A strong cold front brought high winds to portions of the Oregon coast, Cascades, and east side.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 MFR wrote it up.
A strong cold front brought high winds to portions of the Oregon coast, Cascades, and east side.
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 Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 1, 3:47 PM PST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
347 PM PST SAT DEC 1 2012
.SHORT TERM...
THE MOST INTENSE WEATHER SYSTEM OF THE MOST RECENT STORM SERIES...FROM
A POTENTIAL CUMULATIVE IMPACT PERSPECTIVE...IS MOVING INTO THE
FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING. RAINFALL RATES WILL INCREASE
OVERNIGHT...PEAKING IN THE 10PM TO 6AM PST TIME FRAME. SNOW LEVELS
CURRENTLY NEAR 6500 FEET WILL CLIMB TO 7000 TO 8000 FEET AT MOST
LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT ONLY TO COME CRASHING DOWN TO NEAR 4500 FEET
BETWEEN 6AM AND 10AM PST SUNDAY MORNING. A NUMBER OF AREAL FLOOD
WATCHES...FLOOD WATCHES FOR THE COQUILLE RIVER...AND WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED. ADDITIONALLY...THE COQUILLE
AT COQUILLE IS UNDER A FLOOD WARNING.
THE BOTTOM LINE WITH THIS NEXT STORM SYSTEM IS THAT IT IS A QUICK
HITTER...CAPABLE OF VERY HEAVY PRECIPITATION IN ABOUT A 12 HOURS
TIME PERIOD. HAVE BEEN CONSULTING WITH THE PORTLAND RIVER FORECAST
CENTER MUCH OF THE DAY RELATED TO THIS. CONCERNS ARE THAT ALREADY
SATURATED GROUND MEANS RUNOFF WILL OCCUR IMMEDIATELY AT MOST WEST
SIDE LOCATIONS AS PRECIPITATION RATES SKY ROCKET OVERNIGHT. MODELS
INDICATE THAT THERE IS A GOOD POTENTIAL OF SOME DAILY RAINFALL
RECORDS BEING APPROACHED FOR SUNDAY...BUT WE ARE LIKELY TO FALL
SHORT ONLY BECAUSE OF PRECIPITATION DURATION BEING ONLY ABOUT 12
HOURS. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS LIKELY...AND CREEK AND
RIVER FLOODING IN POSSIBLE FROM ABOUT THE CASCADES WESTWARD.
PLEASE SEE THE AREAL FLOOD WATCH FOR MORE SPECIFICS.
SUNDAY MORNING THE FRONT WILL RAPIDLY SWING THROUGH WITH SHOWERS
AND LOWER SNOW LEVELS. BTL
.LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT WEEK...
WE'LL CATCH A BIT OF A BREAK IN THE WEATHER SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE
WAKE OF THE FRONT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. MOST OF THE
PRECIPITATION DURING THIS TIME WILL BE WEST OF THE CASCADES WITH
MOST OF IT FOCUSED ALONG THE COAST...BUT WERE NOT EXPECTING ANY
EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS. THE NEXT FOCUS OF CONCERN IS MONDAY NIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY. THE EC AND GFS ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT
SHOWING ANOTHER STRONG STORM REACHING THE OREGON COAST. THE EC
SHOWS A DEEPER LOW DEVELOPING JUST OUTSIDE OF 130 W AND 40 N AND
TRACKING NORTHEAST TOWARDS VANCOUVER ISLAND. THE GFS IS NOT AS
STRONG WITH THE SURFACE LOW BUT THE TRACK IS SIMILAR. THE CONCERN
WITH THIS STORM IS THAT IT WILL HAVE A TROPICAL CONNECTION AND
THIS IS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE FORECAST WATER VAPOR TRANSPORT.
THIS MEANS WE COULD GET ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION IN
COOS...CURRY...JOSEPHINE AND WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTIES WHICH MAY
RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FLOODING CONCERNS AND POSSIBLE DEBRIS FLOWS
AND MUDSLIDES IN THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS. ALSO OF CONCERN WILL BE
MODERATE TO STRONG WINDS ALONG THE COAST AND POSSIBLY EAST OF THE
CASCADES.
THINGS FINALLY START TO IMPROVE WEDNESDAY WITH THE FRONT MOVING
SOUTHEAST AND WEAKENING. THIS WILL RESULT IN DECREASING
PRECIPITATION. WEAKER SYSTEMS WILL SLIDE THROUGH THE NORTHERN PART
OF THE FORECAST AREA THE REST OF NEXT WEEK...BUT THIS TIME
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE LIGHTER AND NO SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE
EXPECTED. -PETRUCELLI
&&
.AVIATION...
BASED ON THE 01/18Z TAF CYCLE
THERE IS A RISK OF LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR IN THE UMPQUA BASIN THIS
EVENING INCLUDING KRBG DUE A RAPID DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
THIS AFTERNOON. IT WILL BE A CLOSE CALL FOR WIND SPEED SHEAR AT THE
COAST...BUT KEPT IT OUT OF THE TAF FOR KOTH WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS
EXPECTED TO BE SOUTH OF THE TERMINAL DUE TO LOW PRESSURE TRACKING
SOUTH. STEADY PRECIPITATION AND LOWER CIGS WILL RETURN TO THE COAST
AND WEST SIDE THIS EVENING.
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
ORZ029>031.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY ABOVE 4500
FEET FOR ORZ030.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
ORZ027-028.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY ABOVE 4500
FEET FOR ORZ027-028.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
ORZ021-022.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR ORZ021-022-024.
FLOOD WATCH FROM 10 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING
FOR ORZ023-025-026.
CA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
CAZ084-085.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY ABOVE 4500
FEET FOR CAZ080.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR CAZ080.
FLOOD WATCH FROM 10 PM PST THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING
FOR CAZ081>083.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR CAZ081.
PZ...GALE WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR PZZ350-356-370-376.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
PZZ350-356-370-376.
BTL/PETRUCELLI/SPILDEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
337 PM PST SAT DEC 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW OBRIEN 42.06N 123.73W
12/01/2012 M2.60 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
330PM TO 330PM.
&&
GLASERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
408 PM PST SAT DEC 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 N CAVE JUNCTION 42.19N 123.65W
12/01/2012 M1.18 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
4PM TO 4PM. NOV TOTAL 11.59
0400 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 ESE SELMA 42.26N 123.57W
12/01/2012 M0.95 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
4PM TO 4PM. NOV TOTAL 9.55
&&
GLASERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
411 PM PST SAT DEC 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 S MCCLOUD 41.22N 122.14W
12/01/2012 M2.46 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
4PM TO 4PM.
&&
GLASERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
439 PM PST SAT DEC 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 NE DUNSMUIR 41.28N 122.21W
12/01/2012 M1.37 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
430PM TO 430PM.
&&
GLASERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
447 PM PST SAT DEC 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 SE CAVE JUNCTION 42.11N 123.58W
12/01/2012 M1.48 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
430PM TO 430PM.
&&
GLASERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
449 PM PST SAT DEC 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM LIGHTNING 1 SSW OBRIEN 42.05N 123.71W
12/01/2012 JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
THUNDERSTORM WITH RAIN.
0445 PM LIGHTNING 6 SW MERLIN 42.46N 123.49W
12/01/2012 JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN.
&&
GLASERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Flynn Prairie RAWS recorded several high wind gusts during this interval. The peak gust was 76 mph at 01/2313 PST.
Both the Zim and Squaw Peak RAWS recorded several high wind gusts during this interval. The peak gust at Zim was 79 mph at 02/0139 PST. The peak gust at Squaw Peak was 83 mph at 01/2239 PST.
The Calimus RAWS recorded several high wind gusts during this interval. The peak gust was 74 mph at 02/0000 PST.
The Summit RAWS recorded several high wind gusts during this interval. The peak gust was 71 mph at 02/0503 PST. The Rock Creek RAWS recorded at gust to 59 mph at 02/0127 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, December 2012
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: 421261, 421264, 421266, 421267.