Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 20 to 21, 2013

Name: Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 20 to 21, 2013
Start: 2013-12-20T17:00
End: 2013-12-21T01:00
Location: Oregon

December 20 to 21, 2013 · NWS PDT · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A complex weather system moved across the area, with high predictable waters associated. The system would start off as snow before changing over to rain several hours later.

Where it happened

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PDT wrote it up.

A complex weather system moved across the area, with high predictable waters associated. The system would start off as snow before changing over to rain several hours later. Snowfall amounts would fall in a 6 to 12 hour period as the snow levels would rise later in the afternoon. Snowfall reports in inches were: (9.0) NNE of Bingham Springs, (10) WSW of Elgin, (5) South of Joseph, (10) in Minam, and (10) at the Milk Shakes Snotel.

What forecasters said that day

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 20, 3:44 PM PST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 20, 3:44 PM PST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
344 PM PST FRI DEC 20 2013

UPDATED FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...WARM FRONT WITH A NORTHWEST
FLOW CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE FORECAST AREA. ANOTHER SURGE OF
MOISTURE IS CROSSING THE CASCADES AND WILL PASS OVER THE FORECAST
AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. TEMPERATURES HAVE
WARMED ALOFT AND AND AT THE SURFACE SO EXPECTING EITHER RAIN AND OR
SNOW DEPENDING ON ELEVATION ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. ONE EXCEPTION
WILL BE THE JOHN DAY VALLEY WHERE SOME COLD AIR REMAINS TRAPPED SO
THERE COULD BE SOME PERIODS OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN THROUGH THIS
EVENING BEFORE EVENTUALLY CHANGING OVER TO RAIN. THE BRUNT OF THE
PRECIPITATION OVERNIGHT WILL BE OVER NORTHEAST OREGON WITH GRADUAL
RISING SNOW LEVELS. THE WINTER STORM WARNINGS FOR SNOW IN THE
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS WILL CONTINUE. PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF TO
SHOWERS ON SATURDAY MAINLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS AS THIS SYSTEM EXITS
THE FORECAST AREA.

ANOTHER SYSTEM IN THIS NORTHWEST FLOW WILL ARRIVE SUNDAY BUT WITH
SNOW LEVELS ALREADY HIGH SO EXPECTING MAINLY LOWER ELEVATION RAIN
WITH MOUNTAIN SNOW AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE ON MONDAY WITH
ANOTHER SHOT OF PRECIPITATION AND INCREASING WINDS.

.LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...THE WEATHER
SYSTEM THAT MOVED IN ON SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WILL CONTINUE TO
EXIT THE AREA...LEAVING ONLY A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE CASCADES AND
THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST OREGON.  VALLEY AREAS WILL BE FAIRLY DRY
AS WEST/NORTHWEST FLOW DOMINATES THE MAJORITY OF THE EXTENDED. THE
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL REMAIN STALLED OUT OFF THE OR/WA COAST
THROUGH FRIDAY...THEREFORE IT APPEARS THAT NO AREAS WILL SEE A WHITE
CHRISTMAS DUE TO SNOWFALL.  THIS PATTERN WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL
IN THE AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT...BUT DO NOT ANTICIPATE FOG TO BE A
CONCERN.  A WEAK DISTURBANCE WILL ATTEMPT TO BREAK DOWN THE RIDGE
INTO A MORE WESTERLY/SOUTHWEST FLOW ON FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY.
IF THIS MOVES IN QUICKER THE TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY MAY BE INCREASED
DUE TO WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE DISTURBANCE.  OVERALL FOR THE
MOST PART IT WILL BE A DRY AND COOL EXTENDED.  WEBER

&&

.AVIATION...00Z TAFS...TAF CATEGORIES WILL VARY AT ALL TAF SITES
OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS THIS STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA.  VFR TO IFR CATEGORIES CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS
FLUCTUATION.  WARM AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES TO MOVE OVER THE
AREA...AND MOST TAF SITES SHOULD SEE PRECIPITATION IN THE FOR OF
RAIN OR A RAIN SNOW MIX.  BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS WITH GUSTS
APPROACHING 20 TO 30 KTS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EVENING.  WEBER

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  34  42  32  45 /  60  20  10  20
ALW  34  41  33  43 /  60  20  10  30
PSC  30  39  30  41 /  20  10   0  20
YKM  30  40  29  42 /  10  10  10  20
HRI  33  44  32  45 /  30  10  10  20
ELN  31  39  28  42 /  20  10  10  20
RDM  34  47  29  48 /  30  10  10  10
LGD  31  38  29  39 / 100  70  10  30
GCD  32  41  29  42 /  90  40  10  30
DLS  38  46  35  49 /  30  10  10  20

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING ORZ505.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY ORZ502.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING ORZ503.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING ORZ049.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY ORZ050.

WA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY WAZ030.

&&

THREAT INDEX
SATURDAY : YELLOW
SUNDAY : GREEN
MONDAY : 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

91/89/89

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 20, 2:39 PM PST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
239 PM PST FRI DEC 20 2013

ORZ049-050-502-503-505-WAZ030-212245-
GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-JOHN DAY BASIN-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
239 PM PST FRI DEC 20 2013

UPDATED TO REMOVE WIND ADVISORY

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
OREGON...NORTHEAST OREGON AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

MOISTURE CONTINUES TO STREAM ACROSS THE REGION. SNOW LEVELS ARE ON
THE RISE WITH THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS SEEING TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING. SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
AND WALLOWA MOUNTAINS WHERE WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS SEE NWS PRODUCT ID PDXWSWPDT AS
WELL AS YOUR LOCAL FORECASTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TO SNOW SHOWERS BY LATE SATURDAY MORNING.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD OVER THE REGION BY TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY PROVIDING A DRY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 20, 12:51 PM PST, 4 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1251 PM PST FRI DEC 20 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1005 AM     SNOW             STANFIELD               45.79N 119.22W
12/20/2013  M2.5 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 2.5 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE
            GROUND IN STANFIELD, VIA FACEBOOK.

1025 AM     SNOW             UMAPINE                 45.98N 118.50W
12/20/2013  M0.5 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED A HALF INCH OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION AT UMAPINE VIA FACEBOOK.

1025 AM     SNOW             RICHLAND                46.29N 119.29W
12/20/2013  M0.5 INCH        BENTON             WA   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED THAT THE SNOW HAD STOPPED
            IN RICHLAND NEAR THE AIRPORT, AND HAD ACCUMULATED A HALF
            INCH OF SNOW. REPORT VIA FACEBOOK.

1025 AM     SNOW             ATHENA                  45.81N 118.49W
12/20/2013  M2.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 2 INCHE OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN ATHENA, VIA FACEBOOK. STILL SNOWING.

1045 AM     SNOW             WESTON                  45.82N 118.43W
12/20/2013  E1.5 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC VIA FACEBOOK, REPORTED AN
            ESTIMATED INCH AND A HALF IN WESTON.

1045 AM     SNOW             PILOT ROCK              45.48N 118.83W
12/20/2013  M2.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC VIA FACEBOOK, REPORTED 2 INCHES OF
            SNOW ON THE GROUND AT PILOT ROCK. UPDATE 1145 AM BRIEF
            STOP IN THE SNOW BEFORE CHANGING TO A RAIN SNOW MIX.

1130 AM     SNOW             KENNEWICK               46.20N 119.17W
12/20/2013  M1.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED ONE INCH OF SNOW ON THE
            GROUND IN KENNEWICK BY FACEBOOK.

1145 AM     SNOW             BENTON CITY             46.27N 119.49W
12/20/2013  E1.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            BENTON CITY DISTRICT 2 FIRE PROTECTION REPORTED A HALF
            INCH TO AN INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION VIA FACEBOOK.

1145 AM     SNOW             WALLA WALLA             46.07N 118.34W
12/20/2013  M1.0 INCH        WALLA WALLA        WA   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED VIA FACEBOOK, 1 INCH OF
            SNOW. STILL SNOWING.

1145 AM     SNOW             PENDLETON               45.67N 118.82W
12/20/2013  M1.5 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN DOWNTOWN PENDLETON, VIA FACEBOOK. STILL
            SNOWING.

1205 PM     SNOW             HERMISTON               45.83N 119.28W
12/20/2013  E2.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED ABOUT TWO INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN HERMISTON VIA FACEBOOK.

1230 PM     SLEET            ELTOPIA                 46.46N 119.02W
12/20/2013  U0.00 INCH       FRANKLIN           WA   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER REPORTED SLEET MIXED WITH SNOW FALLING IN
            ELTOPIA.

1230 PM     SNOW             PENDLETON               45.67N 118.82W
12/20/2013  M2.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 2 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN PENDLETON. STILL SNOWING. REPORT VIA
            FACEBOOK.

1230 PM     SNOW             COLLEGE PLACE           46.04N 118.38W
12/20/2013  M1.5 INCH        WALLA WALLA        WA   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED AN INCH AND A HALF OF
            SNOW ACCUMULATION AT COLLEGE PLACE. REPORT VIA FACEBOOK.

&&

RQB

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Blue Mountains

When: December 20, 5:00 PM PST to December 21, 1:00 AM PST
Where: Northern Blue Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.494, -117.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wallowa County

When: December 20, 10:00 PM PST to December 21, 1:00 AM PST
Where: Wallowa County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.445, -117.595 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oregon in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, December 2013

Sources

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: 481840, 481841.