Flood, Cowlitz
- When
- January 10, 12:00 AM PST to January 14, 10:00 PM PST
- Where
- Cowlitz County, Kelso
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 46.150, -122.900
Flooding in Washington, January 10 to 14, 2006
A series of wet Pacific storms brought heavy rains to the area, causing flooding and damage. Flooding also brought widespread damage to southwest Washington.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 series of wet Pacific storms brought heavy rains to the area, causing flooding and damage. Here is a list of rivers that flooded during this event: Cowlitz River at Kelso, Columbia River at Longview, and Willapa River near Willapa.Flooding also brought widespread damage to southwest Washington. Low-lying areas and agricultural lands saw the most damage, while multiple road closures were due to flooding over local roads.Also during this event, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire declared a state of emergency in 12 Washington counties.
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 Jan 9, 8:49 PM PST, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 9, 8:49 PM PST, 3 hours 11 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
849 PM PST MON JAN 09 2006
.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG WET COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE ONSHORE
TONIGHT...WITH HEAVY RAINFALL AND WINDY CONDITIONS. THE FRONT IS
EXPECTED TO STALL OVER OUR AREA LATER TONIGHT...WITH ANOTHER SYSTEM
APPROACHING AND MOVING ONSHORE TUE FOR SUSTAINED RAINFALL OVER THE
AREA. THE FRONT WILL FINALLY PUSH THROUGH LATE TUE NIGHT WITH A
CHANGE TO SHOWERS AND DECREASING RAINFALL. EXPECT TO SEE SOME
FLOODING PROBLEMS FROM THIS RAINFALL EVENT. ADDITIONAL WEATHER
SYSTEMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN THU AND BEYOND...CONTINUING WET UNSETTLED
CONDITIONS OVER THE FORECAST AREA.
&&
.SHORT TERM...SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS ENHANCING COLD CLOUD TOPS WITH
THE FRONTAL BAND CURRENTLY MOVING INTO THE REGION...WITH GFS SHOWING
PRECIPITABLE WATER OVER AN INCH MOVING ONSHORE OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL
GIVE RAIN BE HEAVY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST AND HIGHER
TERRAIN. STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO INCREASE ALONG THE
COAST THIS EVENING AND A HIGH WIND WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE
COAST...AS A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW NEAR BUOY 29 LIFTS NE THROUGH
WESTERN WA OVERNIGHT. OF CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGH WINDS IN
THE INTERIOR TONIGHT AROUND 06Z-09Z AS THE LOW MOVES
INLAND...ESPECIALLY NORTHERN SECTIONS. NAM APPEARS TO BE HANDLING
THIS SYSTEM FAIRLY WELL WITH THE 00Z GFS NOW SIMILAR. WOULD BE MORE
KEEN ON ISSUING A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR INLAND AREAS IF THE COASTAL
BUOYS NEAR THE LOW WERE REPORTING AT LEAST GALE FORCE WINDS. AHEAD OF
THE FRONT HIGH WINDS HAVE REDEVELOPED ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST. WILL
HOLD INLAND WINDS BELOW HIGH WIND VALUES PER THE SPECIAL WEATHER
STATEMENT CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.
THE MODELS MOVE ANOTHER SYSTEM THROUGH ON TUE ESPECIALLY S...KEEPING
THE FORECAST AREA IN A CONTINUING WET PATTERN. THE ASSOCIATED COLD
FRONT FINALLY PUSHES THROUGH OUR FORECAST AREA LATE TUESDAY NIGHT TO
BRING A DECREASE IN THE PRECIPITATION. WEAK RIDGING SETS UP WED NIGHT
FOR A BRIEF BREAK IN THE STEADY RAIN....HOWEVER WE WILL STILL HAVE A
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION. MODELS SHOW A WARM FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA EARLY THU. LOOK FOR STRONG OFFSHORE GRADIENTS TO
DEVELOP AGAIN THU. DO NOT EXPECT HIGH WIND ALONG THE COAST DUE TO THE
EASTERLY COMPONENT. THE NEXT STRONG PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH
THE COAST THU NIGHT...CONTINUING THE VERY ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN.
.LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
(THU NIGHT THRU MONDAY). NO END IN SIGHT TO THE WET
PATTERN. MODELS IMPLY A DECREASE IN RAINFALL THU NIGHT AS OFFSHORE
GRADIENTS SET UP AHEAD OF ANOTHER DEVELOPING SYSTEM. MODELS DIFFER
ON DETAILS. THE LATEST GFS VALID 12Z FRI SHOWS THE PARENT LOW AT 46N
138W COMPARED TO THE ECMWF IN THE GULF OF ALASKA. FRONT MUCH FURTHER
OFFSHORE ON THE ECMWF THUS THU NIGHT/FRI MORNING MAY NOT BE ALL THAT
WET. ENSEMBLE CHARTS FOR 00Z SAT SHOW MORE VARIANCE IN THE OVERALL
SOLUTIONS. HOWEVER...ANOTHER WET SYSTEM LOOKS HIGHLY LIKELY. ECMWF
SHOWS A WAVY FRONTAL BOUNDARY...AND IS MUCH SLOWER BRINGING IT
INLAND COMPARED TO THE GFS. FRI NIGHT AND SAT LOOK COOLER AND
SHOWERY AS FRONTAL ZONE SLIDES THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA. SNOW
LEVELS COME DOWN QUITE A BIT...BUT BY THIS TIME THE BRUNT OF THE
MOISTURE HAS ALREADY MOVED THROUGH THE REGION. RIDGING DEVELOPS
AGAIN 12Z SUN AHEAD OF THE NEXT GULF OF ALASKA LOW. THE WARM FRONT
IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO THE AREA SUN. A LONG FETCH OF MOIST WEST
FLOW IS EXPECTED SUN THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. ANOTHER REAL WET
SYSTEM PLOWS THROUGH THE PAC NW SUN NIGHT AND MON. WEISHAAR.
&&
.AVIATION...CURRENT TAFS REFLECT EXPECTED CONDITIONS FOR NEXT 24
HOURS.
&&
.HYDRO...FLOOD WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SEVERAL COASTAL RIVERS
AND EXPECT ADDITIONAL WARNINGS TO BE ISSUED OVERNIGHT AS INTERIOR
RIVERS RISE. A SMALL STREAM FLOODING ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT
TONIGHT. A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT IN NW OREGON AND SW
WA...ESPECIALLY THE COASTAL RIVERS AND THE WILLAMETTE TRIBUTARIES
THROUGH WED AFTERNOON.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT POPS
AST ++9767 PDX ++9765 SLE ++9765 EUG ++9665
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
.OR/WA...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE S WA COAST AND N AND CENTRAL
OREGON COAST UNTIL 2 AM TUE MORNING.
GALE WARNING CAPE SHOALWATER TO FLORENCE THROUGH 7 AM TUE.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ROUGH COLUMBIA BAR THROUGH WED.
&&
MORE WEATHER INFORMATION ONLINE AT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/PORTLAND
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON FROM
THE CASCADE CREST TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE. THE AREA IS COMMONLY
REFERRED TO AS THE FORECAST AREA.Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 9, 5:00 AM PST, 19 hours before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 500 AM PST MON JAN 9 2006 ORZ001-002-WAZ021-101300- NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST- 500 AM PST MON JAN 9 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT HIGH WIND WARNING NORTH COAST AND CLOSE TO HIGH WIND CENTRAL COAST .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY STRONG WINDS AT TIMES COAST .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED TODAY ORZ011-013-WAZ019-101300- NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY- SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES- 500 AM PST MON JAN 9 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WINTER STORM WARNING SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY POSSIBLE HEAVY SNOW IN THE CASCADES AT TIMES .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER SNOW AND PRECIPITATITON REPORTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED ORZ003>010-012-WAZ020-022-023-039-040-101300- COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON- CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA- GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY- SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE- NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS- CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-WILLAPA HILLS-I- 5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA- SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS- 500 AM PST MON JAN 9 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE RIVER FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE AT TIME POSSIBLE RIVER FLOODS .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER RAINFALL OR FLOOD REPORTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED PZZ250-255-270-275-101300- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO CASCADE HEAD OR OUT 20 NM-COASTAL WATERS FROM CASCADE HEAD TO FLORENCE OR OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO CASCADE HEAD OR FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WATERS FROM CASCADE HEAD TO FLORENCE OR FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 500 AM PST MON JAN 9 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT GALE WINDS COASTAL WATERS .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY POSSIBLE GALE WINDS TUESDAYSPOTTER REPORTS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE NEEDED TODAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jan 9, 11:46 PM PST, 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 1146 PM PST MON JAN 9 2006 ORZ003>008-WAZ020-022-039-110800- COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON- CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA- GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY- SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WILLAPA HILLS-I- 5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK... GRANDE RONDE...TIDEWATER...SWISSHOME...ST. HELENS...CLATSKANIE... HILLSBORO...PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...SALEM... MCMINNVILLE...DALLAS...EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...FRANCES... RYDERWOOD...LONGVIEW...KELSO...CASTLE ROCK...VANCOUVER... BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL 1146 PM PST MON JAN 9 2006 ...WINDY CONDITIONS INTERIOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING INCLUDING THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY... A LOW PRESSURE OFF THE OREGON COAST TONIGHT WILL MOVE INTO WASHINGTON DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND INTO CENTRAL WASHINGTON BY DAY BREAK TUESDAY. AT THE PRESENT PROJECTED INTENSITY AND TRACK WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 45 OR 50 MPH ARE LIKELY OVER THE INLAND AREAS INCLUDING THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY. THESE WINDS COMBINED WITH WET GROUNDS MAY PRODUCE FALLING LIMBS OR A WEAKENED ROOT WETTED TREE COULD FALL PRODUCING DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES OR VEHICLES. ANY INTENSIFICATION OF THIS LOW ON THIS TRACK WOULD PRODUCE MORE DAMAGING WINDS OVER THE INTERIOR.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flood, Pacific
- When
- January 10, 12:00 AM PST to January 14, 10:00 PM PST
- Where
- Pacific County, Willapa
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 46.667, -123.667
Flood, Cowlitz
- When
- January 10, 12:00 AM PST to January 14, 10:00 PM PST
- Where
- Cowlitz County, Longview
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 46.133, -122.933
What these are
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Damaging Wind in Kentucky, January 10, 2006
- Debris Flow and Flooding in Oregon, January 10 to 14, 2006
- Heavy Snow in Kansas, January 10, 2006
- High Wind in Oregon, January 10, 2006
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 10 to 11, 2006
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, January 10, 2006
- Winter Weather in Missouri, January 10, 2006
- Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, January 10, 2006
- Winter Weather in Kansas, January 10, 2006
- High Wind in Montana, January 10, 2006
- High Wind in Montana, January 10, 2006
- Flooding in Washington, January 10 to 12, 2006
More
Every storm in Washington in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, January 2006
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: 5485994, 5485995, 5485996.