A strong south to north pressure gradient at the surface and strong winds aloft produce high winds. Peak wind speeds reported in miles per hour included at 6 miles northeast of Ruggs (70) and at Long Creek High School (63).
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.
A strong south to north pressure gradient at the surface and strong winds aloft produce high winds. Peak wind speeds reported in miles per hour included at 6 miles northeast of Ruggs (70) and at Long Creek High School (63).
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 Mar 12, 6:40 PM PST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
740 PM PDT MON MAR 12 2012
.UPDATE...A FRONTAL BAND IS MOVING OVER THE COAST WITH HIGH WINDS
AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION. THE FRONT IS UNDERGOING FRONTOGENESIS
INDICATED BY BAROCLINIC LEAF. SEE NFDSPENES FOR FULLER DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL BRING HEAVY PRECIPITATION TO THE OREGON CASCADES TONIGHT
AND TUESDAY MORNING. CURRENT TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE MID 30S TO
LOWER 40S AT 7 PM. SNOW LEVELS ARE AROUND 4000 FEET...BUT WILL
DECREASE TO 2500-3000 FEET AFTER THE FRONT PASSES THROUGH. ISSUED A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR THE OREGON EAST SLOPES OF THE
CASCADES STARTING AT 10 PM. THIS AREA WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED TO
SEE HOW MUCH PRECIPITATION CROSSES THE CASCADES SINCE THE
FRONTOGENESIS MAY BE MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN DOWNSLOPING WINDS.
CURRENT WINDS ARE LESS THAN THE HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA FOR MOST
OF THE AREAS COVERED BY THE WARNINGS. HOWEVER THE TIGHTEST PRESSURE
GRADIENT IN THE OREGON EAST SLOPES DOES NOT OCCUR UNTIL 7-11 PM OR
7 PM TO 2 AM IN THE OCHOCOS. IF WINDS DO NOT INCREASE I MAY CANCEL
THE WARNING FOR THE EAST SLOPES LATER THIS EVENING...BUT WILL
CONTINUE WARNINGS IN THE OTHER LOCATIONS. RUGGS IN THE SOUTHERN
BLUES HAS HAD SUSTAINED WINDS 40 MPH OR MORE SEVERAL HOURS TODAY. IN
THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY THE WIND DIRECTION IS WRONG FOR FUNNELING
TO INCREASE THE WIND SPEED...BUT THE FUNNELING WILL INCREASE AFTER
11 PM WHEN THE DIRECTION BECOMES SOUTH INSTEAD OF SOUTHWEST.
COONFIELD
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 327 PM PDT MON MAR 12 2012/
SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH
OFF OF BRITISH COLUMBIA IS DEVELOPING A TROUGH OVER THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL SEND A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. THE FRONT WILL BRING UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH
OF LIQUID PRECIPITATION TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS NEAR THE CASCADES
SUCH AS CENTRAL OREGON, AND THE YAKIMA AND KITTITAS VALLEYS TONIGHT
AND TOMORROW MORNING WITH UP TO A QUARTER INCH IN THE CASCADES.
INITIALLY SNOW LEVELS WILL BE AROUND 4000 FEET SO MOST AREAS WILL
SEE RAIN BUT SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO AROUND 2000-2500 FEET SO A
COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE IN CENTRAL OREGON SOUTH
AND WEST OF BEND. FURTHER NORTH THE PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF
EARLIER SO ONLY LIGHT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED. FURTHER WEST TWO
TO FOUR TENTHS OF LIQUID PRECIPITATION ARE EXPECTED IN THE EASTERN
MOUNTAINS WITH AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH IN THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS. NOT EXPECTING MUCH SNOW IN THE FOOTHILLS BUT THE
MOUNTAINS WILL SEE 2 TO 5 INCHES WHICH IS BELOW WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY LEVELS. CURRENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ALONG THE EAST
SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN WASHINGTON CASCADES LOOKS GOOD AND WILL
CONTINUE TO RUN. WINDS WILL BE THE BIGGER STORY WITH NUMEROUS HIGH
WIND WARNINGS AND WIND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT. THUS FAR WINDS HAVE
BEEN UNDERACHIEVING, BUT BELIEVE THEY WILL EVENTUALLY INCREASE AS
THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA IF NOT EARLIER. LATEST MODEL RUNS
HAVE BEEN STRONGER WITH WINDS TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN THE COLUMBIA
BASIN AND BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS SO HAVE EXTENDED CURRENT WIND
ADVISORY FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS ZONES THROUGH 11 PM PDT
TOMORROW NIGHT AND ISSUED A NEW ADVISORY FOR THE COLUMBIA BASIN
ZONES FROM 11 AM PDT TOMORROW THROUGH 11 PM PDT TOMORROW NIGHT. WITH
STRONG WINDS EXPECTED, THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE WELL MIXED AND
TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE UPPER 20S TO UPPER 30S TONIGHT AND IN
THE 40S AND LOWER 50S TOMORROW AS THE COLDER AIR FROM THE FRONT
ARRIVES. TUESDAY NIGHT PRECIPTATION WILL BE TAPERING OFF WITH THE
COLUMBIA BASIN DRY AS WE ARE BETWEEN SYSTEMS. WINDS WILL BE FAIRLY
LIGHT AFTER MIDNIGHT AND TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO THE 20S AND LOWER
30S. PERRY
LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL
CONTINUE TO SPIN MOISTURE OFF THE OR/WA COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE FORECAST PERIOD. SNOW LEVELS WILL START OUT HIGHER AS
SOUTHERLY FLOW REMAINS OVER THE AREA. THERE WILL BE A DECENT CHANCE
FOR PRECIPITATION EACH DAY AS SEVERAL PLUMES OF MOISTURE MAKE THERE
WAY ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON
THURSDAY...CURRENTLY HAVE HIGHER QPF AND SNOW AMOUNTS ALONG THE EAST
SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES ABOVE 3000FT. MODELS INDICATED
SOUTHEAST UPSLOPE FLOW FOR THIS AREA...FOR THAT REASON HAVE DECIDED
TO GO WITH HIGHER QPF AND SNOW AMOUNTS. BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON THE LOW
SHOULD BE FURTHER WEST AND COOLER AIR IS EXPECTED TO INVADE THE
AREA. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY
BE IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. BY FRIDAY
EVENING SNOW LEVELS ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD BE BELOW 3000FT. WEBER
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...A LARGE LOW PRESSURE TROUGH
WILL BE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL
BRING A GENERAL COOL AND SHOWERY PATTERN TO THE REGION. SMALLER
DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE FLOW EACH DAY FOR A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS...ESPECIALLY FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN. WITH LOWER SNOW
LEVELS...MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE SNOW FOR THE MOUNTAINS
AND POTENTIALLY INTO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS EXCEPT FOR THE BASIN.
MODELS ARE HINTING AT THE TROUGH MOVING EASTWARD INTO THE START OF
THE WEEK...BUT THERE ARE TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MODELS AND MODEL
RUNS. DMH
AVIATION...00Z TAFS...SURFACE LOW CONTINUES TO PUSH ACROSS THE AREA
THIS EVENING AND INTO TONIGHT. TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENTS HAVE SET UP
ALONG KRDM...KBDN...KPDT...KALW...AND KDLS. WINDS WILL MAINLY BE
OUT OF THE SOUTH GUSTING 20 TO 35 MPH AT TIMES. LIGHT TO MODERATE
TURBULENCE HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH OCCASIONAL +/- 10KT LOW LEVEL WIND
SHEAR AT KRDM. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE AREA BY MORNING
AND POST FRONTAL WINDS WILL PICK UP AT KYKM AND KPSC. THE UPPER
LEVEL LOW OFF THE OR/WA COAST WILL CONTINUE TO SPIN MOISTURE PLUMES
ACROSS THE AREA...ALLOWING FOR ALL TAF SITES TO HAVE A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD. CIGS WILL VARY
BETWEEN 3000FT AND 10000FT AGL. IFR CONDITIONS NOT ANTICIPATED BUT
CAN'T BE RULED OUT FOR TAF SITES DURING BRIEF SHOWER ACTIVITY. WEBER
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 37 47 32 55 / 20 60 30 20
ALW 40 49 34 54 / 20 60 30 20
PSC 39 53 33 54 / 20 40 20 30
YKM 31 46 27 47 / 60 30 20 40
HRI 38 53 32 56 / 20 40 20 20
ELN 29 43 27 46 / 60 40 20 40
RDM 29 41 24 53 / 50 50 30 20
LGD 36 44 28 51 / 30 70 40 30
GCD 33 43 30 50 / 30 80 50 40
DLS 34 48 32 51 / 80 60 30 40
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM PDT TUESDAY ORZ050.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 AM PDT TUESDAY ORZ503-506-509.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM PDT TUESDAY ORZ042-505.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PDT TUESDAY ORZ509.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT TUESDAY ORZ044.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 AM PDT TUESDAY ORZ049.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM PDT TUESDAY ORZ507-508.
WA... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM PDT TUESDAY WAZ520.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT TUESDAY WAZ028.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM PDT TUESDAY WAZ029.
&&
THREAT INDEX
TUESDAY : RED
WEDNESDAY : GREEN
THURSDAY : YELLOW
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
76/76/76HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
510 PM PDT MON MAR 12 2012
UPDATED FOR WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON
CASCADES
ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-131200-
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-
510 PDT MON MAR 12 2012
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SNOW
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON AND OREGON CASCADES
STRONG WIND
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF
THE OREGON CASCADES, 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 STRONG PACIFIC STORM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION TODAY BRINGING VERY
WINDY CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SOME SNOW. THE SNOW WILL MAINLY EFFECT
THE WASHINGTON AND OREGON CASCADE EAST SLOPES. HOWEVER... THERE MAY
ALSO BE A FEW INCHES IN THE OTHER MOUNTAINS AS WELL. A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY
THROUGH 5 AM TUESDAY FOR THE WASHINGTON CASCADES. A WINTER FOR 3 TO
5 INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE OREGON EAST SLOPES FROM
10 PM TONIGHT THROUGH 10 AM TUESDAY. PLEASE SEE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE HAZARD PRODUCT PDXWSWPDT FOR MORE DETAILS.
VERY TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS COMBINED WITH AN UNSTABLE
ATMOSPHERE AND STRONG WINDS ALOFT BEING PULLED DOWN TO THE SURFACE
WILL CREATE VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TODAY TO THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS SOUTHWARD IN THE FORECAST AREA. HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN
EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE OREGON CASCADE EAST SLOPES...THE
OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS AND THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS. A WIND
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS...WALLOWA COUNTY AND NORTH CENTRAL OREGON THROUGH EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING. PLEASE SEE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCT
PDXNPWPDT FOR MORE DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
STRONG WIND TUESDAY
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, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON
SNOW
EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES
VERY WINDY CONDITIONS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON TUESDAY WILL
DIMINISH AS THE STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM MOVES OUT OF THE FORECAST
AREA. WIND ADVISORIES AND/OR HIGH WIND WARNINGS WILL REMAIN IN
EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PDT AT THE LATEST AND THEN THE WINDS WILL
DIMINISH TO BELOW ADVISORY SPEEDS IN ALL AREAS. SNOW WILL DECREASE
IN THE WASHINGTON CASCADES...BUT IT WILL CONTINUE IN THE EAST SLOPES
OREGON CASCADES THROUGH THE MORNING. THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK INTO
THE WEEKEND WILL REMAIN COOL...WET AND UNSETTLED WITH FREQUENT
WEATHER SYSTEMS MOVING ACROSS THE REGION.
.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
454 PM PDT MON MAR 12 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0233 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N JOSEPH 45.39N 117.24W
03/12/2012 M73 MPH WALLOWA OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE 1230 PM, IT HAS BEEN GUSTING BETWEEN 25-40 MPH. NO
DAMAGE OBSERVED.
&&
POLANPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
818 PM PDT MON MAR 12 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 WNW RUGGS 45.30N 119.80W
03/12/2012 M64.00 MPH MORROW OR TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 64 MPH AT 100 PM PDT IN HUSTON
CANYON, WHICH IS 16 MILES WSW OF HEPPNER. ELEV 2400 FT.
0347 PM HIGH SUST WINDS 3 SW HEPPNER 45.32N 119.60W
03/12/2012 M40.00 MPH MORROW OR MESONET
SUSTAINED WINDS AT RUGGS MESONET WEATHER STATION MEASURED
AT 40-45 MPH OVER A PERIOD OF ONE HOUR FROM 247 PM TO 347
PM PDT. PEAK WIND GUSTS MEASURED AT 52 MPH AT 337 PM AND
55 MPH AT 517 PM PDT. ELEV 2950 FT.
&&
POLANThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. 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, March 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: 360516.