A strong late-season winter storm moved over the forecast area from off the Pacific, bringing heavy snow amounts to portions of northwest Oregon. Heavy amounts were seen in the higher elevations, with some lower elevations even seeing trace amounts.
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 PQR wrote it up.
A strong late-season winter storm moved over the forecast area from off the Pacific, bringing heavy snow amounts to portions of northwest Oregon. Heavy amounts were seen in the higher elevations, with some lower elevations even seeing trace amounts.
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 27, 7:56 PM PST, 4 hours 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
856 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008
.SYNOPSIS...THE NEXT BATCH OF COOL UNSETTLED WEATHER WITH LOW SNOW
LEVELS ARRIVES EARLY FRIDAY. THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH
MID DAY FRIDAY. STRONG ONSHORE FLOW WITH CONTINUING LOW SNOW LEVELS
WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THE ONSHORE
FLOW WILL TURN A BIT MORE NORTHWESTERLY AND BEGIN TO WEAKEN THIS
WEEKEND...BUT MAINTAIN A THREAT OF SOME COOL SHOWERS THROUGH SUNDAY
WITH MORE LOW SNOW LEVELS.
&&
.SHORT TERM...SATELLITE IMAGES SHOWING AN ACTIVE COLD LOW CENTER OVER
WEST OF THE QUEEN CHARLOTTES THIS IS INTERACTING WITH A WARM SYSTEM
OFF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST. SOME MOISTURE FROM THE WARMER
SYSTEM IS BEING DRAWN NORTHWARD WITH THE FRONTOGENESIS TAKING PLACE
AROUND 128W OFF THE WASHINGTON COAST. MODELS MOVE THIS FEATURE TO THE
COAST EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND SWING IT INTO THE CASCADES MIDDAY. AT
THE SAME TIME THE COLD UPPER LOW NEARS THE NORTH COAST BY LATE IN THE
MORNING. ALONG WITH THE COLD AIR THROUGH A DEEP LAYER...ADDITIONAL
LIFT PROVIDED BY THE LOW MAY BE ENOUGH TO BRING SNOW DOWN TO THE
NORTHERN COASTAL ZONES. THE SURFACE LOW DEVELOPMENT OFFSHORE GIVES
SOME LIGHT OFFSHORE FLOW LATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING THAT WILL
SUPPRESS THE SNOW LEVEL AND MAY ALLOW US TO FLIRT WITH EITHER SNOW OR
A RAIN AND SNOW MIX TO VERY LOW ELEVATIONS AGAIN. PRECIPITATION
AMOUNTS WITH THIS SYSTEM ALSO SUPPORT CLOSE TO WARNING VALUES IN THE
CASCADES AND THE FOOTHILLS AND COASTAL MOUNTAINS.
WILL UPDATE SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THE LOWLANDS AS THE SNOW
LEVEL WILL BE VERY LOW DUE TO THE OFFSHORE FLOW AND THEN AGAIN FROM
THE COLD POST FRONTAL AIR MASS. WILL NOT LIKELY ISSUE ANY ADVISORIES
FOR THE LOWLANDS UNTIL WE GET CLOSER TO THE EVENT AND IT BECOMES MORE
CERTAIN WHERE THE FINAL SNOW LEVEL RESIDES.
THE ASSOCIATED FRONT MOVES THROUGH MID DAY...THOUGH COULD BE A LITTLE
SLOWER PER 00Z NAM. THE COLD AIR AND POST FRONTAL SHOWERS SPREADING
IN DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE OROGRAPHICS INCREASE AND CONTINUE FRIDAY
NIGHT AND START TO EASE LATER SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. SOME
SHOWERS WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY WITH LOW SNOW LEVELS CONTINUING.
HAVE PUT A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE NORTHWEST COAST
LATE FRIDAY...AND EXTENDED THEM INLAND INTO FRI EVENING. MAY NEED TO
CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY DUE TO STEEP LAPSE RATES AND THE VERY COLD AIR
ALOFT.
.LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
MODELS STILL INDICATE A REX BLOCK SETTING UP JUST OFF THE WEST COAST
EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH A SYSTEM UNDERCUTTING THE RIDGE AND MOVING
INTO CALIFORNIA. SOME DIFFERENCES AMONGST GUIDANCE IN HOW STRONG AND
HOW LONG THIS BLOCKING PATTERN STAYS PUT...AND WHETHER ANY MOISTURE
CAN SWING NORTH INTO OREGON FROM THE CALIFORNIA LOW. IN GENERAL
MODELS INDICATE THAT THE BLOCK BREAKS DOWN BY MID WEEK AND ALLOWS
ANOTHER SYSTEM TO SWING THROUGH THE PAC NORTHWEST. TOLLESON
&&
.AVIATION...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THIS
EVENING...WITH THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION ALONG THE COAST AND IN THE
COAST RANGE AND CASCADES. AREAS OF MVFR ARE POSSIBLE NEAR SHOWERS.
RAIN WILL INCREASE AGAIN LATE TONIGHT AND FRI AS A SYSTEM MOVES IN
FROM THE W...BRINGING MORE WIDESPREAD MVFR CONDITIONS. SNOW LEVELS
WILL BE VERY LOW WITH WET SNOW POSSIBLE DOWN TO SEA LEVEL.
KPDX AND APPROACHES...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL TONIGHT. EXPECT AN
INCREASE IN RAIN AND MVFR CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT AND FRI MORNING AS
THE NEXT SYSTEM MOVES INLAND. WET SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE AT THE
TERMINAL BY SUNRISE. LOW SNOW LEVELS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY.
&&
.MARINE...THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DROP SE FROM THE GULF OF
ALASKA TONIGHT AND INTERACT WITH ANOTHER LOW MOVING E TOWARD THE N
CA COAST. SMALL CRAFT WINDS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT. GUSTY W WINDS ARE
EXPECTED FRI AS THE SYSTEM PUSHES INLAND AND HIGH PRES BEGINS TO
PUSH INTO THE EASTERN PAC. SEAS SHOULD BUILD BACK ABOVE 10 FT FRI.
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA/OR...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WIND CAPE SHOALWATER TO
FLORENCE THROUGH FRI NIGHT
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS CAPE SHOALWATER TO
FLORENCE LATE FRI MORNING THROUGH SAT
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES...
FOOTHILLS AND COASTAL MOUNTAINS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING.
SNOW ADVISORY FOR NORTH OREGON AND SOUTH WASHINGTON
COAST FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON.
SNOW ADVISORY FOR UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY FRIDAY MORNING
THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT POPS (PROBABILITY OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION)
AST 9+8843 PDX 7+8643 SLE 7+8632 EUG 7+8632
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 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 933 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 ORZ002-005>009-WAZ022-023-039-281315- CENTRAL OREGON COAST-LOWER COLUMBIA-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA- CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY- WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY- GREATER VANCOUVER AREA- 933 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY LOW SNOW LEVELS ON FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MAY BRING ENOUGH SNOW FOR AN ADVISORY...ESPECIALLY IN AND NEAR THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE NEEDED TODAY. ORZ003-004-010>014-WAZ019-020-040-281315- COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON- CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON- NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES- CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY- UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES-WILLAPA HILLS- SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS- 933 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH 12 PM PDT SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORZ001-WAZ021-281315- NORTH OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST- 933 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SNOW ADVISORY FRIDAY MORNING FOR THE COASTAL LOWLAND WITH UP TO 2 INCHES SNOW ACCUMULATION EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 932 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 ORZ005>008-WAZ022-039-281500- LOWER COLUMBIA-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA- CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY-I- 5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. HELENS...CLATSKANIE...HILLSBORO... PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...SALEM...MCMINNVILLE...DALLAS... EUGENE...CORVALLIS...ALBANY...LONGVIEW...KELSO...CASTLE ROCK... VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL 932 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 ...LOW SNOW LEVELS EXPECTED AGAIN LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON... LOW SNOW LEVELS WILL AGAIN PLAGUE THE INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON. OFFSHORE WINDS AHEAD OF THE NEXT RATHER COOL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MAY SUPPRESS SNOW LEVELS TO QUITE LOW ELEVATIONS MUCH LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. COLD AIR BEHIND THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL THEN SPREAD IN LATER FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AND WILL LIKELY KEEP SNOW LEVELS QUITE LOW...MUCH LIKE WHAT HAPPENED DURING WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD SEE SOME ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW FROM THIS NEW WEATHER SYSTEM THAT COULD EXCEED WHAT WE SAW ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS UNUSUALLY COLD LATE MARCH WEATHER SYSTEM. ORZ009-WAZ023-281500- WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HOOD RIVER...CASCADE LOCKS... MULTNOMAH FALLS...STEVENSON...SKAMANIA 932 PM PDT THU MAR 27 2008 ...ACCUMULATING SNOW POSSIBLE IN THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY... ANOTHER UNUSUALLY COLD LATE MARCH WEATHER SYSTEM WILL LIKELY BRING SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW TO THE WESTERN COLUMBIA GORGE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. SNOW AMOUNTS COULD REACH 2 TO 4 INCHES ESPECIALLY ABOVE 500 FEET. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL APPROACH LATE TONIGHT AND MOVE THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY MORNING. EAST WINDS PRECEDING THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL LIKELY SUPPRESS THE SNOW LEVELS TO VERY LOW LEVELS LATER TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING AND WILL BE THE PERIOD OF THE BEST SNOWFALL FOR THE COLUMBIA GORGE. A COLD FRONT WILL THEN MOVE THROUGH MID DAY FRIDAY WITH WINDS TURNING WESTERLY...BUT THE COLD AIR MASS BEHIND THIS FRONT WILL MAINTAIN VERY LOW SNOW LEVELS. A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION ARE POSSIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT LATER FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF ACCUMULATIONS IN THE WEST OF CASCADE LOCKS. BE SURE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS SHOULD YOU BE TRAVELING THROUGH THE COLUMBIA GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
6 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Between 9 and 12 inches total accumulated snowfall fell, based on ODOT reports from multiple stations along Hwy. 26.
Twelve inches total accumulated snowfall fell above Oakridge, along Hwy. 58. This observation was reported by a CoCoRaHS observer.
Ten inches total accumulated snowfall fell at the South Fork Bull Run SNOTEL site.
Between 9 and 12 inches total accumulated snowfall fell, based similar conditions and reports from the north Oregon Coast Range.
Between 15 and 22 inches inches total accumulated snowfall fell, based on reports from the Mount Hood Meadows and Timberline ski resorts on Mt. Hood, as well as ODOT reports along Hwy. 22 and Hwy. 35.
Between 15 and 22 inches inches total accumulated snowfall fell, based on similar conditions and reports from the north Oregon Cascades.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, March 2008
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: 91559, 91562, 91563, 112410, 91555, 112409.