A strong surface low pressure system moved across the Lower Columbia Basin and produced very strong damaging winds across the interior pacific northwest. Wind gusts reported in MPH are as follow: (91) 3 miles west southwest of Kooskooskie, (71) at the Pendleton Weather Service Office, (65) at the Hermiston ASOS, (64) at the Redmond Airport, (63) 9 miles east of Dufer, and (59) 1 mile north…
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 PDT wrote it up.
A strong surface low pressure system moved across the Lower Columbia Basin and produced very strong damaging winds across the interior pacific northwest. Wind gusts reported in MPH are as follow: (91) 3 miles west southwest of Kooskooskie, (71) at the Pendleton Weather Service Office, (65) at the Hermiston ASOS, (64) at the Redmond Airport, (63) 9 miles east of Dufer, and (59) 1 mile north northwest of Lexington. In addition to the wind reports we also received reports of trees down across Gerking Market Road near Tumalo.
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 21, 9:45 AM PST, 3 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
945 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015
...UPDATED FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION...
.SHORT TERM...TODAY AND TONIGHT...CONCERN TODAY WILL BE THE
PRECIPITATION FALLING AS SNOW AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT FOLLOWED BY THE
STRONG WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT PASSAGE. WINTER STORM
WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TODAY
AND OVERNIGHT. BEST AREA FOR SNOW TODAY WILL BE ALONG THE EAST
SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES INCLUDING THE KITTITAS AND YAKIMA
VALLEYS AND OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS OF OREGON. ONCE THE COLD
FRONT MOVES THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON THE SNOW WILL BE MAINLY FOCUSED
ON THE BLUE MOUNTAINS IN A STRONG UPSLOPE FLOW OVERNIGHT. SOUTH
WINDS ARE ALREADY INCREASING OVER CENTRAL OREGON AHEAD OF THE FRONT
BUT WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN WINDS AS A SURFACE LOW ALONG THE FRONT
MOVES ACROSS WASHINGTON THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HIGH WIND
WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF SUSTAINED WINDS OVER
40 MPH AND OR GUSTS GREAT THAN 60 MPH.
&&
.AVIATION...18Z TAFS...VARIOUS CATEGORIES WILL CONTINUE AT ALL TAFS
SITES OVER THE NEXT 6 TO 12 HOURS. WIDESPREAD RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS
MOVING IN FROM CENTRAL OREGON TO SOUTHERN WASHINGTON. SNOW IS
MAINLY TRAPPED OVER THE YAKIMA VALLEY WITH RAIN ELSEWHERE. CIG/VIS
WILL SEE FREQUENT CHANGES WITHIN A SHORT TIME PERIOD AS SHOWERS MOVE
IN AND OUT. TAFS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AMENED AS NEEDED.
WINDS WILL BE ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE TODAY...WITH KYKM BEING THE
EXCEPTION. HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR ALL OTHER TAF SITES
AND GUSTS COULD EXCEED 50KTS AT TIMES. THE MAIN FOCUS WILL BE FROM
18Z-03Z...BUT THE STRONGER GUSTS MAY EXTEND BEYOND 03Z FOR
KPDT...KPSC...AND KALW. WEBER
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 400 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015/
SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...MOST OF THE PRESSING
CONCERNS ARE TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING AS A VERY STRONG LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM MOVES EAST OF THE CASCADES AND ACROSS THE LOWER COLUMBIA
BASIN OF WASHINGTON. THE EFFECTS WILL BE TWOFOLD...HEAVY SNOW AND
HIGH WINDS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS WINTER STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT IN
OREGON AND WASHINGTON. THE BEST BET FOR HEAVY SNOW WILL BE ALONG THE
WASHINGTON CASCADE EAST SLOPES AND KITTITAS VALLEY WHERE COLD AIR
WILL HANG ON THE LONGEST...AND OVER THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF THE
BLUE MOUNTAINS WHERE FAVORABLE OROGRAPHICS WILL KICK IN THIS
EVENING. HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR A LARGE AREA ALONG AND
SOUTH OF THE LOW TRACK. VERY STRONG LOW-LEVEL WINDS WILL BE IN
PLACE AND THE PATTERN APPEARS QUITE FAVORABLE FOR DAMAGING WINDS.
THE ONLY CONCERN IS THAT SOME OF THE NUMERICAL MODELS ARE NOT
SHOWING ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE MIXING OF THESE WINDS TO THE GROUND.
THAT BEING SAID THE WINDS JUST OFF THE SURFACE ARE 60 TO 70 KT SO
POCKETS OF DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THINGS WILL QUIET DOWN LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY BUT
ANOTHER STORM WILL IMPACT THE AREA MAINLY TUESDAY NIGHT WITH MORE
LOW ELEVATION RAIN/SNOW ABOVE 2000 FEET AND AT LEAST SOME WIND
BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT EXPECTED TODAY. 78
LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...A VERY PROGRESSIVE FLOW
ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH A VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL JET STREAM WILL STEER A
SERIES OF DISTURBANCES ACROSS THE INTERIOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST DURING
THE PERIOD. THE UPPER LEVEL JET BUCKLES UPSTREAM ON WEDNESDAY DUE TO
AN AMPLIFYING MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING SOUTHEAST FROM THE GULF
OF ALASKA WITH THE EASTERN FLANK OF THE TROUGH SENDING ANOTHER WARM
FRONT ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY WITH SNOW
LEVELS OF 1000-2000 FEET.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT THE AMPLIFYING MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CONTINUES
MOVING SOUTHEAST MAKING LANDFALL OVERNIGHT, AND THEN MOVES ACROSS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON THURSDAY AND KEEPS SNOW LEVELS AT THE SURFACE
FOR A CHANCE OF SNOW THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY AND ON THURSDAY
NIGHT WITH THE TROUGH EXITING THE REGION OVERNIGHT. THEN ON
CHRISTMAS DAY A DRIER AND COLDER AIRMASS MOVES INTO THE INTERIOR
PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR DRY CONDITIONS, BUT WITH A CHANCE OF
OROGRAPHIC SNOW SHOWERS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AND IN THE WALLOWA
MOUNTAINS. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS
OVER US FOR DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION MOVING EAST OF THE CASCADES ON SUNDAY. POLAN
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 44 34 40 33 / 90 40 30 50
ALW 46 37 43 35 / 90 60 30 60
PSC 43 35 43 33 / 90 30 20 50
YKM 36 27 38 28 / 100 30 20 40
HRI 46 36 42 30 / 100 20 20 50
ELN 34 24 35 29 / 100 30 30 50
RDM 45 27 38 30 / 100 20 20 40
LGD 40 30 35 29 / 90 80 30 60
GCD 37 26 31 21 / 100 50 20 60
DLS 45 36 43 33 / 100 30 30 60
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ041-044-
505-507>511.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 3 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ORZ509.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM PST TUESDAY FOR ORZ050-503-
506.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST TUESDAY FOR ORZ502.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR ORZ041.
WA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR WAZ024-
028>030-521.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST TUESDAY FOR WAZ030.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR WAZ026-027-
521.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 AM PST TUESDAY FOR WAZ520.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR WAZ024.
&&
FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON
91/89/89PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
741 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0738 AM SNOW 8 SSW TROUT LAKE 45.89N 121.59W
12/21/2015 M5.5 INCH KLICKITAT WA COCORAHS
24-HOUR ACCUMULATION 5.5 INCHES. 21.5 INCHES OF SNOW ON
THE GROUND.
0738 AM SNOW 4 NW MEACHAM 45.55N 118.48W
12/21/2015 M3.0 INCH UMATILLA OR COCORAHS
24 HOUR ACCUMULATION 3 INCHES
0738 AM SNOW 1 S BEND 44.05N 121.31W
12/21/2015 M4.3 INCH DESCHUTES OR COCORAHS
4.3 INCHES IN 24 HOURS
&&
MWISTERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
903 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 NNW LA PINE 43.74N 121.54W
12/21/2015 M10.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
5 INCHES YESTERDAY AND ADDITIONAL 5 INCHES THIS MORNING.
TOTAL 10 INCHES IN PAST 24 HOURS.
0830 AM SNOW NNW UKIAH 45.14N 118.93W
12/21/2015 M3.5 INCH UMATILLA OR TRAINED SPOTTER
3.5 INCHES SINCE MIDNIGHT. 8 INCHES ON THE GROUND.
SNOWING HEAVILY NOW.
0840 AM SNOW 4 ENE WHITE SALMON 45.75N 121.41W
12/21/2015 M2.0 INCH KLICKITAT WA TRAINED SPOTTER
2 INCHES THIS MORNING AND SNOWING HEAVILY AT 2000 FEET.
AT 1000 FEET...RAINING HEAVILY. EAST WINDS GUSTING TO
AROUND 20 MPH CAUSING BLOWING SNOW. TEMPERATURE 36
DEGREES.
&&
MWISTERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
946 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM SNOW SNOWDEN 45.83N 121.35W
12/21/2015 M5.0 INCH KLICKITAT WA CO-OP OBSERVER
5 INCHES IN 24 HOURS. 15 INCHES ON THE GROUND.
0900 AM SNOW 12 SSW CANYON CITY 44.23N 119.04W
12/21/2015 M4.6 INCH GRANT OR COCORAHS
4.6 INCHES IN 24 HOURS
0922 AM SNOW 5 N LA PINE 43.74N 121.52W
12/21/2015 M5.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
5 INCHES SINCE 3 AM. IT IS SNOWING AT A RATE OF 1 INCH
PER HOUR.
0930 AM SNOW 3 ESE WEST VALLEY 46.58N 120.54W
12/21/2015 M2.0 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
TWO SPOTTERS IN YAKIMA REPORTED 2 INCHES SINCE 8 AM.
HEAVY SNOW CONTINUES WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER
HOUR.
&&
MWISTERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1101 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM SNOW EASTON 47.24N 121.18W
12/21/2015 M6.0 INCH KITTITAS WA CO-OP OBSERVER
6 INCHES IN 24 HOURS
0954 AM SNOW SUNRIVER 43.88N 121.44W
12/21/2015 M5.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR CO-OP OBSERVER
5 INCHES IN 24 HOURS. 20 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND.
1033 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW KOOSKOOSKIE 45.99N 118.18W
12/21/2015 M58.00 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
SOUTH 41G58 MPH. PIKES PEAK MESONET ELEV 3454 FT
&&
MWISTERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1208 PM PST MON DEC 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 AM HEAVY SNOW 4 WSW LA PINE 43.65N 121.57W
12/21/2015 E7.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
6 TO 8 INCHES FELL BETWEEN 3 AM AND 730 AM THIS MORNING.
1205 PM HEAVY SNOW ELLENSBURG 47.00N 120.55W
12/21/2015 M4.0 INCH KITTITAS WA PUBLIC
FACEBOOK POSTS RECEIVED OF 3-4 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE 7 AM
&&
MWISTERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1242 PM PST MON DEC 21 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM HEAVY SNOW TROUT LAKE 46.00N 121.53W
12/21/2015 M9.0 INCH KLICKITAT WA PUBLIC
HEAVY SNOW REPORTED FROM MIDNIGHT THROUGH LATE MORNING.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTED 9 INCHES IN JUST UNDER 12 HOURS.
1130 AM HEAVY SNOW 3 E WEST VALLEY 46.59N 120.54W
12/21/2015 E4.5 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM SPOTTER REPORTED 4.5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN THE PAST
12 HOURS.
1217 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 E DUFUR 45.48N 120.95W
12/21/2015 M63.00 MPH WASCO OR MESONET
WSW 51G63 MPH
1218 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 NW TUMALO 44.23N 121.46W
12/21/2015 E50.00 MPH DESCHUTES OR TRAINED SPOTTER
15-25 MPH WINDS SUDDENLY GUSTED TO AROUND 50 MPH. NO
DAMAGE BUT WIND GUSTS WERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE TREE LIMBS TO
BEND AND ALMOST BREAK.
1218 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 13 WSW MIKKALO 45.38N 120.46W
12/21/2015 M58.00 MPH GILLIAM OR MESONET
SSW 37G58 MPH AT AJAX MESONET SITE
1230 PM HEAVY SNOW CLE ELUM 47.19N 120.93W
12/21/2015 M12.0 INCH KITTITAS WA PUBLIC
12 INCHES SINCE 8 AM. SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 INCHES PER HOUR
AND STILL SNOWING HEAVILY.
&&
MWISTERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported trees down.
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: 606386, 606392, 606390, 606393, 606382, 606379.