An incoming front on 12/10/14 brought strong winds to many parts of southern Oregon and northern California. A rapidly developing low pressure system behind the first front brought another round of high winds on 12/11/14.
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 MFR wrote it up.
An incoming front on 12/10/14 brought strong winds to many parts of southern Oregon and northern California. A rapidly developing low pressure system behind the first front brought another round of high winds on 12/11/14. Both of these events were covered by a long duration High Wind Warning, but high winds occurred in northern California only during the second event.
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 10, 8:33 PM PST, 7 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
833 PM PST WED DEC 10 2014
.DISCUSSION...THE COLD FRONT THAT BROUGHT MODERATE TO STRONG WINDS
AND HEAVY RAIN IS NOW ALONG THE CASCADES. WINDS AND PRECIPITATION
HAVE DECREASED BEHIND THE FRONT AND NOW THE STEADY RAIN AND STRONG
WINDS ARE MOSTLY CONFINED THE CASCADES AND EASTSIDE AND IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HOWEVER THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE HEAVIEST
PRECIPITATION HAS SHIFTED EAST OF WHERE THE BURN SCARS ARE IN
WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY. HAVE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE POP AND
QPF FORECAST FOR THIS EVENING TO REFLECT CURRENT CONDITIONS.
CURRENT SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWS THE NEXT LOW ALREADY STARTING TO
TAKE SHAPE NEAR 38N AND 134W AND IS MOVING EAST TO NORTHEAST. THE
0Z GFS IS IN AND THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE FROM THE 12Z RUN WITH
RESPECT TO THE TIMING...TRACK AND STRENGTH OF THE LOW, THUS THE
TIMING OF THE WIND HEADLINES FOR THE MARINE AND LAND LOOK GOOD.
THE GFS HAS THE LOW DEEPENING RATHER QUICKLY FROM 991 TO 985 MB BY
6Z, THEN TO 979 MB BY 12Z. SO ANY DECREASE IN WINDS WEST OF THE
CASCADES WILL BE BRIEF AND THEY WILL RAMP UP AGAIN EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
ANY BREAK IN PRECIPITATION TONIGHT WILL BE BRIEF AND IT'S
EXPECTED TO INCREASE AGAIN LATER TONIGHT IN SOUTHWEST OREGON AND
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AS THE LOW MOVES TOWARDS THE COAST.
-PETRUCELLI
&&
.AVIATION...BASED ON THE 11/00Z TAF CYCLE...A VERY STRONG FRONT IS
NOW MOVING THROUGH THE AREA...AND A STRONGER SECONDARY AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE WILL MOVE NORTH JUST OFFSHORE THURSDAY. STRONG WINDS AND
HEAVY PRECIPITATION WILL ACCOMPANY BOTH SYSTEMS. WIND SHEAR WILL
DIMINISH ONCE THE FRONT PASSES...BUT RETURN WITH THE THURSDAY
SYSTEM. MVFR CIGS/VSBYS WITH LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST
THROUGH THURSDAY WITH HIGHER TERRAIN OBSCURED.
&&
.MARINE...UPDATED 300 PM PST WED DEC 10 2014...A STRONG FRONT
IS NOW MOVING ONSHORE AND WINDS AND SEAS ARE SUBSIDING IN ITS
WAKE. HOWEVER...STORM FORCE WINDS AND VERY HEAVY SEAS WILL RETURN
THURSDAY AS A 980 MB LOW MOVES NORTH JUST OFFSHORE. HURRICANE FORCE
GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN THE VICINITY OF CAPE BLANCO.
MEANWHILE...HEAVY LONG PERIOD WEST SWELL WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG
SOUTHERLY CHOP TO PRODUCE VERY STEEP AND HAZARDOUS SEAS THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS WILL BUILD TO HEIGHTS IN EXCESS OF
25 FEET...WITH BREAKING WAVES OF OVER 30 FEET EXPECTED NEAR SHORE...
SHOALS...AND OTHER SHALLOW WATER AREAS.
THIS WILL BE A VERY STRONG STORM, AND IS LIKELY RANK IN THE TOP 10
PERCENT OF THE STORMS TO AFFECT OUR REGION. ALL MARITIME AND COASTAL
INTERESTS SHOULD TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE LIFE AND
PROPERTY...AS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE TO UNSECURED AND
EXPOSED EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
THAT ALL VESSELS REMAIN IN SAFE HARBOR UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE
THURSDAY EVENING.
BEYOND THURSDAY...WINDS AND SEAS WILL DIMINISH...BUT UNSETTLED
WEATHER WILL CONTINUE. CONTINUED LONG PERIOD SWELL IS EXPECTED
THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF WIND AND HEAVY SEAS
EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 252 PM PST WED DEC 10 2014/
SHORT TERM...A STRONG COLD FRONT IS JUST NOW MOVING ONTO THE
OREGON COAST, AS EVIDENCED BY AN ABRUPT WIND SHIFT FROM SOUTH TO
WEST AT NORTH BEND. THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE FRONT DIED DOWN FOR A
WHILE, BUT HAVE NOW FIRED BACK UP, AND LIGHTNING IS SHOWING UP
ROUGHLY FROM GOLD BEACH TO BANDON RIGHT NOW. WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF
WIND ALREADY WITH GUSTS OF 65-75 MPH COMMON ALONG THE COAST OVER
THE LAST FEW HOURS. THE HIGHEST WIND, SO FAR, HAS BEEN AN 85 MPH
GUST AT HUMBUG MOUNTAIN, WHICH IS ALONG HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH OF PORT
ORFORD. IN THE MOUNTAINS, SQUAW PEAK (OR/CA BORDER) HAS HAD GUSTS
OF 84 MPH.
THE FRONT WILL MOVE INLAND THIS EVENING AND THEN GET HUNG UP
ROUGHLY ALONG OR JUST EAST OF THE CASCADES. THIS WILL ALLOW WINDS
TO INCREASE OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND EAST SIDE. IT WILL ALSO CONTINUE
TO PUMP COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE NORTHWARD ACROSS ALL OF
SISKIYOU COUNTY AND INTO SOUTHWEST OREGON AND LEAD TO STEADY,
OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER MUCH OF THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY MORNING. TO THE WEST BEHIND THE FRONT, RAIN WILL LIKELY
EASE IN INTENSITY AND WINDS WILL DROP OFF AS WELL FOR A PERIOD
TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FORMING RIGHT NOW NEAR 40N/135W
WILL RAPIDLY DEEPEN TONIGHT AND THEN TURN NORTH ALONG THE OREGON
COAST THURSDAY MORNING. THIS WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER PERIOD OF WINDY
WEATHER FOR MUCH OF OUR AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. DEPENDING
ON ITS STRENGTH, THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS ALONG THE
COAST, WITH BREEZY TO WINDY WEATHER INLAND AS WELL. THE STRENGTH
OF THE WINDS DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE THE LOW GETS TO THE COAST AND
HOW DEEP IT GETS. HISTORICALLY, ANY SUB-980MB LOW MOVING INSIDE
130W ON SUCH A PATH AS THIS TYPICALLY PRODUCES HIGH WIND AT THE
COAST. THERE STILL EXISTS SOME UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THIS LOW, BUT
THE BEST ESTIMATE BRINGS A LOW JUST UNDER 980MB TO WITHIN ABOUT
80-100 MILES OF THE COAST NORTH OF CAPE BLANCO. WE THUS EXPECT
HIGH WINDS OVER THE WATERS AND THE COAST WITH BREEZY TO WINDY
CONDITIONS INLAND. THE MOUNTAINS AND EAST SIDE ARE ALSO GOING TO
BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONTINUED HIGH WIND. MODELS SHOW 700 MB WINDS
OF 85-90 KTS TOMORROW, WHICH CERTAINLY HINTS AT HIGH WINDS
SURFACING IN THESE LOCATIONS. FOR THE MOST PART THE CURRENT MIX OF
WIND HEADLINES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT, BUT THE WIND ADVISORY AND
WARNING WILL BE LOWERED OVERNIGHT FOR THE ROGUE VALLEY AND THEN
RAISED AGAIN TOMORROW.
THE COASTAL LOW WILL ALSO HELP TO FILL IN RAIN AGAIN ALONG THE
COAST AND OREGON WEST SIDE LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. DEEP, MOIST
FLOW UP THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SW
OREGON WILL STILL BE GOING ON, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COASTAL LOW, SO
RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE EASTERN 2/3RDS OF OUR FORECAST AREA.
THE FOCUS FOR RAIN THURSDAY WILL STILL BE WESTERN AND CENTRAL
SISKIYOU COUNTY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MOST LOCATIONS WILL GET IN ON
THE HEAVY RAIN EVENTUALLY. THE CURRENT FLOOD WATCHES FOR THE COAST
AND BURN SCAR AREAS OF SISKIYOU COUNTY ALSO LOOK GOOD. WE WILL
HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON OTHER LOCATIONS DEPENDING ON WHERE EXACTLY
THE FRONT STALLS OUT TONIGHT.
SNOW LEVELS WILL REMAIN HIGH (ABOVE 7500 FT) THROUGH THURSDAY,
HOWEVER, SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL AS
RAIN, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SNOW IMPACTS. -WRIGHT
LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...ON FRIDAY A BROAD UPPER
TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHWEST WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND SNOW LEVELS BETWEEN 4500-5000 FEET. COULD SEE UP TO A
FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN EAST OF THE
CASCADES. THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH POTENTIALLY HIGHER SNOW
AMOUNTS AS A SURFACE LOW SHOULD TRACK SOUTH TO NORTH INTO SOUTHEAST
OREGON WITH POTENTIAL HEAVIER AMOUNTS OVER LAKE COUNTY. COULD NEED
TO BUMP TOTALS THERE IN UPCOMING FORECASTS. FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY THINGS WILL SETTLE DOWN CONSIDERABLY WITH SOME MORNING
VALLEY FOG DEVELOPING IN AREAS UNDER SHORTWAVE RIDGING. BOTH THE
EURO AND GFS SOLUTIONS ARE BRINGING IN ANOTHER UPPER TROUGH TO THE
COAST LATER SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY WITH SHOWER CHANCES INCREASING
MAINLY ACROSS THE COAST AND NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA. THIS TROUGH SHOULD
TRAVERSE THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY WITH SHOWERS
BECOMING MORE NUMEROUS. ADDITIONAL SHORT WAVE ENERGY WILL TARGET THE
NORTHWEST WITH A FAIR DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY IN TIMING OF EVENTS AT
THIS POINT. SOLUTIONS ARE POINTING TO THE POTENTIAL FOR UP TO A
COUPLE BOUTS OF GUSTY SOUTH WINDS AT THE COAST MONDAY-TUESDAY.
STAVISH
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
ORZ029>031-624-625.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
ORZ021-022-615-618-619.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR
ORZ021>024-615-616-618-619.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
ORZ021-022-615-618-619.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
ORZ023-025-616-617-620-623.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
ORZ027-028-617-621-623.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM PST THURSDAY FOR ORZ026-622.
CA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
CAZ083>085-284-285.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 1 PM PST THURSDAY FOR CAZ081-281.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 1 PM TO 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR CAZ081-281.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ350-356-370-376.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ350-356.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ310.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR PZZ310.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ370-376.The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ASOS at Montague airport (KSIY) recorded a gust to 67 mph at 11/0453 PST. The Weed RAWS recorded a gust to 59 mph at 11/0448 PST.
The Rush Creek RAWS recorded a gust to 69 mph at 11/0903 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2014
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: 545133, 545136.