Strong winds aloft occasionally mixing down to the surface produced high winds. Wind gusts in mph included 15 miles west of Basin City (78), 14 miles north northwest of Richland (62), 19 miles northwest of West Richland (59), 3 miles west of Richland (63), and Richland AWOS (61).
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Strong winds aloft occasionally mixing down to the surface produced high winds. Wind gusts in mph included 15 miles west of Basin City (78), 14 miles north northwest of Richland (62), 19 miles northwest of West Richland (59), 3 miles west of Richland (63), and Richland AWOS (61). A semi-truck was rolled over in the high wind near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Framework on a medical clinic construction in Kennewick was blown down by the high wind.
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 6, 9:30 PM PST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
930 PM PST WED FEB 6 2008
UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION
.UPDATE...FORECAST WAS UPDATED TO UPGRADE THE WIND ADVISORY TO A
HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE OREGON AND WASHINGTON PORTIONS OF THE
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS FROM 2 AM TO 7
PM PST THURSDAY. A WARM FRONT HAS SPREAD MOISTURE EAST OF THE
CASCADES WITH OVERCAST SKIES THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST AREA. RAIN
SHADOWING IS KEEPING MOST OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND CENTRAL OREGON
DRY WHILE AREAS JUST EAST OF THE CASCADES AND OVER THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS AND BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS ARE OBSERVING NUMEROUS
SHOWERS. A MID LEVEL WAVE BROUGHT A FEW HOURS OF STEADY SNOW OVER
THE BLUES...YET PRECIPITATION IS DECREASING WITH THE WAVE MOVING
EAST INTO THE GRANDE RONDE AND WALLOWA VALLEYS. SNOW WILL INCREASE
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AS THE MAIN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES EAST OF
THE CASCADES.
SNOW IS STARTING TO INCREASE ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE WA AND
NORTHERN OR CASCADES. CURRENT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORIES FOR
THE WA EAST SLOPES APPEAR ON TRACK AS 4 INCHES HAVE FALLEN AT CLE
ELUM AND EASTON...AND AREAS NEAR TROUT LAKE AND APPLETON ARE NOW
SEEING SNOW ACCUMULATE WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE LOWER 30S.
WINDS ALOFT ARE VERY STRONG AND WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE
OVERNIGHT. A 150 KNOT JET ALONG 50N WILL SAG SOUTHWARD OVERNIGHT.
WATER VAPOR LOOPS SHOW A DRY SLOT THAT MODELS POSITION OVER THE
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN BY 12Z THURSDAY. THIS IS A GOOD INDICATOR THAT
WINDS ALOFT WILL MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE. WITH A 15.6MB PRESSURE
DIFFERENCE POSSIBLE BETWEEN PDX-OTX...IT INCREASES MY CONFIDENCE OF
DAMAGING WINDS IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS. BELIEVE THE WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST BETWEEN 12Z-18Z
THURSDAY...ALTHOUGH THERE COULD BE GUSTS TO 55-60 MPH INTO THE
AFTERNOON HOURS. JOHNSON
&&
.AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS TO PREDOMINATE THROUGH THE PERIOD.
OCCASIONAL MVFR CEILINGS WILL OCCUR NEAR SHOWERS UNTIL 12Z AT ALL
TAF SITES EXCEPT KPSC AND RDM. BY 09Z WINDS WILL INCREASE DUE TO
TIGHTENING SURFACE GRADIENTS AND STRONG WINDS ALOFT. THE STRONGEST
WINDS ARE EXPECTED AT KPSC...KALW AND KPDT WHERE THEY WILL BE AT
LEAST 25 TO 35 KTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 KTS. 90
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 350 PM PST WED FEB 6 2008/
LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...AN UPPER RIDGE SHOULD BUILD
ALONG 135W FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN AN
AMPLIFICATION OF THE NORTHWEST FLOW AND SOME WARM AIR ADVECTION OVER
THE PACNW. THIS NORTHWEST FLOW WILL REMAIN MOIST...SO THE WARM AIR
ADVECTION WILL PRODUCE SOME PRECIP. THERE SHOULD BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF
RAIN SHADOWING DUE TO THE NORTHWEST FLOW SO EXPECT BEST CHANCES OF
RAIN/SNOW TO BE NEAR THE CASCADE CREST AND ALONG WEST AND NORTHWEST
FACING SLOPES OF THE INTERIOR NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS. LOWER ELEVATION
SHOULD SEE JUST A LITTLE OR NO PRECIP. ALSO SHOULD SEE SNOW LEVELS
RISE. THE RIDGE AXIS LOOKS TO SHIFT EAST ACROSS THE PACNW SATURDAY
AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THIS SHOULD FURTHER LIMIT CHANCES OF PRECIP
ACROSS THE AREA. A WEAK DISTURBANCE IMBEDDED WITHIN THE UPPER FLOW
LOOKS TO FLATTEN THE RIDGE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THIS
WILL CAUSE AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE AND DYNAMICS FOR AN INCREASE IN
PRECIP CHANCES. FOR NOW ONLY NUDGED CHANCES UP SLIGHTLY AS TRACK...
STRENGTH AND TIMING OF THE DISTURBANCE IS VERY UNCERTAIN AT THIS
TIME. 90
SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...CONTINUED MEDIUM RANGE
MODEL AGREEMENT ON THE LARGE SCALE PATTERN BUT A SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE APPEARED ON THE GFS AND CANADIAN 12Z RUNS FOR SUNDAY
NIGHT AND MONDAY. HAVE DISCOUNTED THESE RUNS AND THEIR SOLUTION OF
DEVELOPING A WAVE OVER THE NORTHWEST COAST THEN CLOSING IT OFF NEAR
THE FOUR CORNERS REGION OF THE SOUTHWEST. INSTEAD HAVE FAVORED THE
MORE BROAD APPROACH OF THE ECMWF/GFS ENSEMBLE/CANADIAN ENSEMBLE IN
KEEPING A MEAN RIDGE OVER THE REGION THROUGH TUESDAY. AS SUCH...HAVE
MADE MOST OF THE COLUMBIA AND DESCHUTES BASINS DRY SUNDAY NIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT WHILE KEEPING CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE HIGHER
TERRAIN DUE TO UNCERTAINTY FROM THE OPERATIONAL GFS/CANADIAN RUNS.
TUESDAY...MODELS AGAIN AGREE UPON A SOLUTION DEVELOPING A SHORT-WAVE
TROUGH OVER THE PACNW WITH EFFECTS LASTING INTO WEDNESDAY. BOTH GFS
AND ECMWF SHOW WARM ADVECTION AND SIGNIFICANT RISES IN SNOW LEVELS
BEGINNING IN THE LATTER HALF OF MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH MUCH OF
DAYLIGHT HOURS TUESDAY. MODEL 850MB TEMPERATURES ARE CURRENTLY
REACHING INTO UPPER 40S TUESDAY MORNING. ITS TOO EARLY TO BITE OFF
WHOLE-HEARTEDLY ON THIS DETAIL...BUT HAVE TRENDED SURFACE
TEMPERATURES AND SNOW LEVELS UPWARD FOR NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR MODEL TRENDS. TUESDAY NIGHT...THE TROUGH MAKES ITS MAIN
ADVANCE ACROSS THE REGION WITH A FAIRLY FAST COLD FRONT AS WELL.
THIS SHOULD DROP SNOW LEVELS BACK TO SEASONAL NORMS WITH BEST SHOWER
ACTIVITY EXPECTED TO OCCUR OVER THE NORTHEASTERN OREGON MOUNTAINS
UNDER NORTHWEST FLOW. STILL KEPT CHANCE POPS NEARLY EVERYWHERE TO
ACCOUNT FOR UNCERTAIN TIMING. JBONK
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 34 46 35 46 / 70 50 20 20
ALW 36 45 35 48 / 70 50 20 30
PSC 36 47 36 49 / 60 30 20 20
YKM 30 44 28 45 / 60 30 20 10
HRI 36 45 34 49 / 60 40 20 20
ELN 28 39 28 40 / 70 40 20 20
RDM 31 44 24 45 / 60 40 20 20
LGD 29 39 29 40 / 70 60 20 20
GCD 28 42 30 43 / 70 50 20 30
DLS 36 46 37 45 / 70 50 30 20
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 2 AM TO 7 PM PST THURSDAY FOR ORZ044-501.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM PST THURSDAY FOR ORZ044-501.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THURSDAY FOR ORZ042-043-504.
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
ORZ502.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM PST THURSDAY FOR ORZ049.
WA...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
WAZ501-502.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 2 AM TO 7 PM PST THURSDAY FOR WAZ028-029.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM PST THURSDAY FOR WAZ028-029.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THURSDAY FOR WAZ027.
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
WAZ030.
&&
TI:RGG
FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON
85HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
905 PM PST WED FEB 6 2008
UPDATED TO INCLUDE YAKIMA VALLEY UNDER A WIND ADVISORY
ORZ041>044-049-050-501>506-WAZ024-026>030-501-502-071415-
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-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON-KITTITAS VALLEY-
YAKIMA VALLEY-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS-
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
905 PM PST WED FEB 6 2008
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES
OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE
MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
STRONG WIND
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, CENTRAL OREGON,
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, FOOTHILLS
OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND
SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES, YAKIMA VALLEY
ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS WASHINGTON AND OREGON
AND WILL BRING SNOW OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH RAIN OR A RAIN/SNOW MIX
AT THE LOWEST ELEVATIONS. THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO HAVE STRONG WINDS
ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN
POSTED FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AND THE EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON
CASCADES. WIND ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR MOST OF SOUTH
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST OREGON AND CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON. FOR
WINTER HIGHLIGHTS...PLEASE REFER TO THE PRODUCT...PDXWSWPDT. FOR
THE WIND ADVISORY INFORMATION...PLEASE REFER TO THE
PRODUCT...PDXNPWPDT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW THURSDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES
OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE
MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
STRONG WIND THURSDAY
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, CENTRAL OREGON,
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, FOOTHILLS
OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND
SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES, YAKIMA VALLEY
THE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE PRODUCT...PDXWSWPDT. THE WIND
ADVISORY FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS FOR BOTH WASHINGTON AND OREGON IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM
THURSDAY BUT HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM
2 AM THURSDAY TO 7 PM PST THURSDAY. WIND GUSTS AS STRONG AS 65 MPH
ARE EXPECTED IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS ON THURSDAY...MAINLY IN THE MORNING HOURS. THE PRODUCT
PDXNPWPDT PROVIDES DETAILS ON THE WIND ADVISORIES AND HIGH WIND
WARNINGS.
ADDITIONAL PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEMS WILL BRING PRECIPITATION TO
PORTIONS OF EASTERN WASHINGTON AND EASTERN OREGON FRIDAY THROUGH
EARLY NEXT WEEK.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY THROUGH THURSDAY.
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/PDT/CURRENTHAZARDS/HWO.HTML
ALL LETTERS IN THE ABOVE URL ARE LOWER CASE...EXCEPT THE H IN
CURRENTHAZARDS.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
819 PM PST WED FEB 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM SNOW SSE EASTON 47.23N 121.18W
02/06/2008 M4.0 INCH KITTITAS WA TRAINED SPOTTER
0800 PM SNOW 1 N CLE ELUM 47.20N 120.95W
02/06/2008 M4.0 INCH KITTITAS WA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
DCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
911 PM PST WED FEB 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM SNOW TOLLGATE 45.78N 118.11W
02/06/2008 E4.0 INCH UMATILLA OR DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AND SNOWING HARD AT THE TIME OF THE
REPORT.
&&
MJOHNSONThe 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 Washington in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, February 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: 70983.