Damaging wind gusts and possible gustnado with a cold front tore down signs and fence in Hermiston. A 4x4 pole, 8 feet long, was tossed into the air.
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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.
Damaging wind gusts and possible gustnado with a cold front tore down signs and fence in Hermiston. A 4x4 pole, 8 feet long, was tossed into the air.
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 Feb 4, 3:00 AM PST, 0 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
300 AM PST SAT FEB 4 2006
UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION
.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...STRONG SYSTEM CONTINUES
TO MOVE INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST EARLY THIS MORNING. THE MAIN LOW
IS HEADED INTO VANCOUVER ISLAND...WHILE THE COLD FRONT IS
APPROACHING THE CASCADE CREST AT THE MOMENT. EXPECT THIS COLD FRONT
TO MOVE ACROSS THE INTERIOR NORTHWEST BETWEEN 4 AM AND 10 AM THIS
MORNING. THE MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE WIND. A
NUMBER OF WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE UP ACROSS THE AREA FOR STRONG
WIND AND WILL CONTINUE THESE AS THEY ARE FOR NOW. WILL HAVE TO WATCH
A COUPLE OF ZONES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EARLY MORNING TO SEE
IF THEY WILL WARRANT ANY WIND HIGHLIGHTS. GOING WITH LIKELY POPS
THIS MORNING WITH THE COLD FRONT...BUT QPF SHOULD BE GENERALLY LIGHT
(EXCEPT ALONG THE IMMEDIATE CASCADE CREST). SNOW LEVELS ARE HIGH AT
THE MOMENT BUT WILL GRADUALLY LOWER THROUGH THE DAY AFTER FRONTAL
PASSAGE THIS MORNING. POST FRONTAL PRECIP LOOKS TO BE LIGHT MOST
AREAS EXCEPT NEAR THE IMMEDIATE CASCADE CREST AND POSSIBLY OVER THE
HIGHER PORTIONS OF THE BLUE AND WALLOWA MOUNTAINS. STILL EXPECT SNOW
AMOUNTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING TO BE BELOW SNOW ADVISORY
CRITERIA. WINDS SHOULD GRADUALLY DIE DOWN TONIGHT...THOUGH SHOULD
STAY UP ENOUGH TO KEEP LOW TEMPS ABOVE FREEZING IN THE BASIN AND
COLUMBIA GORGE. NORTHWEST FLOW AND LINGERING MOISTURE WILL PRODUCE
SOME SHOWERS OVERNIGHT...MAINLY OVER FAVORED UPSLOPE AREAS AND ALONG
THE IMMEDIATE CASCADE CREST. AN UPPER RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD OVER THE
AREA SUNDAY...CUTTING OFF WINDS AND PRECIP. 90
.LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD
OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR TRANQUIL WEATHER THROUGH THE LONG
TERM. SUBSIDENCE FROM THE RIDGE WILL PRODUCE FAIR SKIES AND LIGHT
WINDS. PATCHY LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING FOG MAY DEVELOP IN THE
COLUMBIA BASIN TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...BUT IT IS LATE ENOUGH IN
THE WINTER THAT THE INCREASING SUN ANGLE IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR
WIDESPREAD FOG DEVELOPMENT. COONFIELD
&&
.AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS AT
ALL TAF SITES AND ALONG TWEB ROUTES. HOWEVER...OCCASIONAL MVFR
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DUE TO -RA WITH CEILINGS LOWERING TO AROUND
2000 FEET AT TIMES AT ALL TAF SITES. IN ADDITION...SURFACE WINDS
HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY WITH SUSTAINED WINDS ABOVE 25 KNOTS WITH
WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 40 KNOTS AT ALL TAF SITES AND ALONG TWEB
ROUTES. WINDS WILL DECREASE AFTER 00Z. 76
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 54 34 46 29 / 60 20 0 0
ALW 55 37 48 31 / 60 20 0 0
PSC 56 32 50 25 / 60 10 0 0
YKM 53 26 49 24 / 50 10 0 0
HRI 57 32 50 26 / 60 10 0 0
ELN 49 28 45 24 / 60 10 0 0
RDM 50 21 43 19 / 50 10 0 0
LGD 46 29 40 26 / 50 30 10 0
5J0 48 27 42 23 / 60 20 10 0
DLS 53 34 49 31 / 70 10 0 0
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ042-ORZ044-
ORZ501-ORZ504.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING FOR ORZ049.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ043.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ041.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING FOR ORZ050.
WA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR WAZ028-WAZ029-
WAZ502.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR WAZ024-WAZ026-
WAZ027.
&&
TI:GGG
FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON
90/76/76HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
850 PM PST FRI FEB 3 2006
UPDATED FOR HIGH WIND WATCHES THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY HIGH WIND
WARNINGS AND WIND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY
WAZ024-501-502-026>030-ORZ041>044-049-050-501>506-041315-
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
KITTITAS VALLEY-YAKIMA VALLEY-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS-EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-
NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-CENTRAL OREGON-
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES-JOHN DAY BASIN-
OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
850 PM PST FRI FEB 3 2006
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
STRONG WIND
GRANDE RONDE VALLEY
THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE TONIGHT
ACROSS THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY. THIS WILL RESULT IN VERY WINDY
CONDITIONS IN THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY TONIGHT. THE STRONGEST
WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR LADD AND PYLES CANYONS. FOR FURTHER
DETAILS PLEASE SEE PRODUCT PDXNPWPDT WWUS76 KPDT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
STRONG OR HIGH WINDS SATURDAY
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES OF THE
SOUTHERN WASHINGTON CASCADES INCLUDING KLICKITAT VALLEY,
KITTITAS VALLEY, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF
WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON,
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON,
CENTRAL OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES,
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY
AREAS OF BLOWING DUST SATURDAY
YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS
OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON,
NORTHERN WHEELER COUNTY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
AS THE STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY IT WILL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY WINDY TO VERY WINDY CONDITIONS AS WELL AS RAIN AND
SOME SNOW. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION SATURDAY
MORNING. FOLLOWING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE PRESSURE GRADIENTS WILL
INCREASE AND HIGH WINDS ALOFT WILL MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE THUS
PRODUCING HIGH WINDS AT TIMES ON SATURDAY IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA
BASIN...THE FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS...NORTH CENTRAL
OREGON...THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN WASHINGTON CASCADES
INCLUDING THE KLICKITAT VALLEY AND IN SOUTHERN GILLIAM AND NORTHERN
WHEELER COUNTIES. AS SUCH A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE
AREAS FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM PST SATURDAY. WIND ADVISORIES ARE ALSO IN
EFFECT ON SATURDAY FOR STRONG WINDS IN THE KITTITAS VALLEY...THE
YAKIMA VALLEY...THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE...NORTH CENTRAL
OREGON AND THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY. FOR DETAILS ON THE HIGH WIND
WARNINGS AND THE WIND ADVISORIES...PLEASE SEE PRODUCT PDXNPWPDT
WWUS76 KPDT.
THE YAKIMA VALLEY...THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN...THE FOOTHILLS OF THE
BLUE MOUNTAINS AND NORTH CENTRAL OREGON HAVE RECEIVED SCANT
PRECIPITATION SINCE JANUARY 18TH RESULTING IN FAIRLY DRY TOPSOIL.
THE RECENT RELATIVELY DRY CONDITIONS AND THE VERY WINDY CONDITIONS
EXPECTED SATURDAY IN THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS WILL PRODUCE AREAS OF
BLOWING DUST...MAINLY LATE SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...THAT MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT TIMES DOWN TO ONE MILE.
SNOW LEVELS WILL INITIALLY BE AT 4000 FEET OR HIGHER WITH THE STORM
SYSTEM ON SATURDAY...BUT WILL LOWER DURING THE DAY SATURDAY.
SUBSIDENCE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT WILL CUT OFF PRECIPITATION SATURDAY
MORNING AFTER DAYBREAK IN MOST AREAS IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THE
CASCADES SO SNOW ACCUMULATIONS SATURDAY MORNING ALONG THE EAST
SLOPES OF THE CASCADES AND IN CENTRAL OREGON SHOULD BE LESS THAN 3
INCHES. THERE WILL BE SOME LINGERING SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS ON
SUNDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST MONDAY AND CONTINUE OVER THE REGION THROUGH MOST
OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL BRING DRIER CONDITIONS TO THE REGION. SOME
PATCHY LATE NIGHT AND MORNING FOG COULD DEVELOP IN THE COLUMBIA
BASIN.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY ON SATURDAY FOR STRONG OR HIGH
WINDS OVER WIDE AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON AND
IN CENTRAL...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON.
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY ALSO BE NEEDED FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR AREAS OF BLOWING DUST.
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
GRAPHICAL FORECASTS OF WEATHER HAZARDS OUT TO SEVEN DAYS
ARE DISPLAYED ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT:
WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/PENDLETON/CURRENTHAZARDS/HWO.HTML
ALL LETTERS IN THE ABOVE URL ARE LOWER CASE...EXCEPT THE H IN
CURRENTHAZARDS.
POLANThe 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 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, February 2006
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: 5493017.