusts to 60 mph and Cape Foulweather gusts to 59 mph. Wind gusts in excess of 50 mph were reported at the Newport and Astoria airports as well as in Florence. High winds caused one wide spread outage and numerous smaller outages in the city of Clatskanie. All outages were the result of trees or branches falling over distribution lines. Nearly 800 customers were without electricity for over an hour.

What forecasters said that day

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 Portland, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 19, 8:30 AM PST, 5 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 8:30 AM PST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
830 AM PST SAT MAR 19 2005

.SYNOPSIS...A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA
TODAY. A COLD FRONT WILL SWING EAST THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUN
WITH POST-FRONTAL SHOWERS CONTINUING OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE
BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR MIDWEEK BUT SOME
RAIN MAY RETURN BY THE END OF THE WEEK AS UNSETTLED CONDITIONS RETURN
OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC.
&&

.SHORT TERM...MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM NR 40N/139W THIS MORNING AS IT MOVES EAST...THEN
NORTHWARD ALONG THE COAST LATER TODAY INTO SUNDAY. THE ATTENDANT WARM
FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE AREA TODAY...STRENGTHENING AS IT
MOVES NORTH. DOPPLER RADAR IMAGERY THIS MORNING SHOWS A LARGE AREA OF
MODERATE RAIN MOVING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE AREA AS THE WARM FRONT
APPROACHES. ALL MODELS DEVELOP SOME DECENT RAINS ACROSS MOST OF THE
FORECAST AREA TODAY AS PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES INCREASE WITH THE
INFLUX OF MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHWEST. MODELS IN FAIRLY GOOD
AGREEMENT WITH THE INTENSITY OF THE DEEPENING LOW COMING UP INSIDE
130 WEST WITH PRESSURE BOTTOMING OUT IN THE 980-985 MB RANGE THIS
EVENING. A FAIRLY STRONG N-S GRADIENT DEVELOPS ALONG THE OREGON COAST
THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. EARLIER
SHIFT HOISTED A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR TONIGHT AND WILL UPGRADE THE
WATCH TO A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE OREGON COAST THIS AFTERNOON.
NAM CROSS SECTION NEAR KONP SHOWS SOUTHERLY WINDS AT 925 MB LEVEL OR
NEAR 2000 FEET MSL PEAKING AT 65 KT BETWEEN 12Z-15Z...FOR POTENTIAL
COASTAL HEADLAND WIND GUSTS OF 65-70 MPH LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUN
MORNING. NAM AND GFS SHOW THE COLD FRONT MOVING EAST THROUGH THE AREA
SUN. SHOWERS SUN NIGHT AS A COLD UPPER TROUGH SHIFTS INLAND THEN
DECREASING SHOWERS MON AS MOIST ONSHORE FLOW WEAKENS.

.LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
CONFIDENCE IN MODELS IS NOT HIGH THROUGH EXTENDED PERIOD WITH RATHER
CHAOTIC MODEL SOLUTIONS AND POOR RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY. BEST
CONSENSUS IS FOR DRY CONDITIONS FOR MIDWEEK...THEN
A CHANCE OF RAIN AGAIN TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK.
&&

.MARINE...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL WATER TODAY AND
TONIGHT AS THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVES
ACROSS THE WATERS.  GALE FORCE WINDS ALREADY REPORTED AT BUOY 15 (OFF
THE COAST OF CAPE BLANCO) THIS MORNING. TW
&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT POPS
AST 98976 PDX 98976 SLE 98976 EUG 98965
&&

.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.WA/OR...GALE WARNING CAPE SHOALWATER TO FLORENCE THIS AFTERNOON
          THROUGH TONIGHT.
.OR......HIGH WIND WATCH NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST EARLY TONIGHT
          THROUGH SUN MORNING.

MORE WEATHER INFORMATION ONLINE AT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PORTLAND

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 4:55 AM PST, 9 hours 5 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
455 AM PST SAT MAR 19 2005

ORZ001-002-WAZ021-201430-
CENTRAL OREGON COAST-NORTH OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-
455 AM PST SAT MAR 19 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COAST OF SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE NORTH UP THE COAST TODAY. THIS FRONT MAY
PRODUCE STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE COAST TONIGHT AND MOVE
ONSHORE SUNDAY MORNING. A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR STRONG AND
GUSTY WINDS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS OF HIGH WIND MAY BE NEEDED LATER TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING.

ORZ003>013-WAZ019-020-022-023-039-040-201430-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-
GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-LOWER COLUMBIA-LOWER COLUMBIA AND I - 5
CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES-SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-
WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-WILLAPA HILLS-
455 AM PST SAT MAR 19 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE INTERIOR OF SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE NEEDED TODAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 10:07 AM PST, 3 hours 53 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1007 AM PST SAT MAR 19 2005

WAZ019-201900-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...
COLDWATER RIDGE VISITORS CENTER AND MOUNT ST. HELENS
1007 AM PST SAT MAR 19 2005

.SYNOPSIS...A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH WASHINGTON TODAY BRINGING
WIDESPREAD RAIN TO THE AREA...FOLLOWED BY SHOWERS TONIGHT.  AN
ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL SWING WEST THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
ON SUNDAY. UNSETTLED CONDITIONS AND SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
AREA DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK. FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD MODELS
ARE RESORTING AGAIN TO A PATTERN OF SPLIT UPPER LEVEL FLOW OVER THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST...AND STEERING THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION INTO
CALIFORNIA.
=====================================================================
= KEY TO DECODING THE WIND DATA...                                  =
= FORMAT...  168025  WHERE FIRST THREE DIGITS IS THE WIND DIRECTION.=
                     WHERE LAST THREE DIGITS IS THE WIND SPEED.     =
=           THIS EXAMPLE, WIND IS FROM 168 (SOUTH) AT 25 MPH.       =
=    *****  ALL WIND DATA IS IN MILES PER HOUR *****
=
=====================================================================

MORNING SALEM BALLOON SOUNDING WINDS 03/19 0400 PST
   200 FT      160005 (MPH)
   300 FT      160005 (MPH)
  1000 FT      170010 (MPH)
  2000 FT      170013 (MPH)
  2400 FT      170015 (MPH)
  3000 FT      180020 (MPH)
  4000 FT      180022 (MPH)
  4600 FT      180025 (MPH)
  6000 FT      180028 (MPH)
  7000 FT      190030 (MPH)
  8000 FT      200032 (MPH)
  9000 FT      200032 (MPH)
  9600 FT      200030 (MPH)
 12000 FT      200030 (MPH)
 13000 FT      190030 (MPH)
 14000 FT      190032 (MPH)
 16000 FT      190036 (MPH)
 18100 FT      200038 (MPH)
 20000 FT      205040 (MPH)
 21000 FT      200042 (MPH)
 23400 FT      210042 (MPH)
 25000 FT      210045 (MPH)
 27000 FT      220047 (MPH)
 29800 FT      220048 (MPH)
 30000 FT      230050 (MPH)
 31000 FT      230050 (MPH)
 33700 FT      235050 (MPH)
 35000 FT      240052 (MPH)
 37000 FT      240052 (MPH)
 38000 FT      260055 (MPH)
 38300 FT      265055 (MPH)
 40000 FT      265050 (MPH)
 43000 FT      260047 (MPH)
 44200 FT      270046 (MPH)
 50000 FT      290043 (MPH)
 52000 FT      300040 (MPH)
 52700 FT      300038 (MPH)

MT ST HELENS FORECAST WINDS ALOFT FOR NEXT 24 HOURS
ELEV.   03/19 0400PST  03/19 1600PST  03/20 0400PST  03/20 1600PST
  3000         185010         189039         188051         252032
  6000         239028         210061         205063         242036
  9000         239040         214050         224058         220042
 12000         238044         212037         232049         212052
 15000         253045         204035         234037         209058
 18000         258053         193039         238029         205062
 21000         258058         180045         245026         201060
 24000         259061         174051         263026         197058
 27000         263065         175053         279020         190057
 30000         266070         176047         277013         187055
 33000         271073         175030         259010         195051
 36000         273062         202023         253013         211042
 39000         276052         224021         250016         223036
 42000         280043         242023         248020         233031
 45000         286033         254022         244021         236029
 48000         295024         261018         239020         235028
 51000         304014         268014         234019         235027

Event by event

2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northern Oregon Coast

When: March 19, 2:00 PM PST to March 20, 6:00 PM PST
Where: Northern Oregon Coast forecast zone
Measured: 66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Central Oregon Coast

When: March 19, 2:00 PM PST to March 20, 6:00 PM PST
Where: Central Oregon Coast forecast zone
Measured: 66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
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

Every storm in Oregon in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, March 2005

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: 5440488, 5440489.