High winds impacted Southwest Washington as a 980 millibar low moved onshore in Pacific County. The winds resulted in widespread tree damage and power outages.
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.
High winds impacted Southwest Washington as a 980 millibar low moved onshore in Pacific County. The winds resulted in widespread tree damage and power outages.
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 21, 9:18 AM PST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
918 AM PST MON DEC 21 2015
.SYNOPSIS...ANOTHER VERY STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO
REACH THE S WA COAST THIS MORNING...AND MOVE E ACROSS SW WA TODAY
INTO EASTERN WA. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE STRONG WINDS
ACROSS MUCH 0F NORTHWEST OREGON AND FAR SOUTHERN PARTS OF SOUTHWEST
WA. SNOW IS EXPECTED IN THE CASCADES AND POSSIBLY DOWN AS LOW AS
HOOD RIVER AND PARKDALE. THE STORM MOVES EAST LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT.
ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH TUESDAY AND
TUESDAY NIGHT. A COOLER UPPER TROUGH WILL DIG DOWN THE COAST FOR THE
LATTER PART OF THE WEEK... MAINTAINING THE UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN
AND DROPPING SNOW LEVELS CONSIDERABLY BY CHRISTMAS EVE DAY AND
CHRISTMAS DAY...THOUGH MOISTURE WILL BE DECREASING.
&&
.SHORT TERM...THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER THIS MORNING IS
CURRENTLY JUST WEST OF BUOY 46089. THE BUOY AS OF AROUND 17Z
MEASURED A BAROMETRIC PRESSURE OF 981.4 MB. THIS IS A BIT STRONGER
THAN THE MODELS HAVE BEEN FORECASTING...INDICATING THE LOW PRESSURE
CENTER INTO THE UPPER 970S AS IT REACHES THE COAST. OTHERWISE...THIS
SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE TRACKING RIGHT ALONG WITH THE MODELS...CREATING
HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL MOVE INSHORE NEAR WILLAPA BAY LATER
THIS MORNING. WINDS HAVE STARTED INCREASING ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST
AND IN THE SOUTH AND CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY...WITH GUSTS ALREADY
TO 40 TO 50 KT AS FAR NORTH AS TILLAMOOK...AND 30 TO 45 KT PEAK
GUSTS AT EUGENE...SALEM...AND AS FAR NORTH AS AURORA.
TEMPS IN THE GORGE AND CENTRAL HOOD RIVER VALLEY APPEAR TO BE STAYING
FOR THE MOST PART ABOVE FREEZING THIS MORNING...WHICH IS KEEPING SNOW
FROM ACCUMULATING BELOW 1500 FT.
NO CHANGES TO REST OF DISCUSSION. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION
FOLLOWS...SURFACE LOW WAS PASSING CLOSE TO BUOY 46005 BETWEEN 09Z AND
10Z THIS MORNING...ABOUT 300 NM W OF ABERDEEN WA. PRES ESTIMATED
AROUND 989 MB. THIS TRACKS FAIRLY WELL WITH MODELS IN GENERAL AS FAR
AS TRACK AND INTENSITY. NEWEST RUNS OF HRRR AND GFS EARLY THIS
MORNING SHOWED A TENDENCY FOR A SLIGHTLY STRONGER DEEPER LOW THAN
PREVIOUS RUNS...WITH GFS DOWN TO CLOSE TO 980 MB CENTER AS IT MOVES
ONSHORE NEAR WILLAPA BAY. OVERALL MODELS HAVE BEEN PLEASANTLY
CONSISTENT WITH THE TRACK OF THE LOW...COMING INLAND NEAR THE LONG
BEACH PENINSULA BETWEEN 18Z AND 20Z. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW SURFACE
LOW WEAKENING LITTLE AS IT MOVES INLAND ACROSS SW WA TODAY. H8 WINDS
TENDING TO PEAK ON THE ORDER OF 55 KT THIS MORNING OVER NW
OREGON...WHICH APPEARS TO BE A LITTLE STRONGER THAN THE COMPARABLE
SYSTEMS IN DEC 2012 AND JAN 1990. THE TRACK SUGGESTS THE NORTHERN
PART OF THE S WA COAST ZONE AND WILLAPA HILLS MAY BE SPARED THE
WINDS. THE FAST MOVEMENT OF THE LOW INFERS STRONG PRES RISES MOVING
IN BEHIND...SO MUCH OF THE REST OF THE AREA LOOKS ON TRACK FOR THE
EXPECTED WINDS. CASCADES MAY BE A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE FOR HITTING
THEIR HIGH WIND CRITERIA GIVEN FREE AIR H7 WINDS PEAKING AROUND 65
TO 70 KT. OVERALL PREFER TO STICK WITH THE CURRENT WIND WARNINGS AS
THEY ARE NOW.
TEMPS IN THE GORGE AND HOOD RIVER VALLEY STARTING OUT A FEW DEGREES
ABOVE FREEZING EARLY THIS MORNING. NAM BUFR SOUNDINGS DO HOWEVER
SHOW SOME COOLING AS HEAVIER PRECIPITATION ARRIVES AFTER 14Z...
BEFORE WARMING KICKS IN AGAIN AFTER 18Z. WILL DOWNGRADE THE WINTER
STORM WARNING THERE TO AN ADVISORY DUE TO MARGINAL TEMPS AND
EXPECTED SHORT DURATION OF SNOW. PRECIPITATION SHIELD AHEAD OF THE
WARM FRONT THIS MORNING WILL BRING HIGH POPS THIS MORNING...BUT
DRIER WESTERLY FLOW IS FORCED IN QUICKLY TODAY...TRENDING THE
PRECIPITATION TOWARDS MORE OROGRAPHICALLY DRIVEN SHOWERS IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WITH THE OROGRAPHIC LIFT CONTINUING INTO THE
EVENING...WILL CONTINUE WITH A LOW END WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE
CASCADES TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE SNOW SHOWERS FOR THE
CASCADES WILL EASE UP OVERNIGHT AS ONSHORE FLOW WEAKENED. SNOW
LEVELS MAY DIP DOWN BELOW 2500 FEET IN THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION
THIS MORNING AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT...SO WILL KEEP THE ADVISORY FOR
SNOW GOING THROUGH THE MORNING.
TUE AND WED A COUPLE MORE SHORTWAVES EMBEDDED IN A VERY FAST
WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. A 160 KT 300 MB JET OVER
NW OREGON TUE SINKS S TOWARDS THE CA BORDER WED. THIS SETS UP A
PATTERN FAVORABLE FOR SNOW IN THE CASCADES TUE AND WED...WITH SNOW
LEVELS LOWERING TO THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS AND HIGHER COAST RANGE.
-MCCOY/DE
.LONG TERM...NO CHANGES. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...WEDNESDAY
NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING SOUTHWARD OVER THE
WESTERN CONUS WILL KEEP SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL BE DROPPING THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY
NIGHT TO 1000 TO 1500 FEET IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF OUR AREA...BUT
SNOW LEVELS COULD DROP AS LOW AS 500 TO 1000 FT IN THE NORTHERN HALF
OF OUR AREA. SHOWERS WILL BE STARTING TO TAPER OFF LATE THURSDAY INTO
EARLY FRIDAY. WITH SNOW LEVELS GETTING SO LOW IN THE NORTHERN
WILLAMETTE VALLEY...WE COULD SEE A FEW SNOWFLAKES MIX IN WITH RAIN
SHOWERS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE VALLEY FLOOR LATE THURSDAY INTO EARLY
FRIDAY. WE LIKELY WILL NOT SEE ANY ACCUMULATION EXCEPT AT ELEVATIONS
ABOVE 500 FT. BY MIDDAY FRIDAY...RIDGING WILL BUILD HIGH PRESSURE
OVER THE AREA CUTTING OFF ANY CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION THROUGH FRIDAY
NIGHT EXCEPT FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF FLURRIES IN THE CASCADES.
OUR NEXT SYSTEM BRINGS MORE PRECIPITATION ON SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.
SNOW LEVELS COME BACK UP TO AROUND 3000-4000 FT WITH THIS
SYSTEM...BUT COLD AIR TRAPPED IN THE HOOD RIVER VALLEY AND CENTRAL
GORGE COULD MEAN A WINTRY MIX IN THESE LOWER AREAS. -MCCOY
&&
.AVIATION...A WARM FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE REGION IS BRINGING
RAIN AND PREDOMINANTLY MVFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING. THERE ARE
POCKETS OF IFR CONDITIONS IN HEAVIER BANDS OF RAIN. SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST WINDS TO INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING BEHIND THE WARM
FRONT...WHICH SHOULD LIFT CIGS TO MAINLY VFR INTO TONIGHT ACROSS
THE AREA. WIND GUSTS OF SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 50 TO 60 KT APPEAR
LIKELY FOR COASTAL TAF SITES THROUGH ABOUT 19Z MORNING...AND 40
TO 50 KT IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY THROUGH ABOUT 21Z. THE STRONGEST
WINDS SHOULD ONLY A COUPLE HOURS WITH LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE
SUGGEST THE STRONGEST WINDS INLAND MAY OCCUR AROUND KHIO...KMMV
AND KUAO. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO WESTERLY AS THE LOW PRES PUSHES
THROUGH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON.
KPDX AND APPROACHES...BREEZY EAST WINDS AND MVFR CONDITIONS THIS
MORNING BEFORE STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS DEVELOP AROUND MIDDAY AND
CONDITIONS TURN MAINLY VFR FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A 1 TO
3 HOUR PERIOD OF SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 KT
APPEAR LIKELY TO DEVELOP BETWEEN 19Z AND 22Z MONDAY. PYLE/NEUMAN
&&
.MARINE...A LOW PRES CENTER CURRENTLY LOCATED JUST NORTH OF BUOY
46089 WILL MOVE QUICKLY ONSHORE THIS MORNING ALONG THE LONG BEACH
PENINSULA. GALE FORCE SOUTHERLY WINDS OCCURRING OVER THE WATERS
THIS MORNING WITH A LEADING WARM FRONT. A STRONGER BURST OF
WESTERLY WINDS WILL OCCUR JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE LOW AS IT
TRACKS EASTWARD ACROSS OUR NORTHERN WATERS THIS MORNING. AS A
RESULT...WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 KT APPEAR LIKELY ACROSS OUR WATERS
THROUGH MIDDAY. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN SEAS BUILDING ABRUPTLY
AND TOPPING OUT IN AT LEAST THE 20 TO 25 FT RANGE MIDDAY/EARLY
AFTERNOON. GIVEN THE FAST MOVING NATURE OF THIS STORM SYSTEM SEAS
SHOULD SETTLE BACK DOWN INTO THE MID TO UPPER TEENS FAIRLY QUICKLY
LATER THIS EVENING.
ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM APPEARS TO BRING GUSTY WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS
OF 35 TO 40 KT TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. A WESTERLY SWELL LIKELY
IN EXCESS OF 20 FT WILL LIKELY PUSH INTO THE WATERS DURING THIS
TIME AND LINGER THROUGH MUCH OF WEDNESDAY. COASTAL FLOODING AND/OR
HIGH SURF ISSUES IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM APPEAR LIKELY ALONG OUR
COAST AS A RESULT.
UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP SEAS ABOVE 10 FT WITH
OCCASIONAL BOUTS OF 20 TO 35 KT WINDS THROUGH THURSDAY BEFORE HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS TEMPORARILY INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AROUND
FRIDAY/SATURDAY. IT STILL APPEARS SEAS MAY DROP BELOW 10 FT FOR
12-36 PERIOD DURING THIS TIME BEFORE ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MOVES
INTO THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEKEND. PYLE/NEUMAN
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES-UPPER HOOD
RIVER VALLEY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR GREATER
PORTLAND METRO AREA-LOWER COLUMBIA-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER
GORGE.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL
WILLAMETTE VALLEY-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH
WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR NORTHERN OREGON
CASCADE FOOTHILLS.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CASCADES
IN LANE COUNTY-NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL
COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST
OREGON.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 2 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL
OREGON COAST-NORTH OREGON COAST.
WA...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR GREATER
VANCOUVER AREA-I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-SOUTH
WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH
WASHINGTON COAST-WILLAPA HILLS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR SOUTH
WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR SOUTH
WASHINGTON CASCADES.
PZ...STORM WARNING UNTIL 2 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR COASTAL WATERS
FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO FLORENCE OR OUT 60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ROUGH COLUMBIA RIVER BAR UNTIL 4 AM PST
TUESDAY.
&&
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-NORTHERN OREGON
CASCADES-UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-LOWER COLUMBIA-
WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY-NORTHERN OREGON
CASCADE FOOTHILLS-SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR NORTHERN OREGON
CASCADE FOOTHILLS.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR NORTHERN
OREGON CASCADES.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR CASCADES
IN LANE COUNTY.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-COAST
RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 2 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL
OREGON COAST.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR NORTH OREGON COAST.
WA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE-SOUTH WASHINGTON
CASCADES.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-I-5 CORRIDOR IN
COWLITZ COUNTY-SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-WESTERN
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-WILLAPA HILLS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON PST TODAY FOR SOUTH
WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR SOUTH
WASHINGTON CASCADES.
PZ...STORM WARNING UNTIL 2 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR COASTAL WATERS
FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WA TO FLORENCE OR OUT 60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ROUGH COLUMBIA RIVER BAR UNTIL
4 AM PST TUESDAY.
&&
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.8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High winds resulted in downed trees and power outages in the vicinity of Vancouver.
High winds resulted in downed trees and power outages in the vicinity of the Southwest Washington Cascade Foothills. Two near by RAWS (Yellowstone and Eagle Creek) reported wind gusts of 50 mph which is a rare strength for these often wind blocked locations.
Three Corner Rock RAWS measured sustained winds of 72 mph with a peak gust of 94 mph.
Sustained winds of 47 mph was measured at Megler Bridge, and a peak gust of 59 mph was reported at Cape Disappointment.
There were numerous reports of large trees down on homes and cars in the Kelso, Longview, Columbia Heights, and Lake Sacajawea areas with significant damage.
The Abernathy RAWS measured sustained winds of 44 mph with a peak gust of 64 mph.
A burst of strong west winds resulted in downed trees along the Columbia River Gorge. A wind gust of 68 mph was measured at Bonneville Dam.
A burst of strong west winds resulted in downed trees along the Columbia River Gorge. A wind gust of 68 mph was measured at Bonneville Dam.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, 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: 611907, 611910, 611911, 611904, 611906, 611905, 611908, 611909.