Another Pacific storm pushed across the Pacific Northwest and brought heavy snow to the Central Oregon area. Snowfall amounts in inches include, (6) 5 N of La Pine, and (8) 4 miles SSW of Bend.
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.
Another Pacific storm pushed across the Pacific Northwest and brought heavy snow to the Central Oregon area. Snowfall amounts in inches include, (6) 5 N of La Pine, and (8) 4 miles SSW of Bend.
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 Dec 23, 3:35 PM PST, 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
335 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012
UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY. TWO PACIFIC STORM
SYSTEMS WILL BRING WINTER WEATHER ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH
CHRISTMAS DAY. CURRENTLY...A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR
THE EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES AND A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS. THIS LOOKS ON TRACK BUT A FEW UPDATES MAY BE NECESSARY
BY THE SWING SHIFT--EXTENDING THE TIME OF THE WINTER STORM WARNING
AFTER 6 PM FOR THE OREGON EAST SLOPES AND POSSIBLY ISSUING A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS THAT
INCLUDE TOWNS LIKE CONDON AND FOSSIL. THE CENTER OF THE PACIFIC
STORM IS OVER CENTRAL OREGON NEAR LONG CREEK. MOISTURE THAT SPREAD
ACROSS THE DESCHUTES AREA HAS ALREADY BROUGHT HEAVY SNOW AND 4-6
INCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN A FEW SITES. SATELLITE IS
SHOWING SOME DRIER AIR BEHIND THE SYSTEM SO THIS AREA IS LIKELY
GETTING THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATION AT THIS TIME. DOPPLER RADAR IS
SHOWING PRECIPITATION SPREADING INTO THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND
THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS. BELIEVE THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND
THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS NORTH OF HEPPNER WILL OBSERVE RAIN AND
WET SNOW...AND SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE ON THE GRASSY AREAS BUT NOT ON
ROADS AND PAVEMENT.
THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL TRACK INTO IDAHO MONDAY MORNING...AND
PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF OVER MOST OF THE AREA. SNOW WILL
LIKELY CONTINUE FROM THE BLUE MOUNTAINS EAST TO THE IDAHO BORDER
UNTIL THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY EXITS THE AREA LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON.
THERE WILL BE A BREAK BETWEEN SYSTEMS MONDAY NIGHT THEN THE NEXT
PACIFIC FRONT ON CHRISTMAS DAY WILL BRING SNOW...GUSTY WINDS...AND
AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW. CONFIDENCE IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ISSUE WINTER
STORM WATCHES FOR THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE EAST SLOPES
OF THE OREGON CASCADES, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, AND THE OCHOCO-JOHN
DAY HIGHLANDS. TRAVELERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY
SNOW IN THESE AREAS. BELIEVE THE BIGGEST TRAFFIC PROBLEMS WILL
OCCUR ALONG I-84 THROUGH THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE. A STRONG
EASTERLY GRADIENT WILL PROVIDE UPSLOPE AND COLD AIR INTRUSION
THROUGH THE GORGE THAT 24-HOURS AMOUNTS OF 4-6 ARE A GOOD
POSSIBILITY. WINDS 30-40 MPH GUSTING TO 55 MPH ARE ALSO FORECAST
FOR THE WALLOWA VALLEY, THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, AND THE BASE OF
THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS. BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE
AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS. WISTER
.LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...MODERATE PRECIPITATION
AND BREEZY WINDS WILL PERSIST ON TUESDAY NIGHT. MOST AREAS WILL SEE
ACCUMULATING SNOW...BUT AS SNOW LEVELS RISE WITH THE WARM FRONT RAIN
WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
OREGON...ALONG THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS AND IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA
BASIN. SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS
BEFORE MORNING. THE LOW PRESSURE TROUGH AND COOLER AIR WILL MOVE
INTO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THE DAY. UPSLOPE SHOWERS WILL THEN CONTINUE ON THURSDAY AS THE FLOW
BECOMES MORE NORTHERLY. DRIER...YET COLDER...WEATHER IS EXPECTED
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY DUE TO HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. TRIMARCO
&&
.AVIATION...00Z TAFS...MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN SNOW AND RAIN WILL
IMPROVE LATE THIS EVENING WHEN THE CURRENT WEATHER SYSTEM MOVES OUT
OF THE AREA. YET SOME LOCATIONS MAY CONTINUE TO HAVE FOG AND LOW
STRATUS THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. THE BEST CHANCES FOR THIS WILL BE AT
KYKM AND KDLS. WINDS WILL PERIODICALLY BE 10 TO 20 KTS WITH SOME
HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. 82
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 29 38 25 35 / 100 30 10 70
ALW 32 37 27 36 / 100 40 10 60
PSC 30 39 25 35 / 100 10 10 70
YKM 25 33 22 31 / 90 10 10 80
HRI 29 38 25 36 / 100 10 10 80
ELN 24 32 21 29 / 100 10 10 90
RDM 20 35 19 37 / 80 10 10 80
LGD 29 34 19 31 / 90 50 10 70
GCD 21 32 15 31 / 80 20 10 70
DLS 31 39 28 36 / 90 20 10 90
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON PST MONDAY ORZ050-502-503.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT ORZ042-506.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING
ORZ042-505-506.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING ORZ509.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT ORZ509.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT ORZ041.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM PST MONDAY ORZ049.
WA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON PST MONDAY WAZ030.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING
WAZ026-027-521.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM PST MONDAY WAZ520.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT WAZ024.
&&
THREAT INDEX
MONDAY : GREEN
TUESDAY : YELLOW
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
85/82/82HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
250 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012
UPDATED FOR WINTER HIGHLIGHTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-
241415-
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-
250 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
SNOW
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, SIMCOE 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
OF WASHINGTON, EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH
CENTRAL OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES, LOWER
COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY,
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN
BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, JOHN DAY
BASIN, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE REGION IS BRINGING
NUMEROUS SHOWERS. ALL AREAS WILL HAVE PRECIPITATION MOSTLY IN THE FORM
OF SNOW...HOWEVER THE SNOW WILL MIX WITH RAIN IN THE COLUMBIA
BASIN TODAY. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST
SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE IN
EFFECT FOR MANY LOCATIONS. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE NWS PRODUCT...PDXWSWPDT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
SNOW MONDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, NORTHWEST BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, WALLOWA COUNTY, NORTHERN BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
SNOW CHRISTMAS DAY
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON, EASTERN COLUMBIA
RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF
THE OREGON CASCADES, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS
ANOTHER STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL BRING ADDITIONAL RAIN AND SNOW. THERE IS A
GOOD POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY SNOW IN THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER
GORGE, THE EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES, NORTH CENTRAL
OREGON, AND THE OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS ON CHRISTMAS DAY. A
WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. FOR
DETAILS...REFER TO THE NWS PRODUCT...PDXWSWPDT.
.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
152 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 N LA PINE 43.74N 121.52W
12/23/2012 M4.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
4 INCHES OF SNOW AND SNOWING HARD.
0130 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 WSW BEND 44.06N 121.33W
12/23/2012 M6.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR COCORAHS
5.5 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN THE PAST 4.5 HOURS. SNOWING
HARD.
0130 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 SW SISTERS 44.27N 121.59W
12/23/2012 E4.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
4 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOWFALL SINCE 930 AM. AIR TEMPERATURE
26 DEGREES. CURRENTLY SNOWING HARD AT A RATE OF 1 TO 2
INCHES PER HOUR.
&&
JJSMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
206 PM PST SUN DEC 23 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 N LA PINE 43.74N 121.52W
12/23/2012 M6.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
5.5 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ON GROUND.
&&
JJSMITHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
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: 418982.