A low pressure system resulted in strong winds along the Northern and Central Oregon Coast.
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 PQR wrote it up.
A low pressure system resulted in strong winds along the Northern and Central Oregon Coast.
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 Portland, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 17, 1:49 PM PST, 4 hours 54 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
149 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
.SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL REACH THE COAST AROUND MIDNIGHT
THEN MOVE INLAND OVERNIGHT. EXPECT WINDY TO VERY WINDY CONDITIONS
THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT IN MANY AREAS...ESPECIALLY THE NORTH AND
CENTRAL OREGON COAST. A COOL UPPER TROUGH THEN RESIDES OVER THE AREA
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...LOWERING SNOW LEVELS WELL BELOW THE CASCADE
PASSES. ANOTHER SYSTEM IMPACTS THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY. THERE IS THE
POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.SHORT TERM...PRIMARY IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM CONCERN REMAINS THE
CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY. REPORTS
JUST BEFORE NOON INDICATE SNOW CHANGING TO RAIN AT MT. HOOD MEADOWS
AND A SNOW AND SLEET MIX STARTING TO OCCUR ALONG AND IN THE VICINITY
OF I-84 NEAR HOOD RIVER. A FEW REPORTS AROUND HOOD RIVER AT 2030Z
INDICATE PRECIP HAS ENDED. THERE WAS ANOTHER REPORT AT 1915Z AT 1540
FT ON HIGHWAY 35 SHOWING A CHANGE FROM SNOW TO RAIN. TEMPS IN THE
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY STILL AT OR SLIGHTLY BELOW FREEZING. 12Z NAM
MODEL SOUNDING FOR HOOD RIVER VALID 21Z SHOWED SURFACE TEMPS ABOVE
FREEZING. OBVIOUSLY...THIS IS NOT THE CASE. MODELS CONTINUE TO ERODE
THE COLD AIR TOO FAST. WILL BE EXTENDING THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR
THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY UNTIL 12Z FRI AND THE WARNING FOR THE
CENTRAL COLUMBIA GORGE THROUGH 04Z.
HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES IN THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE AND CENTRAL CASCADE
FOOTHILLS. SHORTLY BEFORE 21Z YELLOWSTONE RAWS...IN THE HIGHER
NORTH-CENTRAL CASCADE FOOTHILLS HAD 1.74 INCHES PRECIP IN THE PAST 6
HRS. GENERAL HOURLY RAINFALL RATES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE
SOUTH HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA HAVE EASED TO A TENTH TO A THIRD OF
AN INCH...BUT THESE RATES ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE AGAIN LATE THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT WITH THE COLD FRONT. UPDATED QPF PUTS A FEW
RIVERS THAT DRAIN THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE INTO FLOOD STATUS
THIS EVENING.
HI-RES WRF ARW SHOWS A CORE OF 40-50 KT 925 MB WIND SPEEDS WORKING
NORTH THROUGH THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT. IN ADDITION...THE 4 KM MM5 GFS INDICATES A FEW
POCKETS OF 35 KT 10M WIND GUSTS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY
TONIGHT. THEREFORE...WILL BE GOING WITH A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE
ENTIRE WILLAMETTE VALLEY FROM 02Z THROUGH 10Z FRI. NOT EXPECTING
WIDESPREAD 45 MPH GUSTS...BUT WITH EXTREMELY SATURATED SOILS WILL
ISSUE MORE ON AN IMPACT BASIS.
POST-FRONTAL COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS SETTLES OVER THE FORECAST
AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY. SNOW LEVELS DROP BELOW THE
CASCADE PASSES FRIDAY MORNING...LOWERING TO AROUND 2500 FT FRIDAY
NIGHT. WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR THE
CASCADES FRI. MODEL SOUNDINGS FOR THE COAST SUGGEST SKINNY CAPE
PROFILES LATE FRI THROUGH FRI NIGHT AND HAVE INCLUDED A MENTION OF
THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE WATERS AND COAST ZONES. OVER-RUNNING PRECIP
FROM THE NEXT SYSTEM REACHES THE AREA SAT AFTERNOON. ANOTHER INCH OR
SO RAINFALL LIKELY FOR THE COAST...OREGON COAST RANGE AND SW
WASHINGTON WILLAPA HILLS SAT NIGHT. EXPECT FLOODING ISSUES TO PERSIST
THROUGH SATURDAY. WEISHAAR
.LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...A BROAD UPPER LEVEL
TROUGH DIGS OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST STARTING THIS WEEKEND AND
PUSHING EAST OF THE CASCADES LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...KEEPING COOL AND
SHOWERY CONDITIONS BEHIND THE DEPARTING TROUGH MOST OF SATURDAY. THE
NEXT FRONTAL BAND BRINGS ANOTHER QUICK SOAKING FOR SUNDAY...WITH
NEARLY AN INCH OF RAIN EXPECTED FOR THE COAST SUNDAY...MUCH OF THE
PRECIP FALLING BEFORE NOON. SNOW LEVELS WILL LIKELY BE AROUND 2500 FT
WITH THIS FRONT SO IT WILL BE A GOOD SNOWMAKER FOR THE CASCADES...
ESPECIALLY WITH THE 30-40 KT WESTERLY PRODUCING HEALTHY OROGRAPHICS
BEHIND THE FRONT.
THE NEXT STRONGER FRONT IS PROGGED TO ARRIVE MIDDAY MONDAY. THIS
SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE A SOAKER...WITH NEARLY AN 1.5 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN
EXPECTED IN A 24 HR PERIOD MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SNOW LEVELS START
OFF BELOW PASS LEVEL MONDAY MORNING BEFORE RISING TO NEAR 4000-4500
FT IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WITH FLOW ALOFT BECOMING MORE ZONAL
AGAIN IN THE PACIFIC...THIS FRONTAL ZONE WILL LIKELY BE SLOWER
MOVING AS WELL. WITH DEEP MOISTURE...STRONG FORCING...AND SLOW
MOVEMENT OF THE BAROCLINIC ZONE...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR
SUBSTANTIAL RAIN TOTALS YET AGAIN WITH THIS SYSTEM. AREA RIVERS WILL
NOT GET A CHANCE TO SUBSIDE MUCH...SO LOCAL FLOODING REMAINS A
THREAT...ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY FOR LANDSLIDES IN THE REGION AS
SOILS REMAIN VERY SATURATED. THE EXTENDED FORECAST ENDS AT THE FIRST
HINTS OF WEATHER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS...SO FAR LOOKS LIKE
WE WILL SEE COLD TEMPERATURES WITH JUST A FEW SHOWERS IN THE AREA.
/27
&&
.AVIATION...MOSTLY MVFR CONDITIONS WITH -RA OR RA THIS AFTERNOON
AND GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS. OCCASIONAL IFR CIG OR VIS. COLD FRONT
APPROACHES THIS EVENING BRINGING FURTHER INCREASED SOUTHERLY
WINDS. HIGHEST WINDS WILL BE ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST FROM ABOUT
KTMK TO SOUTH OF KONP BUT WINDS WILL ALSO BE GUSTY INLAND. MODELS
ARE INDICATING LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR STARTING IN THE SOUTH VALLEY
AROUND 04Z FRIDAY AND SPREADING NORTH...LASTING THROUGH AROUND
10Z. WINDS AROUND 2000 FT DURING THAT PERIOD WILL BE OUT OF THE
SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT AROUND 45 TO 55 KT. THERE MAY NOT BE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE IN THE BOTTOM 2000 FT LAYER BETWEEN SURFACE GUSTS AND
2000 FT WINDS...BUT THERE WILL LIKELY BE A 20 TO 30 KT DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SURFACE SUSTAINED WINDS AND 2000 FT SUSTAINED WINDS. ALSO
AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THIS EVENING...RAIN WILL INTENSIFY
AND COULD SEE MORE IFR CONDITIONS. HEAVIEST RAIN ENDS BY AROUND
12Z FRIDAY WHEN CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY IMPROVE SOME...BUT MAY
REMAIN MVFR OR LOW END VFR UNTIL FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
KPDX AND APPROACHES...MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. WINDS
OUT OF THE SOUTH PICKING UP AFTER 03Z WITH 20 TO 30 KT OF SPEED
SHEAR BETWEEN SURFACE AND 2000 FT BEGINNING AROUND 05Z AND LASTING
THROUGH ABOUT 10Z. RA TO +RA MAY CAUSE CONDITIONS TO DROP TO IFR
AFTER 00Z FRIDAY.
&&
.MARINE...WINDS HAVE JUST STARTED TO INCREASE A BIT AGAIN THIS
AFTERNOON AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE
WATERS THIS EVENING. LIKELY WILL SEE AREA OF LOW PRES MOVE ALONG
THE FRONT THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL INTENSIFY WINDS OVER THE
OREGON WATERS. STILL EXPECT STORM FORCE GUSTS OVER THE CENTRAL
OREGON COASTAL WATERS AND GUSTS WELL INTO GALES IN THE NORTHERN
WATERS MAINLY FROM ABOUT TILLAMOOK BAY SOUTH. WILL CONTINUE WITH
STORM WARNING IN CENTRAL WATERS AND GALE WARNING IN NORTHERN
WATERS STARTING THIS EVENING...WITH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES LEADING
UP.
SEAS WILL PICK UP ALONG WITH WINDS THIS EVENING...LIKELY PEAKING
AROUND 12 TO 15 FT IN THE NORTH...AND 15 TO 18 FT FROM CASCADE
HEAD SOUTHWARD LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. MODELS ARE
WANTING TO BRING IN A LARGER SOUTH SWELL OVERNIGHT SO THERE IS
SOME CHANCE FOR HIGHER SEAS...BUT THINK THAT THE SOUTH SWELL MAY
BE A MANIFESTATION OF HIGH SOUTHERLY WINDS SO WILL KEEP SWELL
GENERALLY WEST AND AROUND 9 TO 11 FT.
WINDS AND SEAS WILL DROP BACK LATE TONIGHT AND FRI...BUT EXPECT
ANOTHER ROUND OF GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS THIS WEEKEND AS THE
PARADE OF FRONTS CONTINUES INTO THE PAC NW. COULD SEE SOME GALES
AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. SEAS LOOK LIKE THEY WILL
REMAIN BETWEEN 10 AND 20 FT FOR THE DURATION OF THE FORECAST
PERIOD. BOWEN
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY FOR UPPER HOOD RIVER
VALLEY.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT FOR CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN
LANE COUNTY-CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-CENTRAL
OREGON COAST-CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-COAST RANGE OF
NORTHWEST OREGON-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-LOWER COLUMBIA-
NORTH OREGON COAST-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH
WILLAMETTE VALLEY-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR NORTHERN
OREGON CASCADES.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM PST FRIDAY FOR
CENTRAL OREGON COAST-NORTH OREGON COAST.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM PST FRIDAY FOR
CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-SOUTH
WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
WA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY FOR SOUTH WASHINGTON
CASCADES.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT FOR GREATER VANCOUVER
AREA-I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE
FOOTHILLS-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER
GORGE-WILLAPA HILLS.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
PZ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO FLORENCE OR OUT 60 NM.
GALE WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT FOR
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO CASCADE HEAD OR OUT
60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO FLORENCE
OR OUT 60 NM.
STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM PST FRIDAY FOR
COASTAL WATERS FROM CASCADE HEAD OR TO FLORENCE OR OUT 60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ROUGH COLUMBIA RIVER BAR UNTIL 6 AM
PST FRIDAY.
&&
INTERACT WITH US VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSPORTLAND
WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSPORTLAND
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
FROM THE CASCADE CREST TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE. THE AREA IS
COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE FORECAST AREA.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1244 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM HEAVY SLEET BONNEVILLE 45.63N 121.95W
12/17/2015 U0.00 INCH MULTNOMAH OR PUBLIC
0850 AM SNOW UNDERWOOD 45.72N 121.54W
12/17/2015 M6.5 INCH SKAMANIA WA PUBLIC
0850 AM HEAVY SNOW HOOD RIVER 45.71N 121.52W
12/17/2015 M6.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
0850 AM HEAVY SNOW PARKDALE 45.52N 121.60W
12/17/2015 M6.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
1100 AM HEAVY SNOW PARKDALE 45.52N 121.60W
12/17/2015 M9.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
1100 AM HEAVY SNOW HOOD RIVER 45.71N 121.52W
12/17/2015 M8.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR TRAINED SPOTTER
WEATHER SPOTTER AT 450 FEET ELEVATION.
1130 AM SNOW DEE 45.58N 121.62W
12/17/2015 M8.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
1200 PM HEAVY SNOW ODELL 45.63N 121.54W
12/17/2015 M9.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
1200 PM SNOW 3 N UNDERWOOD 45.77N 121.54W
12/17/2015 M12.0 INCH SKAMANIA WA PUBLIC
700 FEET ELEVATION.
1200 PM HEAVY SNOW UNDERWOOD 45.72N 121.54W
12/17/2015 M8.5 INCH SKAMANIA WA PUBLIC
1242 PM HEAVY SNOW HOOD RIVER 45.71N 121.52W
12/17/2015 M10.0 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
PHELPS CREEK VINEYARD.
&&
TWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
207 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM DEBRIS FLOW 1 WSW ST. JOHNS 45.58N 122.77W
12/17/2015 MULTNOMAH OR NEWSPAPER
1.00 TO 1.25 INCHES OF RAIN CAUSED A LANDSLIDE ON HWY 30
NEAR THE ST JOHNS BRIDGE. THE LANDSLIDE BLOCKED ONE LANE
OF THE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON MULTIPLE REPORTS.
&&
ABOWENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
534 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0533 PM FREEZING RAIN 5 SSW HOOD RIVER 45.64N 121.56W
12/17/2015 U0.00 INCH HOOD RIVER OR PUBLIC
SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN NEAR HOOD RIVER AIRPORT.
&&
TWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
547 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0519 PM FLOOD N SILETZ 44.72N 123.92W
12/17/2015 LINCOLN OR TRAINED SPOTTER
HWY 229 FLOODED. WATER COVERS BOTH LANES IN ONE SECTION,
AND ONE LANE IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.
0544 PM FLOOD TILLAMOOK 45.46N 123.84W
12/17/2015 TILLAMOOK OR COUNTY OFFICIAL
STANDING WATER ON HIGHWAY 6 UNDER RAILROAD UNDERPASS.
LOTS OF WATER ON HIGHWAY 101 IN FRONT OF CHEESECAKE
FACTORY.
&&
TJENSENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
609 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0519 PM FLOOD N SILETZ 44.72N 123.92W
12/17/2015 LINCOLN OR TRAINED SPOTTER
HWY 229 FLOODED. WATER COVERS BOTH LANES IN ONE SECTION,
AND ONE LANE IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.
0544 PM FLOOD TILLAMOOK 45.46N 123.84W
12/17/2015 TILLAMOOK OR COUNTY OFFICIAL
STANDING WATER ON HIGHWAY 6 UNDER RAILROAD UNDERPASS.
LOTS OF WATER ON HIGHWAY 101 IN FRONT OF CHEESE FACTORY.
&&
TJENSENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
621 PM PST THU DEC 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0616 PM HEAVY RAIN 8 E ALSEA 44.40N 123.40W
12/17/2015 E3.50 INCH BENTON OR COUNTY OFFICIAL
HEAVY RAIN RESULTED IN A LANDSLIDE THAT CLOSED WESTBOUND
HIGHWAY 34 AT MILE POINT 54.
&&
TJENSEN2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several stations along the Central Oregon Coast measured high winds with sustained winds between 40 and 50 mph. The highest recorded wind gust was 77 mph at the Newport Jetty and 72 mph on the Yaquina Bridge in Newport.
A few weather stations along the North Oregon coast measured high winds with sustained winds between 47 and 51 mph. The highest recorded gust of 92 mph was measured at Cape Meares and 74 mph at Garabaldi.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, December 2015
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: 611887, 611886.