An unusually moist and unstable air mass combined with daytime heating to produce thunderstorms with damaging wind, heavy rainfall, and locally large hail.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
An unusually moist and unstable air mass combined with daytime heating to produce thunderstorms with damaging wind, heavy rainfall, and locally large hail.
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 Jun 4, 9:05 AM PST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR 1005 AM PDT THU JUN 4 2009 UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION .SHORT TERM...UPDATE...THE LARGE UPPER LOW WILL CONTINUE TO PULL SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE ACROSS OREGON AND EXTREME SOUTHERN WASHINGTON THROUGH THIS EVENING. AGAIN EXPECT DIURNALLY DRIVEN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP LATE THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS SHOULD PERSIST INTO THE EVENING...POSSIBLY BEYOND MIDNIGHT IN A FEW AREAS. AREAL COVERAGE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL RANGE FROM 20 PERCENT OVER SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON TO 40-50 PERCENT OVER CENTRAL OREGON. SHOWER COVERAGE WILL BE ABOUT 10-20 PERCENT HIGHER ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON. ONCE AGAIN THE AIR MASS IS VERY MOIST AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS AGAIN EXPECTED FROM THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MAY AGAIN BE RAISED FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST OREGON...BUT AT THIS TIME WILL WAIT TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE STORMS FIRE LATER THIS MORNING TO BETTER REFINE LOCATION OF A WATCH. UNIDIRECTIONAL SHEAR OF 25-35 KTS IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON OVER DESCHUTES...CROOK...GRANT...JEFFERSON AND WHEELER COUNTIES. THIS SHOULD HELP TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. ALSO A DIFFLUENT FLOW ALOFT WILL EXTEND FROM CENTRAL OREGON TO EXTREME NORTHEAST OREGON TODAY. THIS WILL ALSO AID IN CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL. THUS WILL INDICATE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL OVER CENTRAL AND EXTREME NORTHEAST OREGON. THE FLOW ALOFT REMAINS SOUTHEASTERLY AND SOME STORMS MAY DRIFT OFF THE HIGHER TERRAIN INTO THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS AND THE COLUMBIA BASIN. LOW LEVEL AIR OVER THE BASIN REMAINS A BIT MORE STABLE AND THIS SHOULD INHIBIT THE ABILITY OF STORMS TO MAINTAIN STRENGTH IN THIS AREA. 90 THE NACHES RIVER IN YAKIMA COUNTY HAS FALLEN TO JUST BELOW FLOOD STAGE. THIS RIVER IS EXPECTED TO FLUCTUATE AT OR JUST BELOW FLOOD STAGE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS...THUS RIVER STATEMENTS WILL CONTINUE BUT NO FLOOD WARNING IS EXPECTED TO BE REISSUED AT THIS TIME. 90 && .AVIATION...18Z TAFS...THE REGION WILL SEE CLEARING AS MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS FROM CONVECTION LAST NIGHT MOVES NORTH AND OUT OF THE AREA. CUMULUS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED MAINLY ACROSS CENTRAL OREGON (AFFECTING TAF SITES KRDM AND KDLS) AND THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST OREGON...THOUGH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS AND PORTIONS OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN AFFECTING TAF SITES KPDT...KALW AND KPSC. CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES MAY LOWER INTO THE MVFR CATEGORY UNDER THE STRONGER STORMS DUE TO HEAVY RAIN AND/OR HAIL. WINDS WILL BE UNDER 15 KTS EXCEPT NEAR THUNDERSTORMS AND IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AT KDLS. DMH && .LONG TERM...PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL REMAIN OFFSHORE THROUGH THIS PERIOD WITH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IN NORTHWEST TO NORTHERLY FLOW. A SERIES OF DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE DOWN THE BACKSIDE OF THE RIDGE INTO EASTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON. SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE BEST LIFT WILL REMAIN IN IDAHO AND MONTANA....BUT ENOUGH WILL REACH EASTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON FOR SOME PRECIPITATION. A SHORT WAVE IN THE NORTHERLY FLOW WILL MOVE THROUGH EASTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON SATURDAY. THIS WILL TRIGGER SHOWERS OVER MOST OF THE AREA AND AFTERNOON/EVENING THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHEAST OREGON MOUNTAINS. MORE WAVES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA MONDAY NIGHT...TUESDAY...AND AGAIN WEDNESDAY. THESE WEAK WAVES WILL PROBABLY TRIGGER SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUES DUE TO OROGRAPHIC ENHANCEMENT. DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN TIMING DUE TO RUN TO RUN MODEL DIFFERENCES AND SPREAD IN ENSEMBLES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... PDT 83 58 79 56 / 60 60 40 30 ALW 84 61 82 59 / 50 50 30 30 PSC 90 62 87 58 / 20 20 10 20 YKM 90 58 88 57 / 20 20 10 10 HRI 87 58 85 56 / 40 40 30 30 ELN 91 56 88 54 / 10 10 10 10 RDM 75 49 71 47 / 60 60 40 30 LGD 79 54 73 53 / 50 50 40 40 GCD 79 54 72 53 / 60 60 40 40 DLS 86 63 80 59 / 40 40 30 10 && .PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...NONE. WA...NONE. && TI:RGG FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON 90/76/84
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
500 AM PDT THU JUN 4 2009
ORZ041>044-049-050-501>506-WAZ024-026>030-501-502-051200-
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-
500 AM PDT THU JUN 4 2009
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EASTERN
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, 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
THUNDERSTORMS
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES
OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, YAKIMA VALLEY
AN UPPER LOW PUMPING MOIST UNSTABLE AIR INTO THE REGION WILL ALLOW
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO REDEVELOP OVER MOST OF THE AREA
TODAY. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE IN CENTRAL AND
NORTHEAST OREGON AS WELL AS SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON. THE STORM
PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS PLACED THESE AREAS IN A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL
BE HEAVY RAIN AND LARGE HAIL.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES
OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER
GORGE 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
THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY,
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF
OREGON, JOHN DAY BASIN, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE LIKELY
ON FRIDAY AS THE LOW MOVES INLAND. DRIER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON
SATURDAY...YET THUNDERSTORMS MAY STILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER
TERRAIN OF NORTHEAST OREGON AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON. NORTHWESTERLY
FLOW ALOFT WILL BRING A CHANCE OF MOUNTAIN SHOWERS SUNDAY THROUGH
THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.
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
1116 AM PDT THU JUN 04 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM HEAVY RAIN 6 SE BEND 44.00N 121.22W
06/03/2009 M1.01 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
VERY HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED 0.48 INCHES IN 15 MINUTES...AND
STORM TOTAL OF 1.01 INCHES RAIN IN 4 HOURS. FREQUENT
LIGHTNING. DE-18.
&&
AAThe Portland,OR radar (KRTX), 225 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:45 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain, 2 hail, 1 debris flow. Local standard time, as filed.
Estimated one inch of rain in 20 minutes. Local street flooding. Hail up to 1/2 inch diameter.
Accompanied by heavy rainfall.
Between 120 pm and 200 pm...1 to 4 inch diameter trees and branches downed. Rainfall of .68 inch in 1/2 hour.
Water covering the road at the entrance to Prineville due to heavy rainfall.
Broken limbs and tree damage in Madras.
Accompanied by wind gusts 40-45 mph and 1/2 inch of rainfall in 20 minutes.
One to 2 inches of rainfall in 1 hour with pea sized hail and strong winds. Multiple mudslides closed the Clarno County Road in several spots. Branches up to one inch were snapped.
Shingles were blown off roofs, patio furniture blown around, and pieces of plywood blown away.
Trees downed by thunderstorm high winds.
Six large juniper trees were uprooted or split. Other trees lost large limbs. A 25 foot section of 1/8 inch steel panel was blown off a cow shelter.
Trees downed from thunderstorms winds in two locations at Reith.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, June 2009
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: 163020, 163021, 163022, 163024, 163025, 163026, 163030, 163032, 163033, 163035, 163042, 163044.