Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 29, 2014

Name: Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 29, 2014
Start: 2014-12-29T00:00
End: 2014-12-29T21:00
Location: Oregon

December 29, 2014 · NWS PDT · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Yet another round of winter weather impacted the interior pacific northwest, with significant snow accumulations across portions of central and northeast Oregon. Snow accumulations in inches are as followed: (14) at Mecheam, (12) in Ukiah, (13) just southwest of Bend, and (7) at Camp Sherman.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: 4

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.

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 28, 10:02 PM PST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 28, 10:02 PM PST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1002 PM PST SUN DEC 28 2014

UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION

.UPDATE...FORECAST ON TRACK BUT ADDITIONAL ZONES WERE ADDED TO THE
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY INCLUDING THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CASCADES
(WA/OR), CENTRAL OREGON, THE JOHN DAY BASIN AND THE OCHOCO
HIGHLANDS. A COLD FRONT SAGGING SOUTH FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA IN
ADDITION TO A MOIST NW FLOW ALOFT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS TONIGHT AND MONDAY. THERE IS CURRENTLY A
BAND OF PRECIPITATION WITH LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS EXTENDING FROM
NEAR RIMROCK SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND DOWN TO
LA GRANDE WHERE CONVERGENCE IS PRESENT ALONG THE BOUNDARY LAYER.
PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST
AREA AND CHANGE TO SNOW IN THE LOW ELEVATIONS AS THE COLD FRONT
FROM THE NORTH DIVES SOUTHWARD. THE EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON
CASCADES, THE YAKIMA VALLEY AND THE SIMCOE HIGHLANDS WILL OBSERVE
THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL EARLY MONDAY MORNING BEFORE DRIER AIR BEHIND
THE FRONT SPREADS ACROSS EASTERN WASHINGTON. PRECIPITATION WILL
TAPER OFF FROM THE NORTH OVER MOST OF NORTHERN OREGON...BUT THE
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS, THE
JOHN DAY BASIN, OCHOCO HIGHLANDS AND CENTRAL OREGON WILL REMAIN IN
EFFECT THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY EVENING.

THE FORECAST WAS ALSO UPDATED TO ADD BLOWING SNOW. NORTH-NORTHEAST
WINDS WILL INCREASE ON MONDAY, RESULTING IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING
OF SNOW. BRUTALLY COLD WIND CHILLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED, BUT THE WIND
CHILLS WILL NOT FALL TO WARNING CRITERIA ON MONDAY. AS TEMPERATURES
PLUMMET FROM -5F TO 10F MONDAY NIGHT, WINDS WILL ALSO DIMINISH
OVERNIGHT. WISTER

&&

.AVIATION...06Z TAFS...LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO DROP
SOUTH OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT WITH COLDER AIR AND LIGHT SNOW ALREADY
DEVELOPING AT SOME TAF SITES. OCCASIONAL LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE THROUGH ABOUT 18-21Z FOR THE NORTH-CENTRAL TAF SITES...WITH
LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES LINGERING THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY AT KBDN AND
KRDM. THIS WILL BRING MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY TO MOST TAF SITES
THROUGH 18Z AND POSSIBLE IFR VISIBILITY AT KALW AND KPDT AT TIMES
THROUGH 12Z. NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE
SUBSTANTIALLY AFTER 15-18Z...WITH MANY TAF LOCATIONS SEEING GUSTS TO
15-25KTS OR HIGHER. 77

.PREV DISC... /ISSUED 200 PM PST SUN DEC 28 2014/

LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. COLD AIR WILL MOVE SOUTH OVER
THE REGION ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS THE UPPER LOW DROPS SOUTH
INTO CALIFORNIA. COLDEST TIMEFRAME APPEARS TO BE WEDNESDAY MORNING
WITH LOW TEMPERATURES ABOUT 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. IT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE DRY AND COLD THROUGH THURSDAY. MODELS DIFFER FOR
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THE GFS BRINGING ANOTHER SYSTEM THROUGH
AND REINFORCING THE COLD AIR...WHILE THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN BRING
A RIDGE OVER THE AREA. EACH MODEL HAS MAINTAINED CONTINUITY WITH
ITSELF OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAY...SO MADE LITTLE CHANGE AT THIS
POINT. 93

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  27  29   7  17 /  80  70  20   0
ALW  29  32   9  20 /  80  80  20   0
PSC  30  33  10  23 /  60  40  10   0
YKM  27  31   7  22 /  80  70  10   0
HRI  30  33  10  22 /  60  70  10   0
ELN  23  28   6  22 /  70  60  10   0
RDM  22  30   1  13 /  40  60  30  10
LGD  23  29   4  16 /  70  70  40  10
GCD  23  30  -1  16 /  50  70  30  10
DLS  33  35  11  26 /  70  70  10   0

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM PST MONDAY ORZ503-506-509.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY ORZ507-508-510.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM PST MONDAY ORZ505-511.

WA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY WAZ027-029-521.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY WAZ520.

&&

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON

85/77/77

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 28, 6:17 PM PST, 5 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
617 PM PST SUN DEC 28 2014

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

0400 PM     SNOW             3 NNE BINGHAM SPRINGS   45.79N 118.21W
12/27/2014  M5.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0430 PM     SNOW             3 NW BINGHAM SPRINGS    45.77N 118.27W
12/27/2014  M6.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            ELEVATION 3500 FEET

0709 PM     SNOW             LA GRANDE               45.33N 118.09W
12/27/2014  M4.0 INCH        UNION              OR   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0745 PM     SNOW             1 NW ELGIN              45.57N 117.93W
12/27/2014  E3.5 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3 TO 4 INCHES WITH MODERATE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW AT TIME
            OF REPORT. ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CALL CENTER.

0745 PM     SNOW             SE COVE                 45.29N 117.81W
12/27/2014  M3.0 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MODERATE SNOW FALLING AT TIME OF REPORT

0745 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 WSW ELGIN             45.53N 117.99W
12/27/2014  E6.5 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 6 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW.MODERATE SNOW AND BLOWING
            SNOW AT TIME OF REPORT.WINDS SUSTAINED AT 20 MPH WITH
            GUSTS TO 35 MPH

0745 PM     SNOW             2 N MEACHAM             45.53N 118.42W
12/27/2014  E3.5 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW

0748 PM     SNOW             5 E ELGIN               45.56N 117.82W
12/27/2014  M6.0 INCH        UNION              OR   PUBLIC

            STILL SNOWING AT TIME OF REPORT

0800 PM     SNOW             4 NW LA GRANDE          45.37N 118.15W
12/27/2014  M6.0 INCH        UNION              OR   PUBLIC

0900 PM     SNOW             1 SW TROY               45.94N 117.47W
12/27/2014  M3.0 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   PUBLIC

            30 DEGREES WITH LIGHT SNOW AT TIME OF REPORT

0302 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SSW SPOUT SPRINGS     45.69N 118.10W
12/28/2014  M10.0 INCH       UMATILLA           OR   MESONET

            HIGH RIDGE SNOTEL REPORTED 10 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION
            IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS.

0400 AM     HEAVY SNOW       17 ENE SNOQUALMIE PASS  47.54N 121.09W
12/28/2014  M10.0 INCH       KITTITAS           WA   MESONET

            THE FISH LAKE SNOTEL MEASURED 10 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN 24 HOURS.

0502 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NNW SKI BLUEWOOD      46.11N 117.85W
12/28/2014  M9.0 INCH        COLUMBIA           WA   MESONET

            TOUCHET SNOTEL RECORDED 9 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IN
            24 HOURS.

0502 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 SW SKI BLUEWOOD       45.98N 117.94W
12/28/2014  M8.0 INCH        WALLOWA            OR   MESONET

            THE MILKSHAKE SNOTEL REPORTED 8 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.

0502 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SKI BLUEWOOD            46.08N 117.84W
12/28/2014  M10.0 INCH       COLUMBIA           WA   PUBLIC

            SKI BLUEWOOD SKI RESORT REPORTED 10 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE
            LAST 24 HOURS.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       13 W RIMROCK            46.64N 121.39W
12/28/2014  M15.0 INCH       YAKIMA             WA   PUBLIC

            WHITE PASS SKI RESORT MEASURED 15 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN 24 HOURS

0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 NW SENECA             44.24N 119.09W
12/28/2014  M7.3 INCH        GRANT              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 7.3 INCHES OF SNOW 24 HOUR
            ACCUMULATION, AND IT IS STILL CURRENTLY SNOWING.

0756 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 N ELGIN               45.69N 117.92W
12/28/2014  M11.0 INCH       UNION              OR   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS OBSERVER MEASURED 11 INCHES OF NEW SNOW OVER 24
            HOURS.

0756 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 E ELGIN               45.56N 117.82W
12/28/2014  M10.0 INCH       UNION              OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 10 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION IN 24 HOURS VIA FACEBOOK.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       12 SSW CANYON CITY      44.23N 119.04W
12/28/2014  M7.3 INCH        GRANT              OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

0815 AM     HEAVY SNOW       PRAIRIE CITY            44.46N 118.71W
12/28/2014  M9.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED 9 INCHES OF NEW SNOW FALL
            AROUND PRAIRIE CITY VIA FACEBOOK.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 ENE LEHMAN HOT SPRING 45.19N 118.55W
12/28/2014  M8.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   MESONET

            COUNTY LINE SNOTEL MEASURED 8 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION
            IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS.

0936 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N ELGIN               45.61N 117.92W
12/28/2014  M8.0 INCH        UNION              OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 8 INCHES OF 24 HOUR SNOW
            ACCUMULATION VIA FACEBOOK.

0945 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 SE ELGIN              45.48N 117.79W
12/28/2014  M8.0 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER REPORTED 8 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE LAST 24
            HOURS.

0945 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 E UNION               45.21N 117.78W
12/28/2014  M5.0 INCH        UNION              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            THE OBSERVER MEASURED 5 INCHES OF SNOW IN 24 HOURS. SOME
            AREAS HAD UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW DUE TO DRIFTING SNOW.

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 N ELGIN               45.64N 117.92W
12/28/2014  M10.0 INCH       UNION              OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC VIA FACEBOOK, REPORTED 10 INCHES
            OF 24 HOUR SNOW ACCUMULATION IN THE CRICKET FLAT AREA.

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 ESE PRAIRIE CITY      44.43N 118.60W
12/28/2014  M6.5 INCH        GRANT              OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC VIA FACEBOOK REPORTED 6.5 INCHES
            OF 24 HOUR SNOW ACCUMULATION IN 24 HOURS IN THE ISHAM
            CREEK AREA.

0500 PM     HEAVY SNOW       COVE                    45.30N 117.81W
12/28/2014  M7.0 INCH        UNION              OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

            7 INCHES IN 24 HOURS

&&

MMURPHY

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Blue Mountains

When: December 29, 12:00 AM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where: Northern Blue Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 45.494, -117.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Blue Mountains

When: December 29, 12:00 AM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where: Southern Blue Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.153, -119.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, East Slopes of the Oregon Cascades

When: December 29, 12:00 AM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where: East Slopes of the Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.568, -121.190 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Central Oregon

When: December 29, 12:00 AM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where: Central Oregon forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.229, -120.920 (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 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: 547125, 547126, 547128, 547129.