A strong front brought high winds to areas of southwest and south central Oregon.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 MFR wrote it up.
A strong front brought high winds to areas of southwest and south central Oregon.
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 Feb 15, 9:55 AM PST, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
955 AM PST Wed Feb 15 2017
Updated AVIATION Section
.UPDATE...Precipitation began early this morning along the coast,
and is spreading inland to the coastal mountains and Umpqua
Valley. The eastern part of the Rogue Valley saw a light shower,
but strong south/southeast winds should keep the area mostly dry
until tonight. Rain is already falling over the Cascades and
eastward, and will continue today and pick up tonight. Wind
observations are mostly in line with forecasts, though a few minor
updates were made to increase winds in the Rogue Valley and
Klamath basin, based on observations and hires guidance.
Many areas have already seen high temperatures today, with Roseburg
hitting 66 degrees at the airport before 6:00 am and Medford hit 61
before 9:00 am. Strong southerly winds should bring temperatures
back up this afternoon. Otherwise, the current forecast is on track
and see previous discussion for more information. -MSC
&&
.AVIATION...15/18Z TAF CYCLE...An incoming front will bring areas of
rain and MVFR ceilings along the coast with higher terrain partly
obscured just inland away from the coast. Southerly winds aloft
will continue to increase significantly, resulting in low-level
wind shear (LLWS) at KOTH and KRBG. Expect LLWS at KMFR too, but
with southeast winds surfacing at times, especially this afternoon
and evening. Mountain wave turbulence with LLWS will make for bumpy
descents into area terminals. The frontal band will move into the
coast this evening bringing lowering ceilings and visibility in
moderate to heavy rain. Expect the front itself to push onshore
late tonight, then inland early Thursday morning, pushing east of
the Cascades by mid-late morning. Gusty winds should gradually
subside as the front pushes inland. -Spilde
&&
.MARINE...Updated 230 AM PST Wednesday 15 February 2017...South
winds are already increasing and they will continue to increase with
gales expected overnight. The low pressure will develop along the
front west of the waters this afternoon and moving northeast. The
low is expected to move just inside of 130W and a coastal jet will
form this afternoon through this evening with winds 70-80 knots just
above the surface. There is concern some of these stronger winds
could mix down to the surface. Therefore a storm warning remains in
effect from 10 AM PST this morning until 4 AM PST Thursday. Please
see MWWMFR for more details. The front is expected to move inland
early Thursday morning with winds and seas gradually decreasing
during the day Thursday into Friday morning. A surface low is
expected to move south of the waters Friday afternoon with
increasing north winds that could reach small craft in the southern
waters. /FB
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 306 AM PST Wed Feb 15 2017/
DISCUSSION...Currently, an area of light showers is making its
way across the forecast area, likely the result of a weak
shortwave traversing the southwest flow aloft. Another stronger
wave will pass through the area late this morning, and another
round of showers is likely before noon. Still offshore lies the
strong frontal system that will bring us strong winds and moderate
to heavy rainfall later today and into tomorrow morning. Models
are in great agreement concerning all of these features in the
near term, but there is increasing uncertainty as we go further
into the next week, mainly as a result of the complex pattern in
the Westerlies upstream over the Pacific. But it is the upcoming
system later today that holds the focus of our efforts this
morning.
Models are showing some rather impressive features with the
upcoming front, namely in regards to wind strength. Along the
coast, the NAM and GFS are depicting sustained winds of up to 80
knots at 925 mb. coupled with a tight surface pressure gradient
and a deepening surface low not far offshore, confidence is quite
high in the likelihood of strong winds along the coast. This
translates inland to the ridges and usual trouble spots of the
Shasta Valley and East Side as well, with an even tighter gradient
and 700 mb winds in excess of 80 knots along and east of the
Cascades. medford and Ashland may even see periods of gusty winds
later today, as the flow will be aligned with the valley. Numerous
High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories remain in effect, with
details and more information found in the Weather Message, or
PDXNPWMFR.
While winds will be the primary concern, precipitation will be
significant as well. Fortunately enough, snow levels should remain
well above 6000 feet through the heaviest precipitation, so no
significant winter weather is expected for area travelers, but
periods of moderate to heavy rain, especially as the front pushes
across the region this evening and tonight. Rainfall could make
for tricky travel, and may also produce ponding and other
nuisances along area roads and low spots, especially where soils
remain saturated from last week's rain. No major rivers are
expected to flood with this evening, but smaller streams and
creeks could see rapid rises. Will monitor the situation as it
develops, but do not foresee any hydrological warnings or
advisories will be needed at this time.
The front will push through Thursday morning, with post-frontal
showers continuing into the evening, and snow levels dropping to
about 4000 to 5000 feet. The next system is expected to pass to
our south friday int Saturday, and while the bulk of the
precipitation will fall in California, rain and snow showers will
likely form in our area from residual moisture from the south and
under broad cyclonic flow aloft. Another weaker system will then
arrive early next week, with a deeper trough arriving midweek.
Again, models are not providing a consistent solution during this
time, but overall, it does appear an active wet pattern with near
to below normal temperatures will continue for the duration of the
forecast term. -BPN
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...High Wind Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Thursday
for ORZ030-031.
Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Thursday for
ORZ029>031.
High Wind Warning until 4 AM PST Thursday for ORZ021-022.
High Surf Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST Thursday
for ORZ021-022.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for ORZ026.
CA...Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Thursday for
CAZ084-085.
High Wind Warning until 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ081.
Wind Advisory until 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ081.
Pacific Coastal Waters...Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Thursday for PZZ350-356-370-376.
Gale Warning until 10 AM PST this morning for PZZ370.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning for
PZZ350-356-376.
Gale Warning until 4 AM PST Thursday for PZZ350-356-376.
MSC/FJB/BPNThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The NOS/NWLON at Port Orford recorded a gust to 61 mph at 15/1212 PST and a gust to 60 mph at 15/1218 PST.
The Calimus RAWS recorded many gusts exceeding 57 mph during this interval. The peak gusts of 62 mph were recorded at 15/1800 PST and 16/0100 PST.
The Summer Lake RAWS recorded a gust to 62 mph at 15/2338 PST, a gust to 65 mph at 16/0038 PST, a gust to 63 mph at 16/0138 PST, and a gust to 65 mph at 16/0238 PST. The Summit RAWS recorded several gusts exceeding 58 mph between 15/1904 and 16/1003 PST. The peak gust was 68 mph recorded at 15/2103 PST. A spotter 1N Valley Falls recorded a gust to 83 mph at 16/0023 PST.
The Klamath Falls Airport ASOS recorded a gust to 58 mph at 15/1929 PST.
The Squaw Peak RAWS recorded gusts to 76 mph at 15/2139 and 15/2239 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, February 2017
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: 670114, 670117, 670118, 670116, 670115.