A historically cold air mass moved into Oregon this day. There was a short period of very low wind chill temperatures after the arrival of the cold air and before the winds abated.
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 MFR wrote it up.
A historically cold air mass moved into Oregon this day. There was a short period of very low wind chill temperatures after the arrival of the cold air and before the winds abated.
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 7, 2:22 PM PST, 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
222 PM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
.SHORT TERM...1031 MB ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER NORTH-
CENTRAL OREGON THIS AFTERNOON WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT SOUTH AND TAKE
UP A POSITION JUST TO OUR EAST BY SUNDAY MORNING. AS THIS OCCURS,
SKIES WILL CLEAR, TEMPERATURES WILL FALL, AND THE AIRMASS WILL DRY
OUT. WITH FRESH SNOW COVER, MUCH OF THE AREA WILL RADIATE VERY
EFFECTIVELY. THIS WILL BE THE COLDEST AIR WEVE SEEN SINCE 1998,
BUT IT WILL NOT BE RECORD BREAKING IN MOST SPOTS. THAT DUBIOUS
HONOR BELONGS TO A VERY COLD SPELL THAT OCCURRED IN 1972.
NEVERTHELESS, IT IS GOING TO BE DARNED COLD OVER THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.
IN THE MEAN TIME, WEVE STILL GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF CLOUD OVER OUR
FORECAST AREA. SKIES HAVE CLEARED AT THE COAST AND THE NORTHERN
KLAMATH IS NOW LARGELY CLOUD-FREE, BUT THE REST OF THE AREA HAS AT
LEAST BROKEN DECKS. THERE ARE STILL A FEW FLURRIES IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND OVER MODOC COUNTY. THIS WILL ALL DIMINISH THROUGH
SUNSET AS THE DRIER AIR WORKS IN.
THE FIRST CONCERN IN THE SHORT TERM IS THAT AS THIS AIRMASS
PRESSES IN, ITS PRODUCING BRISK GRADIENT-DRIVEN WINDS ACROSS THE
EAST SIDE. THIS COMBINED WITH QUICKLY FALLING TEMPERATURES THROUGH
THE EVENING WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS. WE ALREADY
HAVE A WIND CHILL WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF LAKE COUNTY, AND IT
STILL LOOKS RIGHT ON TRACK.
ISSUE NUMBER TWO IS THE COLD ITSELF. THIS WILL BE AN EXTREME COLD
EVENT FOR AREAS NOT TYPICALLY USED TO SEEING REALLY COLD WEATHER.
THE WEST SIDE OF OREGON, ESPECIALLY THE COAST, HAS NOT SEEN SUCH
COLD WEATHER IN A LONG TIME. NOT ONLY THE NATURE OF THE AIRMASS,
BUT THE FACT THAT WERE LIKELY TO BE BELOW FREEZING FOR MUCH OF
THE AREA THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY MORNING. I HAVENT MADE MUCH
CHANGE TO THE LOW TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT WHICH HAS LOWS
ON THE WEST SIDE DROPPING INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS. THE EAST SIDE IS
WORSE, OF COURSE, WITH WIDESPREAD LOWS RANGING FROM -5 TO -20
MY ONLY RESERVATION IN THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST IS THE PRESENCE OF
CLOUD. THE MODELS KEEP SHOWING MOISTURE AT 850 MBS ON THE EAST
SIDE TOMORROW MORNING. SPEAKING OF MOISTURE: THERE SHOULD BE
ENOUGH OF IT LEFT IN THE WEST SIDE VALLEYS TO GET SOME FREEZING
FOG TONIGHT. I PUT AREAS OF FZFG IN THE FORECAST AS WELL AS SOME
CLOUD COVER. GIVEN THAT THIS WOULD BE SHALLOW AND SURFACE-BASED,
I AM NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT IT LIMITING COOLING ON THE WEST SIDE.
THE AIRMASS WILL GRADUALLY MODERATE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY AS A
RIDGE STARTS TO NUDGE IN FROM THE WEST. IT WILL BE A LONG HAUL,
THOUGH, AS WE DONT FINALLY CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING OVER ALL OF THE
WEST SIDE VALLEYS UNTIL TUESDAY. -WRIGHT
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...12Z OPERATIONAL RUNS OF
THE ECMWF AND GFS AS WELL AS THEIR ENSEMBLES ARE AGREEABLE IN THEIR
SOLUTIONS FOR THE UPCOMING PATTERN MID NEXT WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND.
SINCE THE FLOW ALOFT WILL SHIFT FROM NORTHERLY TO MORE WESTERLY, THE
PATTERN WILL FEATURE AIR MASSES THAT ARE MORE PACIFIC IN ORIGIN THAN
THE POLAR CONTINENTAL AIR MASSES WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL DAYS. AS A RESULT, WE WILL SEE A GRADUAL MODIFICATION
IN TEMPERATURES AND SNOW LEVELS DURING THE PERIOD. WHAT WE WILL
ALSO SEE IS A MORE ACTIVE PACIFIC STORM TRACK THAT WILL BRING
MULTIPLE SYSTEMS INTO THE NORTHWEST COAST. WHAT IS A LITTLE MORE
UNCERTAIN IS THE STRENGTH AND TIMING OF THESE SYSTEMS. BUT, WELL
TRY TO HONE IN ON THE DETAILS BELOW.
MODELS SEND A WEAK TROUGH EAST OF THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT ALLOWING A
SHORT WAVE RIDGE TO BUILD BRIEFLY OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY. AS A
RESULT, HAVE CUT POPS FOR THIS PERIOD TO ELIMINATE ANY PRECIP ACROSS
THE CWA. BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, A STORM SYSTEM HEADING INTO BRITISH
COLUMBIA WILL ALLOW A COLD FRONT TO APPROACH THE OREGON COAST. THIS
SHOULD BRING SOME RAIN TO THE COAST, BUT MODELS ARE NOW WEAKENING
THE FRONT SIGNIFICANTLY AS IT MOVES ONSHORE THURSDAY. SO,
PRECIPITATION CHANCES DECREASE FARTHER INLAND. THERE MAY BE SOME
LIGHT RAIN/SNOW THAT REACHES TO AND JUST EAST OF THE CASCADES, BUT
THATS ABOUT THE EASTWARD EXTENT. SHOWERS MAY LINGER THURSDAY NIGHT
THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT, BUT MODELS HAVE AGAIN TRENDED DRIER IN THIS
TIME FRAME. SO, HAVE ADJUSTED POPS DOWNWARD. ANOTHER FRONT WILL
ARRIVE AT THE COAST SATURDAY. SPILDE
&&
.AVIATION...BASED ON THE 07/18Z TAF CYCLE.
MOSTLY VFR EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON INTO
THIS EVENING. AREAS OF IFR/LIFR FREEZING FOG/LOW CLOUDS WILL LIKELY
DEVELOP IN THE VALLEYS WEST OF THE CASCADES OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY
MORNING. THERE MAY ALSO BE PATCHES OF IFR LOW CLOUDS OR FOG IN THE
VALLEYS AND BASINS EAST OF THE CASCADES. CONDITIONS SHOULD CLEAR TO
VFR AGAIN MOST AREAS BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SPILDE
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY FOR ORZ021-022.
WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR ORZ030-031.
CA...WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR CAZ085.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS
UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR PZZ356-370.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
PZZ376.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR PZZ376.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
925 AM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0920 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 NNE SELMA 42.35N 123.57W
12/07/2013 E6.0 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
5 INCHES ON THE GROUND.
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
946 AM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM HEAVY SNOW 3 ESE GRANTS PASS 42.43N 123.26W
12/07/2013 M4.9 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
947 AM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM HEAVY SNOW MOUNT SHASTA 41.32N 122.31W
12/07/2013 M4.3 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
1PM TO 930AM. 2 INCHES FELL FROM 1PM TO 5
PM.
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1125 AM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1125 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 SW SHADY COVE 42.56N 122.90W
12/07/2013 M6.0 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
115 PM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 AM SNOW 1 ENE ASHLAND 42.19N 122.69W
12/07/2013 M7.0 INCH JACKSON OR NWS EMPLOYEE
1.5 INCHES OVERNIGHT. 6 INCHES PRIOR TO THAT
THROUGH 11PM FRIDAY EVENING. TOTAL ON THE
GROUND 7 INCHES. ELEVATION NEAR 1900 FEET.
SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
125 PM PST SAT DEC 7 2013
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM HEAVY SNOW 2 ESE JACKSONVILLE 42.30N 122.92W
12/07/2013 M4.5 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
The Lakeview Airport AWOS reported wind chills of -20 or lower nearly continuously from 07/1855 PST until 07/2115 PST. The Rock Creek RAWS reported wind chills of -20 or lower continuously from 07/1427 PST until 07/1927 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, December 2013
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: 481990.