High Wind in Oregon, March 26 to 27, 2005

Name: High Wind in Oregon, March 26 to 27, 2005
Start: 2005-03-26T10:00
End: 2005-03-27T00:00
Location: Oregon

March 26 to 27, 2005 · NWS PQR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

2 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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 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 26, 8:30 AM PST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 26, 8:30 AM PST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
830 AM PST SAT MAR 26 2005

.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG PACIFIC STORM WAS SPREADING INLAND THIS MORNING.
THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNIFICANT RAIN AND SNOW
IN THE MOUNTAINS. FREEZING LEVELS WILL RISE TODAY THEN FALL ON SUNDAY
WITH SNOW ON THE PEAKS DROPPING DOWN LOWER ON THE SLOPES AS THE WEEK
PROGRESSES...AS WELL AS STRONG WIND ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST. THIS
SYSTEM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL WEAKER SYSTEMS LATER THIS NEXT
WEEK...FOR COOL SHOWERY WEATHER WITH LOWER SNOW LEVELS IN THE
MOUNTAINS.
&&

.SHORT TERM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND SATELLITE
IMAGERY SHOWS A WAVY BAROCLINIC ZONE SPREADING INTO THE FORECAST AREA
THIS MORNING. ACCORDING TO SATELLITE IMAGERY...THE HEAVIEST
PRECIPITATION IS CURRENTLY NORTH OF OUR AREA. THE WAVY WET COLD FRONT
WILL SLOWLY SAG SOUTH THROUGH OUR FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...HANGING UP SOME IN OUR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AREAS SUNDAY.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS STILL LOOK PRETTY GOOD WITH AT LEAST 2 TO 4 INCHES
ALONG THE COAST AND IN THE COAST RANGE AND MOUNTAINS...AND AN INCH
PLUS IN THE VALLEYS. THE MOIST BAROCLINIC BAND IS TAPPING INTO
MOISTURE IN THE TROPICS...SUPPORTING THE HEAVIER RAINFALL. GFS LAYER
PRECIPITABLE WATER CHART SHOWS AMOUNTS NEAR 1.5 INCH SPREADING TOWARD
THE COAST. SOILS ARE RATHER DRY FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR SO ANY FLOODING
WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN...BUT WE WILL NEED TO MONITOR
CLOSELY ESPECIALLY IF RAINFALL TOTALS EXCEED CURRENT FORECASTS.

GALE FORCE WINDS HAVE MOVED INTO THE COASTAL WATERS AND MODELS SHOW A
LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPING ALONG THE COAST WITH 40 TO 50 KT BOUNDARY
LAYER WINDS AND 60 KT AT 850 MB. THE GRADIENT IS STRONGEST CENTERED
AROUND 18Z SAT...AND BEGINNING TO HAVE MORE OF A SOUTHERLY COMPONENT.
THE HIGH WIND WARNING AND THE GALE WARNING COVER THE CURRENT
CONDITIONS WELL AND WILL CONTINUE THEM THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE
FRONTAL ZONE WILL FINALLY PUSH EAST SUNDAY NIGHT AS AN UPSTREAM SHORT
WAVE AND COOLER AIR PUSH ONSHORE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. SNOW WILL
ACCUMULATE AT THE HIGHER PEAKS FIRST AND THEN LOWER DOWN ON THE
SLOPES...IN THE SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES SNOW LEVEL WILL FALL DOWN
TO  5500 FEET SATURDAY NIGHT AND 4500 FEET SUNDAY...AND IN THE NORTH
AND CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES SNOW LEVELS WILL 5500 FEET SUNDAY AND
4500 FEET SUNDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW LEVELS MAY FALL DOWN TO NEAR 3000
FEET BY MONDAY...A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT IS IN EFFECT THAT COVERS
THIS WELL. LIKENS

.LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...MODELS
CONTINUE TO KEEP AN ACTIVE WESTERLY PATTERN OVER THE REGION THROUGH
NEXT WEEK. TIMING OF INDIVIDUAL SHORTWAVES DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD
IS QUITE A CHALLENGE. MODELS ARE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE SYSTEMS WILL
COME THROUGH ON TUE AND THU...WILL CONTINUE FORECAST OF HIGH POPS AND
SHOWERS THROUGH THE EXTENDED. SNOW LEVELS WILL HOVER AT OR JUST BELOW
PASS LEVEL THROUGH THE WEEK.
&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT POPS
AST ++876  PDX ++976  SLE ++986  EUG 9+986
&&

.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.WA/OR...GALE WARNING CAPE SHOALWATER TO FLORENCE TODAY.
      ...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR OREGON COASTAL HEADLANDS FOR TODAY
         INTO THIS EVE.

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 26, 5:36 AM PST, 4 hours 24 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
536 AM PST SAT MAR 26 2005

ORZ001-002-271400-
CENTRAL OREGON COAST-NORTH OREGON COAST-
536 AM PST SAT MAR 26 2005

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY

HIGH WIND WARNING AND LOCAL HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LOCAL HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE THORUGH SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS OF STRONG WIND OR HEAVY RAIN ARE ENCOURAGED TODAY.

ORZ003>013-WAZ019>023-039-040-271400-
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-
SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-WILLAPA HILLS-
536 AM PST SAT MAR 26 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHW
EST OREGON.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

LOCAL HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE.
THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LOCAL HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE THROUGH SUNDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER
IN THE CASCADES SUNDAY INTO NEXT WEEK.
THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS OF ANY HEAVY RAIN OR MOUNTAIN SNOW ARE
ENCOURAGED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 26, 9:41 AM PST, 19 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
941 AM PST SAT MAR 26 2005

WAZ019-040-271900-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLDWATER RIDGE VISITORS CENTER...COUGAR...
MOUNT ST. HELENS AND TOUTLE
941 AM PST SAT MAR 26 2005

.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG PACIFIC STORM WAS SPREADING INLAND THIS MORNING.
THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SIGNIFICANT RAIN AND SNOW
IN THE MOUNTAINS. FREEZING LEVELS WILL RISE TODAY THEN FALL ON SUNDAY
WITH SNOW ON THE PEAKS DROPPING DOWN LOWER ON THE SLOPES AS THE WEEK
PROGRESSES...AS WELL AS STRONG WIND ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST. THIS
SYSTEM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL WEAKER SYSTEMS LATER THIS NEXT
WEEK...FOR COOL SHOWERY WEATHER WITH LOWER SNOW LEVELS IN THE
MOUNTAINS.

=====================================================================
= 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 03/26 0400 PST
   200 FT      160010 (MPH)
   400 FT      165018 (MPH)
  1000 FT      180037 (MPH)
  2000 FT      190041 (MPH)
  2500 FT      200044 (MPH)
  3000 FT      205045 (MPH)
  4000 FT      215046 (MPH)
  4800 FT      220047 (MPH)
  6000 FT      220053 (MPH)
  7000 FT      225054 (MPH)
  8000 FT      230046 (MPH)
  9000 FT      235045 (MPH)
  9900 FT      235046 (MPH)
 12000 FT      240044 (MPH)
 14000 FT      245043 (MPH)
 16000 FT      265043 (MPH)
 17000 FT      280043 (MPH)
 18400 FT      275039 (MPH)
 20000 FT      275043 (MPH)
 23800 FT      285048 (MPH)
 25000 FT      285046 (MPH)
 26000 FT      290046 (MPH)
 30000 FT      280073 (MPH)
 30400 FT      280081 (MPH)
 31000 FT      280083 (MPH)
 34300 FT      285089 (MPH)
 35000 FT      290089 (MPH)
 38800 FT      290091 (MPH)
 39000 FT      285096 (MPH)
 42000 FT      285063 (MPH)
 44500 FT      285052 (MPH)
 47000 FT      275050 (MPH)
 50000 FT      290038 (MPH)
 52800 FT      290024 (MPH)
 53000 FT      290025 (MPH)

MT ST HELENS FORECAST WINDS ALOFT FOR NEXT 24 HOURS
ELEV.   03/26 0400PST  03/26 1600PST  03/27 0400PST  03/27 1600PST
  3000         187035         231020         232019         243017
  6000         219052         236040         238038         246027
  9000         234053         238048         235041         240032
 12000         243049         235059         233048         234039
 15000         246045         235071         227065         225041
 18000         252049         237076         228074         226045
 21000         260055         237076         226095         229062
 24000         270062         236081         220108         221095
 27000         274070         239089         218118         214120
 30000         274079         240099         217128         216124
 33000         270091         237106         221127         225112
 36000         273102         239109         229109         233074
 39000         279098         243101         237084         240053
 42000         286058         250077         246053         245043
 45000         289032         253058         251036         252036
 48000         285029         251044         254032         261031
 51000         281026         249030         258029         270027

Event by event

2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northern Oregon Coast

When: March 26, 10:00 AM PST to March 27, 12:00 AM PST
Where: Northern Oregon Coast forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A strong cold front approached the coast, bringing strong winds ahead of it. Yaquina Bridge reported wind gusts to 60 mph, and Clatsop spit gusts to 57 mph. Wind gusts in excess of 40 mph were reported at Newport Jetty and in Florence. A report was receive from the public at Glenedin Beach of wind gusts to 65 mph with some trees down.

High Wind, Central Oregon Coast

When: March 26, 10:00 AM PST to March 27, 12:00 AM PST
Where: Central Oregon Coast forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 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: 5440490, 5440626.