High Wind in Oregon, December 10 to 11, 2014

Name: High Wind in Oregon, December 10 to 11, 2014
Start: 2014-12-10T04:13
End: 2014-12-11T14:11
Location: Oregon

December 10 to 11, 2014 · NWS MFR · 12 events in 8 counties and zones

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.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $200,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 MFR wrote it up.

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 Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 9, 9:20 PM PST, 6 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 9, 9:20 PM PST, 6 hours 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
920 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

.DISCUSSION...CURRENT FORECAST IS STILL ON TRACK. THE 0Z GFS IS IN
AND CONTINUES TO SHOW THE LOW RAPIDLY DEEPENING INSIDE OF 130 W
THURSDAY MORNING AND MOVING NORTHEAST TO NORTH JUST OFF THE
WASHINGTON COAST BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THIS TRACK WILL LIKELY
BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE MARINE WATERS AND COAST. ALSO STRONG
WINDS ARE LIKELY EAST OF THE CASCADES...SHASTA VALLEY AND SOUTH
END OF THE ROGUE VALLEY. THE ONLY CHANGE MADE TO EXISTING WIND
HEADLINES WAS TO ADD WIND ADVISORIES TO THE NORTH END OF THE
SHASTA AND ROGUE VALLEYS. MODELS SHOW WINDS COULD REACH CRITERIA
IN THOSE AREAS. THE 0Z NAM CONTINUES TO BE THE OUTLIER WITH THE
SURFACE LOW DEVELOPMENT TRACK AND TIMING. SEE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION
AS IT OUTLINES THE DETAILS WELL. -PETRUCELLI

&&

.AVIATION...FOR THE 10/00Z TAF CYCLE...COAST AND UMPQUA
BASIN...AREAS OF MVFR CIGS WITH HIGHER TERRAIN OBSCURED WILL BECOME
WIDESPREAD FRIDAY WITH LOCAL IFR CIGS/VSBYS. STRONG WINDS ALONG THE
COAST AND OVER THE RIDGES WILL BECOME STRONGER WEDNESDAY...WITH LLWS
AT KOTH AND KRBG. HEAVY PRECIPITATION WILL ALSO DEVELOP WEDNESDAY.
OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH
TONIGHT EXCEPT FOR LOCAL MVFR CIGS OVER THE VALLEYS AND SOME HIGHER
TERRAIN OBSCURED.  WINDS OVER THE RIDGES WILL BECOME STRONG
WEDNESDAY WITH LLWS AT KMFR.

&&

UPDATED 330 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014...SEVERAL VERY STRONG FRONTS
WILL PRODUCE GALE TO STORM FORCE WINDS AND VERY HEAVY SEAS THROUGH
THURSDAY. WINDS AND SEAS WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO ALL
VESSELS...AS GALES OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY BUILDS TO STORM
FORCE WEDNESDAY. AFTER A BRIEF BREAK WEDNESDAY NIGHT...STORM FORCE
WINDS WILL RETURN THURSDAY. HURRICANE FORCE GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE
THROUGHOUT THIS TIME.

SEAS WILL BECOME VERY HEAVY AND STEEP DUE TO HEAVY LONG PERIOD WEST
SWELL AND STRONG SOUTHERLY CHOP. 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.

CONFIDENCE IS ABOVE AVERAGE AND INCREASING CONCERNING THE STRENGTH
OF THIS SYSTEM...WHICH WILL 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.

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 334 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014/

DISCUSSION...SHORT TERM. MODELS CONTINUE ON TRACK AND IN GOOD
AGREEMENT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND THEN ONLY VARY A BIT ON THE
POSITIONS AND TIMING OF THE SURFACE LOW THAT SWINGS UP FROM THE
SOUTHWEST INTO THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST ON THURSDAY. HOWEVER...THE
TRACK AND POSITION OF THIS RAPIDLY DEEPENING LOW ARE CRITICAL TO
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE WINDS ON THE COAST AND THE UMPQUA
VALLEY....AS WELL AS OTHER INLAND LOCATIONS. WINDS STEADILY
INCREASE ON THE COAST AND IN THE COASTAL WATERS OVERNIGHT WITH THE
OTH-ACV PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENING. BY 12Z WEDNESDAY THE OTH-ACV
GRADIENT IS INDICATING TO BE 7 MB WITH 925 MB WINDS FROM THE SOUTH
IN THE 70-75 KT RANGE WITH BL WIND AROUND 55 KT. BY 21Z THE
GRADIENT INCREASES TO 11 MB WITH 925 MB WINDS INCREASING TO
65-85 KT. WITH THE 850 MB WINDS BECOMING MORE SOUTHWESTERLY A
BARRIER JET WILL DEVELOP AND TUCK THE STRONG WINDS RIGHT UP TO THE
COAST. WITH DOWNWARD MOMENTUM TRANSFER IN THE HEAVY RAIN HURRICANE
FORCE GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE SURFACE AT TIMES AT HE COAST
AND IN THE COASTAL WATERS WEDNESDAY. THE LONG FETCH OF THESE WINDS
WELL SOUTH OF THE AREA HIGH WINDS WAVES WILL BE PRESENT IN THE
SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE FORECAST AREA BRINGING HIGH BREAKING WAVES TO
SOUTHERN FACING BEACHES.

THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE
GFS...WHICH IS IN CLOSE AGREEMENT ALSO WITH THE ECMWF. THE SURFACE
LOW SHOWS TO DEEPEN RAPIDLY WITH A DROP OF 15 MB IN TWELVE HOURS
AS IT APPROACHES THE COAST. THIS MAY DEEPEN EVEN MORE RAPIDLY WITH
THE BARRIER JET FEEDING THETA E AHEAD OF THE LOW WITH A STRONG LOW
LEVEL JET WITH 700 MB WINDS IN EXCESS OF 85 JETS OVER THE REGION
AHEAD OF THE LOW. WITH THIS IN MIND HAVE UPPED THE WINDS IN THE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY TIME FRAME.

LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...RESIDUAL SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED
ON FRIDAY AS AN UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH ON FRIDAY. SNOW LEVELS
WILL ALSO FALL TO AROUND 4000 FEET, SO SOME SNOW IS POSSIBLE ON THE
PASSES FRIDAY. HOWEVER, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MOISTURE WILL BE
GONE BY FRIDAY, SO TRAVEL IMPACTS SHOULD BE MINOR AT WORST. AN UPPER
RIDGE BUILDS IN OVER THE PACNW ON SATURDAY AND THEN SHIFTS INTO THE
GREAT BASIN ON SUNDAY. CONSISTENCY WITH THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN GOOD,
AND THIS SHOULD RESULT IN DRY WEEKEND WEATHER FOR MOST OF OUR AREA.
VALLEY FOG WILL BE A GOOD BET UNDER THE RIDGE, AND THAT HAS BEEN
ADDED TO THE FORECAST. A FAIRLY WEAK SYSTEM WILL BRING PRECIPITATION
BACK TO OUR AREA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. THE PATTERN LOOKS TO
REMAIN WET AND UNSETTLED INTO MID WEEK WITH A BREAK POSSIBLE LATE
WEEK. -WRIGHT

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
     ORZ029>031-624-625.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM WEDNESDAY TO 1 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
     ORZ021-022-615-618-619.
     FLOOD WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING 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 1 PM TO 7 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
     ORZ023-025-616-617-619-620.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM PST WEDNESDAY FOR
     ORZ026-621-622.
     WIND ADVISORY FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM PST WEDNESDAY FOR ORZ620.

CA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
     CAZ085-285.
     FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY
     MORNING FOR CAZ080-081-280-281.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM WEDNESDAY TO 10 AM PST THURSDAY FOR
     CAZ081-281.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...STORM WARNING FROM 4 AM WEDNESDAY TO 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
     PZZ350-356-370-376.
     GALE WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ350-356.
     HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ350-356.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM WEDNESDAY TO 1 PM PST THURSDAY FOR
     PZZ310.
     FLOOD WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR PZZ310.
     GALE WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST WEDNESDAY FOR PZZ370-376.
     HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ370-376.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Curry County Coast

When: December 10, 4:13 AM PST to 2:13 PM PST
Where: Curry County Coast forecast zone
Measured: 74 kt (85 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.467, -124.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The ODOT sensor at Humbug Mountain recorded a gust to 62 mph at 10/1331 and a gust to 85 mph at 10/1347. The Flynn Prairie RAWS recorded a gust to 59 mph at 10/0413 PST, a gust to 73 mph at 10/1313 PST, and a peak gust of 74 mph at 10/1413 PST. The Gold Beach METAR recorded a gust to 58 mph at 10/1239 PST, a peak gust to 66 mph at 10/1319 PST, and a gust to 59 mph at 10/1339 PST. A spotter 1NW Harbor recorded an estimated gust to 60 mph at 10/1300 PST. A spotter 1SE Brookings reported a gust to 61 mph at around 10/1300 PST.

High Wind, Eastern Curry County & Josephine County

When: December 10, 7:39 AM PST to 1:39 PM PST
Where: Eastern Curry County & Josephine County forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.417, -123.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Quail Prairie RAWS recorded a gust to 58 mph at 10/0839 PST and a peak gust of 61 mph at 10/1339 PST.

High Wind, South Central Oregon Coast

When: December 10, 10:30 AM PST to 1:24 PM PST
Where: South Central Oregon Coast forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.979, -123.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Port Orford NOS-NWLON recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph between 10/1030 and 10/1324 PST. The peak gust was 74 mph, recorded at 10/1306 PST. The Long Prairie RAWS recorded a gust to 65 mph at 10/1113 PST.

High Wind, Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades

When: December 10, 11:39 AM PST to 1:39 PM PST
Where: Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Measured: 73 kt (84 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.495, -122.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Squaw Peak RAWS recorded a gust to 79 mph at 10/1239 PST and a peak gust of 84 mph at 10/1339 PST.

High Wind, Jackson County

When: December 10, 6:33 PM PST to December 11, 6:53 AM PST
Where: Jackson County forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) estimated gust
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 42.432, -122.728 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sensor DW6803 at Science Works in Ashland recorded sporadic high wind gusts during this interval, with a peak gust of 74 mph recorded at 11/0303 PST and a sustained wind of 15 mph. The data from this source is suspect, but there were numerous reports of wind damage on this morning from around Jackson County, and there was one fatality when a tree fell on a camper's tent. The Medford Mail Tribune reported that the roof was blown off of one Medford business and a smaller building collapsed. A city-owned barn in Ashland lost part of its roof. Numerous power lines were down and there were power failures affecting 16000 people. Dozens of trees were felled, some of them falling on cars. In rural Jackson county, a tree fell on a power line which in turn fell on a house, setting it on fire. The structure was destroyed.

High Wind, Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades

When: December 11, 12:39 AM PST to 12:39 PM PST
Where: Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Measured: 102 kt (117 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.495, -122.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Squaw Peak RAWS recorded numerous gusts exceeding 74 mph during this interval. The peak gust was 117 mph, recorded at 11/0439 PST. ODOT reported that a truck was blown over around 11/0700 PST on Highway 140 near Meridian Road.

High Wind, Northern & Eastern Klamath County & Western Lake County

When: December 11, 3:00 AM PST to 11:00 AM PST
Where: Northern & Eastern Klamath County & Western Lake County forecast zone
Measured: 66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 42.740, -121.018 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Calimus RAWS recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph during this interval. The peak gusts of 76 mph were recorded at 11/0800 and 11/0900 PST.

High Wind, Curry County Coast

When: December 11, 3:13 AM PST to 12:32 PM PST
Where: Curry County Coast forecast zone
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.467, -124.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The ODOT sensor at Humbug Mountain recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph between 11/0417 and 11/1232 PST. The peak gust was 90 mph recorded at 11/0917 PST. The Flynn Prairie RAWS recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph between 11/0313 and 11/1113 PST. The peak gust was 67 mph recorded at 11/0513 PST. The Gold Beach ASOS recorded a gust to 61 mph at 11/0419 PST and a gust to 58 mph at 11/1039 PST. The ODOT sensor at Gold Beach recorded gusts to 58 mph at 11/0946 and 11/1032 PST. The Red Mound RAWS recorded a gust to 68 mph at 11/0521 and a gust to 63 mph at 11/1121 PST. A spotter 1SE Brookings reported a gust to 81 mph at 11/0448 PST.

High Wind, Eastern Curry County & Josephine County

When: December 11, 4:39 AM PST to 12:45 PM PST
Where: Eastern Curry County & Josephine County forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.417, -123.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Quail Prairie RAWS recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph during this interval. The peak gust was 68 mph, recorded at 11/0939 PST. The Onion Mountain RAWS recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph during this interval. The peak gust was 68 mph, recorded at 11/1145 PST.

High Wind, South Central Oregon Coast

When: December 11, 4:54 AM PST to 11:54 AM PST
Where: South Central Oregon Coast forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.979, -123.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Port Orford NOS-NWLON recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph between 11/0454 and 10/1154 PST. The peak gust was 68 mph, recorded at 10/1030 PST.

High Wind, Central Douglas County

When: December 11, 5:11 AM PST to 2:11 PM PST
Where: Central Douglas County forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 43.235, -123.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The North Bank RAWS recorded numerous gusts exceeding 57 mph during this interval, mostly between 11/0511 and 11/0911 PST. The peak gust was 75 mph, recorded at 11/0611 PST. The Signal Tree RAWS recorded a gust to 68 mph at 11/0835 PST.

High Wind, Central & Eastern Lake County

When: December 11, 1:03 PM PST to 2:03 PM PST
Where: Central & Eastern Lake County forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 42.793, -120.387 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Summit RAWS recorded a gust to 59 mph at 11/1403 PST.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
High Wind, Jackson County	2014-12-10	40	Male	Under Tree	Direct

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oregon in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, December 2014

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: 545110, 545111, 545107, 545112, 545118, 545125, 545129, 545116, 545119, 545115, 545128, 545131.