Unseasonably warm temperatures and above normal snowpack caused heavy snowmelt and minor flooding on the Naches River from Cliffdell to Yakima.
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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.
Unseasonably warm temperatures and above normal snowpack caused heavy snowmelt and minor flooding on the Naches River from Cliffdell to Yakima.
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 May 16, 7:10 PM PST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR 810 PM PDT FRI MAY 16 2008 .SHORT TERM...HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE WEEKEND KEEPING TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE NORMAL AND NEAR RECORD LEVELS. THIS IS LEADING TO SOME RAPID MOUNTAIN SNOWMELT WHICH IS CAUSING SOME RAPID RISES OF RIVERS. VARIOUS FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. SEE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENTS AND BULLETINS. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB ANOTHER 4 TO 8 DEGREES ON SATURDAY WITH THE HIGHEST RISES OCCURRING OVER FAR EASTERN AND NORTHEAST OREGON. NO UPDATE TO THE ZONE FORECAST PACKAGE THIS EVENING. && AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. EXPECT MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WITH ONLY HIGH CIRRUS CLOUDS. WINDS WILL BE UNDER 10 KNOTS OVERNIGHT THEN INCREASE TO 10 TO 20 KNOTS TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT TAF LOCATIONS KYKM...KDLS AND KRDM. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 225 PM PDT FRI MAY 16 2008/ SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TODAY. TEMPERATURES AT 1 PM ARE 4-11 DEGREES F WARMER THAN 24 HOURS AGO. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND SURFACE HEATING DUE TO SUBSIDENCE ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. THE THERMAL TROUGH WILL MOVE INLAND OVERNIGHT...SO TEMPERATURES WILL PEAK SATURDAY OVER MOST OF EASTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WILL BE THE DALLES WHERE THE BEGINNING OF ONSHORE FLOW AT THE COAST WILL BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER AND MORE MOIST AIR SATURDAY. A WEAK DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE OVER THE RIDGE SUNDAY. THIS WILL WEAKEN THE RIDGE...AND CREATE A WEAK MARINE PUSH. THIS WILL ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF SOME HIGH CLOUDS...BREEZY WINDS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND BASIN...AND COOL DOWN HIGH TEMPERATURES. A SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. THIS WILL INCREASE BOTH CLOUD COVER AND TEMPERATURES. COONFIELD LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...THE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE AREA WILL BE MOVING OFF TO THE EAST MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY AS A TROUGH OUT OF THE GULF OF ALASKA MOVES INTO THE AREA. MUCH COLDER AIR AND A CHANCE OF RAIN WILL MOVE IN WITH THE TROUGH. RAIN WILL BEGIN DURING THE NIGHT AND SPREAD OVER THE AREA DURING THE DAY ON TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP ABOUT 15 TO 18 DEGREES FROM MONDAY TO TUESDAY. THE TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE WESTERN US AS IT DEEPENS AND BROADENS TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S WITH 50S AND 60S IN THE MOUNTAINS. NIGHTTIME CLOUD COVER WILL KEEP ALL BUT THE COLDEST LOCATIONS ABOVE FREEZING. AFTER THE INITIAL SURGE OF THE TROUGH MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE LESS AND WITH A NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT SHOWERS WILL OCCUR MAINLY IN THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. PERRY HYDROLOGY...UNSEASONABLE WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY WITH RAPID SNOW MELT AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THE INCREASED RUNOFF MAY CAUSE MINOR FLOODING ALONG SEVERAL AREA RIVERS...INCLUDING THE YAKIMA RIVER...NACHES RIVER..GRAND RONDE RIVER...JOHN DAY RIVER...AND UMATILLA RIVER. COOLER WEATHER IS FORECAST TO SPREAD INTO THE REGION ON TUESDAY...WHICH WILL SLOW THE RATE OF MELTING SNOW. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO BRING A CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION. COONFIELD && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... PDT 60 94 60 89 / 0 0 0 0 ALW 61 95 62 88 / 0 0 0 0 PSC 54 98 61 91 / 0 0 0 0 YKM 58 95 58 88 / 0 0 0 0 HRI 57 97 61 89 / 0 0 0 0 ELN 56 94 59 82 / 0 0 0 0 RDM 52 95 47 88 / 0 0 0 0 LGD 47 92 56 85 / 0 0 0 0 GCD 49 95 54 88 / 0 0 0 0 DLS 63 94 62 86 / 0 0 0 0 && .PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD BULLETINS ISSUED BY WFO PENDLETON FOR RIVER WARNINGS AND WATCHES. OR...VARIOUS FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS. WA...VARIOUS FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS. && TI:GGG FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON 91/76/76
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
204 PM PDT FRI MAY 16 2008
CORRECTED TO REMOVE SECOND MENTION OF FLOOD WATCH YAKIMA RIVER
ORZ041>044-049-050-501>506-WAZ024-026>030-501-502-171415-
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-
204 PM PDT FRI MAY 16 2008
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
FLOODING
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS
VALLEY, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON,
WALLOWA COUNTY
UNSEASONABLE WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TODAY WITH RAPID SNOW
MELT AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THIS WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT RISES IN
RIVERS AND STREAMS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THE INCREASED RUNOFF MAY
CAUSE FLOODING ALONG SEVERAL AREA RIVERS.
A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NACHES RIVER FROM
CLIFFDELL DOWNSTREAM TO NACHES. THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE
FLOOD STAGE TONIGHT AND THREATEN NEARBY AREAS...WITH FLOODING
CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
ON FLOODING IN THIS AREA...PLEASE REFER TO THE NWS PRODUCT PDXFLSPDT
WGUS86 KPDT.
A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE IMNAHA RIVER AT
IMNAHA FROM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE
ALONG THE IMNAHA RIVER NEAR THE TOWN OF IMNAHA. PLEASE REFER TO THE
NWS PRODUCT PDXFLSPDT WGUS46 KPDT FOR MORE DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
FLOODING SATURDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS
VALLEY, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON,
WALLOWA COUNTY
FLOODING SUNDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS
VALLEY, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON,
WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON,
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND
SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
FLOODING MONDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, YAKIMA
VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF
OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER
AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
FLOODING TUESDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, YAKIMA
VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY
FLOODING WEDNESDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, YAKIMA
VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY
FLOODING THURSDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, YAKIMA
VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY
UNSEASONABLE WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY
WITH RAPID SNOW MELT AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THE INCREASED RUNOFF
MAY CAUSE FLOODING ALONG SEVERAL AREA RIVERS. COOLER WEATHER IS
FORECAST TO SPREAD INTO THE REGION ON TUESDAY...WHICH WILL SLOW THE
RATE OF MELTING SNOW. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO BRING A CHANCE
OF PRECIPITATION.
A FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED THE GRAND RONDE RIVER AT TROY...THE
JOHN DAY RIVER AT SERVICE CREEK...AND THE UMATILLA RIVER NEAR GIBBON
THROUGH SUNDAY. FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. FOR MORE
DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE NWS PRODUCT PDXFFAPDT WGUS66 KPDT.
A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YAKIMA RIVER FROM PARKER TO
NEAR KIONA THROUGH MONDAY. THE YAKIMA RIVER AT UMTANUM IS NO LONGER
FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE...SO THE WATCH HAS BEEN BE
CANCELLED FOR THIS LOCATION. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO THE
NWS PRODUCT PDXFFAPDT WGUS66 KPDT.
THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE NACHES RIVER FROM CLIFFDELL DOWNSTREAM TO
THE NORTH END OF THE YAKIMA RIVER IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FRIDAY MAY 23.
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON FLOODING IN THIS AREA PLEASE REFER
TO THE NWS PRODUCT PDXFLSPDT WGUS86 KPDT.
THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE IMNAHA RIVER AT IMNAHA IS IN EFFECT FROM
TONIGHT UNTIL FRIDAY. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON FLOODING IN
THIS AREA PLEASE REFER TO NWS PRODUCT PDXFLSPDT WGUS46 KPDT.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY.
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.The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Naches River near Cliffdell crested at 31.07 feet on May 18. Flood stage near Cliffdell is 31.0 feet. The Naches River near Naches crested at 18.25 feet on May 18. Flood stage at Naches is 17 feet.
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, May 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: 102583.