A frontal system combined with strong winds aloft produced high wind gusts. Klickitat PUD reported 23 power poles down.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
A frontal system combined with strong winds aloft produced high wind gusts. Klickitat PUD reported 23 power poles down. Two trees fell in the Goldendale area. On the east side of Goldendale, a strong wind gust totaled an empty semi-truck as it traveled south bound on Highway 97. Peak winds recorded in miles per hour were 15 miles west of Benton City (83), 8 miles northwest of West Richland (96), 22 miles southeast of Sunnyside (70), 3 miles west of Sunnyside (59), 21 miles south of Vantage (77), 19 miles northwest of West Richland (62), 13 miles west northwest of Bickleton (78), and 10 miles east northeast of Goldendale (62).
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 Jan 16, 3:30 PM PST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
330 PM PST SUN JAN 16 2011
UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...REGIONAL RADARS SHOW THAT
PRECIPITATION TREND IS DOWNWARD BUT STRONG WESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES
TO SPREAD RAIN OVER THE CASCADES ALONG THE EAST SLOPES AND OVER THE
HIGHER TERRAIN OF EASTERN OREGON. WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWS
THAT THE MOISTURE PLUME IS THINNING OUT WHICH ALSO INDICATES THAT
PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO DWINDLE. HOWEVER...STILL DEALING WITH
WHAT RAIN HAS FALLEN COMBINED WITH THE WARM TEMPERATURES AND MELTING
SNOW SO NUMEROUS FLOOD ADVISORY OR WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT. SEE
HYDROLOGY SECTION FOR MORE DETAIL.
NEXT WEATHER CONCERN COMES OVERNIGHT AND MONDAY. A STRONG UPPER
LEVEL JET WILL BE PASSING OVER THE REGION TONIGHT AND INTO MONDAY.
THESE WINDS ALOFT COMBINED WITH AN INCREASING WEST TO EAST SURFACE
PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL BEGIN TO PRODUCE VERY WINDY CONDITIONS
OVERNIGHT THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. MOUNTAIN WAVES WILL FORM
AS THE FAST MOVING AIR PASSES OVER RIDGETOPS THAT WILL PRODUCE
LOCALLY STRONG WINDS WITH POTENTIAL GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH. WINDS
WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WIND
ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS EVENING SO SEE PRODUCT
PDXNPWPDT FOR MORE DETAILS.
NEXT PRECIPITATION EVENT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL OCCUR TUESDAY AND
TUESDAY NIGHT AS ANOTHER FAST MOVING SYSTEM PASSES OVER THE REGION.
SNOW LEVELS WILL BE LOWER SO WILL SEE SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH
RAIN IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...DURING THIS PERIOD AN
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL REMAIN OFFSHORE WITH MAINLY NORTHWEST FLOW
OVER THE AREA. WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY THE MAIN STORM TRACK
AND ASSOCIATED LIFT WILL REMAIN IN NORTHERN WASHINGTON OR CANADA. A
SERIES OF DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHWEST FLOW...BUT
THERE WILL BE LITTLE EFFECT IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON AND EASTERN
OREGON BECAUSE THE MAIN LIFT IS TOO FAR NORTH. THERE MAY BE SOME
OROGRAPHIC SHOWERS IN THE NORTHEAST OREGON MOUNTAINS AND ALONG THE
CASCADES THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. A WAVE WILL DIG FARTHER SOUTH FRIDAY
NIGHT AND BRING A WIDESPREAD CHANCE OF RAIN OR MOUNTAIN SNOW. A
BRIEF TRANSITORY RIDGE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
SATURDAY AFTERNOON (MODELS VARY ON EXACT TIMING) BEFORE A STRONGER
WAVE MOVES THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. KEPT 20-40
PERCENT POPS ON SATURDAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONFIDENCE PRECISE
TIMING WHEN MODELS ARE SO INCONSISTENT. COONFIELD
&&
.AVIATION...0Z TAFS...CLEARING WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT. EXPECT
FOG/MIST TO REDEVELOP AT KYKM TONIGHT WITH LIFR CIGS LATER IN THE
EVENING. OTHER SITES WILL BE MAINLY VFR. WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS
EVENING AS HIGHER WINDS ALOFT INTERMITTENTLY MIX TO SURFACE ACROSS
THE AREA WITH KPSC...KALW...KPDT...KRDM...AND KBDN SEEING GUSTS 25
TO 35 KTS 04Z. 76
&&
.HYDROLOGY...WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE RISES ON MOST AREA RIVERS
OVERNIGHT AS LIGHT RAIN TAPERS OFF. WE WILL CONTINUE THE SMALL
STREAM FLOOD ADVISORIES FOR ANOTHER 24 HOURS TO ALLOW RUNOFF TO MOVE
INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FLOOD WARNINGS FOR NACHES...LOWER YAKIMA WILL
CONTINUE FOR THE SEVERAL DAYS WHILE THE UMATILLA RIVER SHOULD BE
CRESTING EARLY MONDAY MORNING. ML
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 48 54 36 49 / 60 20 10 60
ALW 47 56 37 51 / 70 20 10 60
PSC 48 59 36 49 / 20 10 0 50
YKM 43 54 33 44 / 20 20 0 40
HRI 47 58 36 49 / 20 10 10 50
ELN 43 51 32 41 / 30 20 10 40
RDM 41 54 32 48 / 50 10 10 40
LGD 41 51 31 44 / 80 40 20 60
GCD 41 49 33 47 / 70 20 10 50
DLS 48 55 37 50 / 60 20 10 60
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST MONDAY
ORZ507-508.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST MONDAY ORZ044.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST MONDAY ORZ042.
SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
ORZ049-050-502-507.
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE UMATILLA RIVER TODAY THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING ORC059.
WA...WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST MONDAY WAZ029.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST MONDAY WAZ028.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM PST MONDAY
WAZ026-027-520-521.
SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
WAZ029-030-520.
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE KLICKITAT NEAR PITT TODAY THROUGH MONDAY
WAC039.
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE YAKIMA RIVER AT PARKER AND KIONA THROUGH
TUESDAY WAC077-005
FLOOD WATCH FOR THE WALLA WALLA RIVER TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT
WAZ028-029.
&&
THREAT INDEX
MONDAY : RED
TUESDAY : GREEN
WEDNESDAY : GREEN
GREEN: NONE OR LIMITED NEED FOR WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES.
YELLOW: A FEW WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.
RED: NUMEROUS WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.
FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON
91/76/76HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
101 PM PST SUN JAN 16 2011
UPDATED FOR WIND ADVISORIES AND FLOOD WARNINGS
ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-
171415-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-JOHN DAY BASIN-OCHOCO-
JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES-
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 OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES-SIMCOE HIGHLANDS-
101 PM PST SUN JAN 16 2011
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 WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE HIGHLANDS,
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, KITTITAS VALLEY,
YAKIMA VALLEY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON,
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY,
WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF
OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
STRONG WIND
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE HIGHLANDS,
KITTITAS VALLEY, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF
WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON,
NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS
OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. STRONG WINDS ALOFT
WILL BEGIN TO MIX DOWN AND COMBINE WITH A TIGHTENING PRESSURE
GRADIENT RESULTING IN SOME VERY WINDY CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT. HIGH
WIND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR OVERNIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. RAIN WILL
CONTINUE TO FALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND COMBINE WITH SNOWMELT TO
CONTINUE FLOODING CONCERNS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
FLOODING MONDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE HIGHLANDS,
YAKIMA VALLEY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON,
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY,
WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF
OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
STRONG WIND MONDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE HIGHLANDS,
KITTITAS VALLEY, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF
WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON,
NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS
OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE DURING THE DAY MONDAY WITH WINDS
BEGINNING TO DECREASE LATE IN THE DAY. PRECIPITATION WILL BE COMING
TO AN END BUT FLOOD CONCERNS WILL CONTINUE AS THE WATER SLOWLY WORKS
ITS WAY THROUGH THE AREAS RIVER SYSTEMS.
.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.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
511 PM PST SUN JAN 16 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 PM FLOOD 6 E PENDLETON 45.67N 118.69W
01/16/2011 UMATILLA OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
TRIBAL POLICE AND AN E-SPOTTER BOTH REPORT FLOODING ON
THE UMATILLA RESERVATION. THE POLICE ARE EVACUATING 2
RESIDENTS. THEY ALSO REPORTED WATER OVER THE ROAD AT MILE
POST 18 ON BINGAM ROAD AND AT ROAD LEVEL AT MILE POST
12.5 ON CAYUSE ROAD.
&&
RQBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
524 PM PST SUN JAN 16 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0458 PM FLOOD 8 SSE PRINEVILLE 44.20N 120.78W
01/16/2011 CROOK OR TRAINED SPOTTER
OBSERVER REPORTED UP TO 6 INCHES OF WATER OVER THE
ROADWAY, AND A BOX CULVERT FULL.
&&
RQBThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, January 2011
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: 268188, 268189.