A strong Pacific storm system brought a mixture of weather and high winds to the lower elevations. Several reports of high wind gusts and damage came in from the Tri-Cities area, as this was the area hit hardest.
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 strong Pacific storm system brought a mixture of weather and high winds to the lower elevations.
Several reports of high wind gusts and damage came in from the Tri-Cities area, as this was the area hit hardest.
Reports of damage and wind gusts in MPH include: Shingles blown off of a roof 4 NE of Kennewick, 14 NNW of West Richland (72 ), Barricade Mesonet (58), 12 NW of West Richland (69), Benton City (83), Hanford (66), Richland Airport (76), 3 WNW Kennewick (63), Pasco Airport (70), 5 ENE Prosser (62), 6 S Touchet (58), 6 NNW Walla Walla a trained spotter measured gust (60) and reported tree branches 2-4 in diameter down, along with power out at the Walla Walla watershed and Mill Creek Dam, and trees and power lines down near Dayton.
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 16, 7:38 PM PST, 6 hours 32 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
738 PM PST SUN DEC 16 2012
.UPDATE...A STRONG PACIFIC WINTER STORM CONTINUES TO MOVE INTO AND
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AND REGION THIS EVENING. STEADY SNOW HAS
BEEN FALLING IN MOST PLACES EXCEPT THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN...BLUE
MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS AND THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE WHERE
TEMPERATURES ARE WARM ENOUGH FOR JUST LIGHT RAIN. WINDS HAVE BEEN
INCREASING THIS EVENING AS WELL IN RESPONSE TO TIGHTENING SURFACE
PRESSURE GRADIENTS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. SO FAR THERE HAS NOT
BEEN ANY ADVISORY OR WARNING WIND SPEEDS REACHED YET AT ANY
REPORTING STATIONS. HOWEVER THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO COME
LATER TONIGHT. ONE AREA OF CONCERN IS THE YAKIMA VALLEY WHERE
STEADY LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW HAS BEEN FALLING WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF
2 TO 3 INCHES SO FAR. ONLY ONE MORE INCH WILL TAKE THAT ZONE TO
WINTER STORM WARNING SNOW AMOUNTS. BELIEVE THE SNOW WILL CHANGE OVER
TO RAIN BEFORE THAT HAPPENS BUT WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT IN CASE
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THERE NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED TO A WARNING.
BUT AT THIS MOMENT AM NOT EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN. THE WARM FRONT
WITH THIS SYSTEM IS JUST ABOUT THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA WITH WARMER
SOUTHERLY WINDS BEHIND IT. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS
THE CASCADES BETWEEN 9Z-12Z. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THE WINDS WILL
BEGIN TO DECREASE AND WILL SHIFT FROM SOUTH-SOUTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST.
SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP AGAIN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT BUT MOST OF THE
STEADY PRECIPITATION WILL HAVE PASSED BY THEN AND THERE WILL BE
DOWNSLOPE RAIN SHADOWING TAKING PLACE TO THE LEE OF THE CASCADES
WHICH WILL DRY OUT THE BASIN AND ADJACENT VALLEYS. NUMEROUS SNOW
SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE IN THE BLUES AND SOME OTHER NORTHEAST MOUNTAIN
RANGES...AS WELL AS THE OREGON CASCADE EAST SLOPES THROUGH MOST OF
THE DAY MONDAY. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW
WILL CAUSE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER THESE AREAS. THE SNOW WILL
DECREASE BY LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON WHEN THE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO END.
LATER IN THE WEEK THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEMS
WITH THE STRONGEST ONE TO MOVE THROUGH ON WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY.
THIS NEXT SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENTS ALONG
WITH STRONG WINDS AGAIN. WILL KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THAT SCENARIO
FOR THE TIME BEING. 88
&&
.AVIATION...06Z TAFS...THERE WILL BE WIDESPREAD MVFR OR IFR
CONDITIONS TONIGHT IN LOW CEILINGS AND/OR LOW VISIBILITY IN RAIN AND
SNOW. THERE WILL ALSO BE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OVERNIGHT AND ON
MONDAY WITH WIND SPEEDS EXPECTED TO BE SUSTAINED AT LEAST 25 TO 35
MPH IN MOST AREAS WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 TO 60 MPH. THE STRONGEST
WINDS WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 09Z-12Z TONIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE
MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH DIMINISHING WINDS...BETTER VISIBILITY AND
HIGHER CEILINGS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 147 PM PST SUN DEC 16 2012/
SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL
BE IMPACTING THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT AND INTO MONDAY. THIS STORM
WILL PACK A ONE-TWO PUNCH OF STRONG WINDS AND SIGNIFICANT SNOW FOR
SOME AREAS. THIS STORM IS CURRENTLY SENDING A WARM FRONT NORTHWARD
ACROSS OREGON WHICH WILL INCREASE PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE NIGHT. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS
WILL FOLLOW THE WARM FRONTAL PASSAGE WHICH WILL RAISE SNOW LEVELS
OVERNIGHT. THEN LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY THE ASSOCIATED COLD
FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE REGION LOWERING SNOW LEVELS. THE COLD
FRONT WILL ALSO SWITCH THE WINDS TO WESTERLY. NUMEROUS WINTER STORM
AND HIGH WIND PRODUCTS (PDXWSWPDT AND PDXNPWPDT) HAVE BEEN ISSUED
FOR THIS EVENT. SEE THESE PRODUCTS FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF ON MONDAY EXCEPT FOR THE
ONGOING UPSLOPE PRECIPITATION IMPACTING THE CASCADE CREST REGION AND
THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS. ALL OTHER AREAS WILL SEE DECREASING SHOWERS
AND VERY WINDY CONDITIONS MONDAY. WINDS WILL TAPER OFF LATE MONDAY
THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. FORECAST AREA WILL REMAIN UNDER A COLD
WESTERLY FLOW INTO TUESDAY WITH SOME INSTABILITY SHOWERS MAINLY IN
THE AFTERNOON AND DECREASING BY EARLY TUESDAY EVENING.
ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON WEDNESDAY. THIS SYSTEM
WILL ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS MAINLY OVER
OREGON. SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE BUT STILL EXPECT POSSIBLE ACCUMULATING
SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
CASCADES OF WASHINGTON.
LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...THE REGION WILL BE
UNDER SW FLOW ALOFT THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH PERIODIC IMPULSES MOVING
THROUGH THE FLOW. THIS WILL KEEP UNSETTLED WEATHER OVER THE AREA AND
AT LEAST LOW CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION. AT THE SURFACE IT APPEARS
THAT IT MAY BECOME INCREASINGLY COLDER AS A COLD CONTINENTAL AIRMASS
SPILLS OVER THE ROCKIES INTO THE INTERIOR NW. THIS WILL RESULT IN
SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO THE COLUMBIA BASIN FLOOR BY THEN END OF THE
WEEK...WITH ALL LOCATIONS SEEING SNOW AS THE PREDOMINANT
PRECIPITATION TYPE. HOWEVER...AS OF NOW IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT A
MAJOR STORM WILL IMPACT THE AREA THROUGH THE PERIOD.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 38 41 29 33 / 80 40 20 30
ALW 38 42 29 35 / 80 40 20 40
PSC 37 44 29 36 / 100 20 10 20
YKM 30 36 23 30 / 100 20 10 20
HRI 37 43 28 36 / 80 20 10 20
ELN 29 35 23 29 / 100 30 10 20
RDM 33 35 18 31 / 70 50 20 30
LGD 32 35 22 28 / 90 70 40 50
GCD 32 32 23 26 / 80 70 30 50
DLS 36 41 31 38 / 100 60 20 30
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY ORZ050-502-503-506.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST MONDAY ORZ042-044-507-508.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY ORZ049-505-509.
BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY ORZ509.
WA...BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY WAZ030.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST MONDAY WAZ028-029-521.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT WAZ027.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY WAZ521.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY WAZ520.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST MONDAY WAZ026.
&&
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
88/88/78HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
940 AM PST SUN DEC 16 2012
UPDATED FOR EXPANDED HEADLINE COVERAGE
ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-
171245-
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-
940 AM PST SUN DEC 16 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 CASCADES, KITTITAS VALLEY,
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, WALLOWA COUNTY,
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS
OF OREGON, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS, YAKIMA VALLEY, SIMCOE
HIGHLANDS, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES
STRONG WIND
SIMCOE HIGHLANDS, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL
OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES, LOWER COLUMBIA
BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, FOOTHILLS OF THE
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN
BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, JOHN DAY BASIN
A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT. WINDS WILL BE INCREASING DURING THE
AFTERNOON BECOMING STRONG IN MANY LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT. HIGH WIND
WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT. SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN AT THE
LOWER ELEVATIONS WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION TODAY AND WILL ALSO
CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. WINTER STORM WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR SOME
LOCATIONS. SEE FORECASTS AND WARNING PRODUCTS FOR DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
SNOW MONDAY
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, KITTITAS VALLEY,
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, WALLOWA COUNTY,
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS
OF OREGON, OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON
CASCADES
STRONG WIND MONDAY
SIMCOE HIGHLANDS, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON,
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL
OREGON, EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES, LOWER COLUMBIA
BASIN OF OREGON, GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, FOOTHILLS OF THE
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN
BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, JOHN DAY BASIN
THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BE EXITING THE AREA LATE MONDAY. STRONG
WINDS AND SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON THEN DIMINISH IN THE
EVENING. WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON. AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THE WEEK WITH RAIN/SNOW AND PERIODS OF WIND.
.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
841 PM PST SUN DEC 16 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM NON-TSTM WND GST PILOT ROCK 45.48N 118.83W
12/16/2012 E51 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
STATION C5984 PILOT ROCK REPORTED A WIND GUST TO 51 MPH
AT 720 PM PST.
0720 PM NON-TSTM WND GST PILOT ROCK 45.48N 118.83W
12/16/2012 E51 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
MESONET STATION C5984 IN PILOT ROCK REPORTED A WIND GUST
TO 51 MPH AT 720 PM PST.
&&
RCLOUTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
907 PM PST SUN DEC 16 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0822 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 NE WEST VALLEY 46.61N 120.58W
12/16/2012 M4.3 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
UPDATED REPORT RECEVIED 4.3 INCHES SNOW SINCE 4 PM.
CURRENTLY 32 DEGREES AND SNOWING HARD.
0835 PM HEAVY SNOW 3 ESE WEST VALLEY 46.58N 120.54W
12/16/2012 M4.0 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
4 INCHES SNOW SINCE 4 PM...STILL SNOWING.
&&
AAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
950 PM PST SUN DEC 16 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0945 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 WNW WEST VALLEY 46.61N 120.69W
12/16/2012 M8.5 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
UPDATED REPORT OF 8.5 INCHES SNOW SINCE 4 PM. STILL
SNOWING BUT NOW MIXING WITH RAIN.
&&
AAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1014 PM PST SUN DEC 16 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 WSW YAKIMA 46.56N 120.63W
12/16/2012 M6.2 INCH YAKIMA WA CO-OP OBSERVER
RECEIVED 6.2 INCHES SNOW IN 6 HOURS. CURRENTLY 32 DEGREES
AND LIGHT SNOW.
&&
AAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1200 AM PST MON DEC 17 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 ESE STANFIELD 45.73N 119.06W
12/16/2012 M58.00 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
1140 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N JOSEPH 45.39N 117.23W
12/16/2012 M64.00 MPH WALLOWA OR MESONET
1154 PM HEAVY SNOW 8 SE CLIFFDELL 46.85N 120.95W
12/16/2012 M9.0 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
9 INCHES NEW SNOW SINCE MID AFTERNOON.
&&
MVESCIOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
112 AM PST MON DEC 17 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0742 PM NON-TSTM WND GST LONG CREEK 44.71N 119.10W
12/16/2012 M55 MPH GRANT OR MESONET
&&
MVESCIOThe 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 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, 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: 417992, 417991.