Monsoonal moisture combined with strong surface heating to support thunderstorm development on this day. Some of the thunderstorms became severe.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Monsoonal moisture combined with strong surface heating to support thunderstorm development on this day. Some of the thunderstorms became severe.
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 Aug 12, 1:34 PM PST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
234 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014
.DISCUSSION...CURRENT WATER VAPOR IMAGE SHOWS A NEGATIVE TILTED
TROUGH JUST OFF THE OREGON COAST AND THAT IS EJECTING THE UPPER
TROUGH THAT BROUGHT THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA THE PAST FEW DAYS
NORTHWARD. THE BULK OF THE ACTION SO FAR HAS BEEN IN OREGON,
PARTICULARLY ALONG THE CASCADES...EAST SIDE AND NORTHERN MODOC
COUNTY AND EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE INTO THIS EVENING. ALSO A FEW
OF THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG WITH SMALL HAIL AND LOCALLY GUSTY
WINDS.
NOT MUCH IS GOING ON IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST PART OF THE FORECAST
AREA AND CURRENT MESOSCALE ANALYSIS FROM SPC SHOWS LOWER CAPE VALUES
AND MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES. GUT FEELING IS WE'LL SEE LITTLE IF
ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF STORMS, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE
SEE AND AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO POP UP THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.
WINDS ARE GOING TO BE ANOTHER CONCERN THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE
MODELS SHOW 700 MB WINDS BETWEEN 20-30 KTS EAST OF THE CASCADES AND
ARE ALSO SHOWING SOUTH WINDS NEAR THE SHASTA VALLEY. GIVEN THAT
WINDS ARE ALREADY INCREASING THERE, I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO REMAIN
WINDY THERE THROUGH AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE NIGHT, IF NOT
LONGER. GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED EAST OF THE CASCADES WITH THE
STRONGEST WINDS OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN.
THE AFOREMENTIONED UPPER TROUGH OFF THE OREGON COAST WILL DIG AND
EVOLVE INTO AN UPPER LOW AND BRING INCREASING SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
STORMS TO MUCH OF THE AREA TONIGHT. THE MODELS SUGGEST WE COULD GET
A DECENT AMOUNT OF RAINFALL ALONG THE CASCADES AND SOME WESTSIDE
LOCATIONS. I INCREASED POPS AND QPF AMOUNTS IN THOSE AREAS, BUT THEY
MAY NEED TO GET ADJUSTED HIGHER IF FUTURE MODEL RUNS REMAIN
CONSISTENT.
THE UPPER LOW WILL MOVE OVER THE FORECAST AREA WEDNESDAY. COOLER AIR
ALOFT (BETWEEN -15 AND -17C) FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS EXPECTED
TO MOVE OVERHEAD AT THE TIME OF MAX HEATING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, BUT
WE THINK THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER AROUND, THUS LIMITING
THE AMOUNT OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. IF THIS PANS OUT, THEN WE'LL
SEE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED THUNDER. LATER SHIFTS
WILL WANT TO RE EVALUATE THIS. THE AMPLE CLOUD COVER WILL ALSO
RESULT IN BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES OVER THE REGION. FOR EXAMPLE MAX
TEMPERATURES IN MEDFORD WILL BARELY GET INTO THE LOW 80S. THE MODELS
ARE ALSO IN FARLY GOOD AGREEMENT SHOWING PRETTY HEFTY QPF AMOUNTS
FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WITH THE HIGHEST VALUES CENTERED ALONG THE
NORTHERN CASCADES AND PARTS OF THE WESTSIDE. SO IT'S POSSIBLE SOME
SHOWERS COULD BE MODERATE TO HEAVY, PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND LOCALLY
GUSTY WINDS. HAVE ADJUSTED QPF VALUES UP, BUT THEY MAY NEED TO BE
ADJUSTED EVEN HIGHER.
GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EAST OF THE CASCADES, BUT MAY
NOT BE AS STRONG AS THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING AND WILL BE STRONGEST
OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN.
THURSDAY WILL BE A TRANSITION DAY WITH THE UPPER LOW MOVING
NORTHEAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. MOST PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE
CONFINED TO THE NORTHERN CASCADES AND NORTHERN LAKE AND KLAMATH
COUNTIES. ALSO WE COULD BE DEALING WITH GUSTY WINDS EAST OF THE
CASCADES. TEMPERATURES THURSDAY WILL REBOUND, BUT STILL REMAINING
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL. -PETRUCELLI
.LONG TERM...FRIDAY (AUGUST 15TH) THROUGH TUESDAY (AUGUST 19TH)...
THE UPPER LOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COOLER, UNSETTLED WEATHER EARLIER
IN THE WEEK WILL EJECT NORTHEASTWARD INTO EASTERN WASHINGTON ON
FRIDAY. DRY, WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL DEVELOP IN SOUTHWEST OREGON
AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RESULTING IN DRY WEATHER CWA WIDE.
TEMPERATURES WILL GET BACK CLOSER TO NORMAL, WHICH, FOR THIS TIME OF
YEAR, ARE NEAR 90 IN MEDFORD AND THE MID 80S IN KLAMATH FALLS. A
WEAK SHORT WAVE WILL GRAZE BY SOUTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE CWA ON
SATURDAY, BUT MOISTURE IS STILL LIMITED, SO WE HAVE KEPT THE
FORECAST DRY. SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...MODELS GRADUALLY
BRING AN UPPER TROUGH SOUTHWARD ALONG THE COAST/JUST OFFSHORE AND
DEVELOP A CLOSED LOW AGAIN. THE FEATURE APPEARS WEAK AT THIS TIME
AND MOISTURE REMAINS PALTRY. SO WE HAVE MAINTAINED A DRY FORECAST.
WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER HEIGHTS INLAND, TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE A LITTLE
ABOVE AVERAGE. SPILDE
&&
.AVIATION...BASED ON THE 12/18Z TAF CYCLE...IFR CIGS AREA LIKELY TO
CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT ALONG AND NEAR THE COAST. EXPECT
ANOTHER BOUT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY INTO THIS
EVENING FOR INLAND AREAS. THESE STORMS COULD GENERATE VERY GUSTY
WINDS AND HAIL. SMOKE FROM AREA WILDFIRES WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT
VISIBILITY IN SOME AREAS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD, PRIMARILY IN AND
NEAR SISKIYOU AND JACKSON COUNTIES. AN OFFSHORE LOW PRESSURE AREA
WILL MOVE INLAND LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...BRINGING
SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY TO AREAS ALONG AND WEST
OF THE CASCADES. SK
&&
.MARINE...UPDATED 300 AM PDT TUE 12 AUG 2014...
LOW PRESSURE CENTERED WEST OF THE COAST WILL MAINTAIN A SOUTH FLOW
TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. THIS LOW WILL MOVE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS
LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH SHOWERS AND SHIFTING
WINDS. MIXED PERIOD WEST TO NORTHWEST SWELL WILL PERSIST THROUGH
TONIGHT. NORTH WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE WEDNESDAY EVENING
THROUGH THURSDAY...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF CAPE BLANCO. BTL
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
ORZ616-617-620>625.
CA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
CAZ280-281-284-285.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...NONE.SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 146 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ORZ025-027-122130- EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS OR-SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES OR- 146 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME NORTHEASTERN JACKSON AND EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM PDT... AT 145 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CAMP COMFORT RECREATION SITE...OR 19 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRATER LAKE...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...CAMP COMFORT RECREATION SITE. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT OUR WEB PAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD. LAT...LON 4324 12270 4328 12237 4296 12233 4292 12257 TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 169DEG 15KT 4303 12247 DW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 148 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ORZ027-030-122130- NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY OR-SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES OR- 148 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN KLAMATH AND EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM PDT... AT 147 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF CRATER LAKE LODGE...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF CRATER LAKE...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...HIGHWAY 138 DIAMOND LAKE SUMMIT...BROKEN ARROW CAMPGROUND...THIELSEN VIEW CAMPGROUND...DIAMOND LAKE...CLEARWATER FALLS RECREATION SITE AND DIGIT POINT CAMPGROUND AT MILLER LAKE. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT OUR WEB PAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD. LAT...LON 4326 12229 4330 12196 4298 12190 4291 12218 TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 169DEG 15KT 4302 12208 DW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
232 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014
ORZ025-122215-
EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS OR-
232 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY UNTIL 315
PM PDT...
AT 231 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HORSESHOE BEND CAMPGROUND...OR 34 MILES EAST
OF SUTHERLIN...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...HORSESHOE BEND CAMPGROUND...
BOGUS CREEK RECREATION SITE...STEAMBOAT AND SCAREDMAN RECREATION
SITE.
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
LAT...LON 4345 12264 4319 12251 4313 12274 4340 12291
4345 12273
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 159DEG 14KT 4325 12267
DWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 308 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ORZ023-025-026-122245- CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY OR-EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS OR-JACKSON COUNTY OR- 308 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN JACKSON AND SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM PDT... AT 305 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTH OF TILLER...OR 31 MILES NORTH OF MEDFORD...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...TILLER. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 4295 12306 4296 12278 4274 12282 4274 12297 TIME...MOT...LOC 2207Z 176DEG 10KT 4280 12290 DW
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
331 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014
...TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
...DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM HAIL 2 SW MEDFORD 42.31N 122.88W
08/12/2014 E0.25 INCH JACKSON OR PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTS HEAVY RAIN AND PEA SIZED HAIL
AT THE UMPQUA NATIONAL BANK.
&&
NWS MEDFORD OR
IRIS SYSTEMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 350 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ORZ026-028-122330- JACKSON COUNTY OR-SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES OR- 350 PM PDT TUE AUG 12 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM PDT... AT 347 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BUTTE FALLS...OR 19 MILES NORTHEAST OF MEDFORD...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM... ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...BUTTE FALLS...PROSPECT STATE SCENIC VIEWPOINT AND PROSPECT. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 4278 12255 4270 12230 4246 12250 4249 12270 TIME...MOT...LOC 2250Z 201DEG 18KT 4254 12258 DW
The Medford radar (KMAX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:00 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A COOP observer southwest of Tiller reported that a few spots in the vicinity received hail from ping pong ball (1.5 inches) to golf ball (1.75 inches) size from a thunderstorm on the afternoon of 08/12/2014. Significant vegetation damage was observed in the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, August 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: 530610.