A low pressure system approaching the Coast of Washington brought a warm front through on the 7th starting the snow in the Columbia Gorge, and the trailing cold front moved through on the 8th through the 9th bringing high winds to the Oregon Coast and Coast Range as well as additional snow and ice to the Columbia Gorge. Winds picked back up on the back side of this system for another round of…
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 approaching the Coast of Washington brought a warm front through on the 7th starting the snow in the Columbia Gorge, and the trailing cold front moved through on the 8th through the 9th bringing high winds to the Oregon Coast and Coast Range as well as additional snow and ice to the Columbia Gorge. Winds picked back up on the back side of this system for another round of high winds in the Central Coast Range.
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 Feb 7, 5:04 AM PST, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Portland OR
504 AM PST Tue Feb 7 2017
.SYNOPSIS...Low pressure just off the southern Oregon coast will move
onshore this morning, slowly pushing a warm front northward into the
Willamette Valley today. This front will spread generally light
precipitation northward to about the OR/WA border as today
progresses, continuing through this evening before tapering off. Cold
air left behind by our last system may keep snow levels low today
north of the warm front, but accumulations are expected to be light
except for the several inches expected in the Oregon Cascades. A
stronger and much wetter system is expected to impact the region
Wednesday through Thursday night. Offshore low-level flow will
strengthen Tuesday night through Wednesday. Residual cold air in and
near the Gorge will bring the potential for mixed precipitation as
far west as the Portland metro area Wednesday morning. The freezing
rain threat will persist in the Columbia Gorge and Hood River Valley
through Thursday. After a few lingering showers Friday, high pressure
is expected to result in a mainly dry weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Today through Thursday...Apologies again for the
tardiness of this discussion; it has been another very complicated
forecast with the potential for significant impacts especially in and
near the Columbia Gorge. Winter Storm Watches have been issued for
the West/Central Gorge, Hood River Valley, and the South WA Cascades
for the system anticipated for Wednesday and Thursday.
But first, let's talk about the next 24 hours...which is no easy
forecast either. A fairly impressive and compact low - with a central
pressure below 995 mb - is just about to move onshore near Cape
Blanco. This system has a healthy tap to subtropical moisture all the
way back to near Hawaii, but much of this moisture is aimed toward
northern and central California. However, a warm frontal band is
lifting to the north of the low, with snow just recently developing
in Bend. On the west side of the Cascades, precipitation is falling
mainly as rain in the lowlands; Roseburg reports 40 deg F and rain,
with Eugene and Newport in the upper 30s. So at least Lane County
appears to be out of the woods for any low elevation snow.
Temperatures are little cooler to the north, and some easterly flow
is beginning to come out of the Gorge into Troutdale. This should
help keep the PDX metro area in a cool air mass with some drier
continental influence as precipitation slowly works its way northward
through the western Oregon. However, the easterly flow will also be
drying the low-mid levels of the atmosphere, which will fight against
the warm frontal band of precip as it lifts northward today. So...for
today it appears NW Oregon can expect some cold rain perhaps mixed
with some flurries at times, but it will be tough for accumulating
snow to make it all the way down to the coast or valley floors.
Models never really push the warm front through the PDX metro;
instead they generally hang up the front somewhere near Salem
overnight tonight. Models continue to show precip near the front
through tonight, especially in the Cascades. Decided to issue a snow
advisory for our Oregon Cascades zones, as there should be enough
moisture and some residual orographics along the crest from the
easterly upslope flow affecting Pendleton's forecast area. Santiam
and Willamette Passes should see 6-12 inches of snow through tonight,
with lesser amounts to the north of Mount Jefferson. Easterly upslope
may also help the Hood River Valley and Central Columbia Gorge get
2-4 inches of snow, so the advisory that was issued for those zones
through midnight tonight looks good.
With the frontal zone remaining draped across western Oregon tonight,
easterly flow will continue through the Columbia Gorge as the next
system approaches from the Pacific for Wed/Thu. This system is
presently taking shape near 30N/150W and has some decent precipitable
water associated with it...around 1.50 inches with a moisture tap
that goes SW across Hawaii. With the abundant moisture, this system
is expected to be a prolific rain producer as it gets picked up by an
upper trough off the BC coast and guided toward the Pac NW later
Wed/Thu. At this point, it appears this system may produce around 2
inches of QPF for the inland valleys, 2-4 inches for the coast, and
3-6 inches for the higher terrain by the time the parent upper trough
swings through Thursday night. Given the warmer temperatures and
existing snowpack in the lower elevations of the Coast Range and
Cascades, there are definitely some hydro concerns with this system.
Meanwhile, cold air will be locked in the Gorge as easterly gradients
ramp up. Enough low-level cold air may linger in the PDX metro for
some brief freezing rain Wed morning, but for the most part it
appears the ice storm threat will be in the Gorge. Given the copious
QPF associated with this system, there may be some damaging ice
accumulations in the Gorge where there is the combination of cold air
from the east and moisture from the west. It is difficult to tell
where this spot will be at this point, but the most likely target
appears to be near Cascade Locks, Stevenson and in the Wind River
Valley. Elevated portions of the west Gorge such as Corbett may also
see substantial icing as well. Areas east of Stevenson will see more
snow; Hood River will probably get a few inches of snow before
changing over to freezing rain. The big winners for snowfall will
probably be eastern Skamania County, where up to 2 feet of snow may
occur near Mount Adams...possibly as low as Trout Lake (just across
the border in Klickitat County). Cold air is notoriously stubborn in
these areas in easterly flow, and much lower snow levels will likely
linger in eastern Skamania County than for western portions of the
county.
Another concern with this system is wind along the coast; the beaches
and headlands may eventually need a High Wind Watch/Warning as the
last couple runs of the NAM have shown 75-85 kt S-SW flow at 850 mb.
Gradients are far from ideal for the wind to reach the coast
initially; but the 06z NAM and a couple other models have changed
course a bit to have a strong surge of southerly gradients through
the CWA Thu afternoon. If this occurs, there could be a potent
coastal wind event, and perhaps advisory-level winds for the
Willamette Valley. We have plenty of time to sort out these details,
as the strong winds are not expected to materialize until midday or
afternoon Thursday. Weagle
.LONG TERM...Thursday Night Through Monday...The cold front looks to
finally push inland late Thursday/early Friday. Models then show a
trailing shortwave moving across the forecast area on Friday, with
the base of the upper level trough moving inland by Friday night.
This will keep the threat of showers elevated through Friday night,
and possibly into Saturday morning. Snow levels will initially be
around 4000 ft Thursday night and looks to lower to around 2000 ft
by Saturday morning. Expect some travel impacts across the passes
through the end of the week. Models then show upper level ridging
building across the Pac NW over the weekend. This should bring a
reprieve from the wet weather this weekend, but with abundant surface
moisture and relatively light winds expect patchy fog to develop
across the area at night and potentially linger well into the morning
hours through early next week. A weakening front may move across the
region on Monday, but not expecting any rain from it at the moment.
&&
.AVIATION...Mix of conditions across the region, with patchy fog
with pockets of MVFR Cigs inland. A front over far southern
Oregon will lift north to a KEUG to KRDM line by afternoon. As
front lifts north, will see increasing mid and high clouds early
this am, with increasing low VFR and MVFR with precipitation by
afternoon. Likely to remain VFR with mid and high clouds over far
NW Oregon towards Astoria and into western Washington. Worst
conditions will be over the Cascades, where mtns and passes will
be obscured in clouds and snow.
KPDX AND APPROACHES...Generally VFR with increasing mid and high
clouds this am. Will see occasional 3 to 5 mile fog until 15Z.
Clouds lower to 2500 to 3500 ft by afternoon, with occasional
light rain, but likely to see wet flakes mixed in the rain. No
accumulation expected. Not much change this evening, though
precipitation will taper. Rockey
&&
.MARINE...High pres over inland Pac NW will maintain light
easterly pres gradient today into Wed, with winds 15 kt or less.
Seas still holding at 6 to 7 ft, but these to will subside a few
more feet today and tonight.
Winds increase on Wed as a warm front lifts northward into the
region. East to SE winds of 20 to 25 kt likely on Wed, but as
front lifts north over region Wed night, winds will become
southerly and pick up to Gale force. Gale force southerly will
remain over the coastal waters on Thu, then ease Thu night into
Fri. Models still indicate high pres will build over the
northeast PAC on Fri. Will trend winds more westerly at that
time, and keep in 10 to 20 kt range.
With winds increasing later Wed and Thu, so will seas. Expect
choppy wind-driven seas of 15 to 20 ft later Wed night and
especially Thu. Seas gradually subside later Thu night and Fri.
Rockey.
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday morning through Thursday
afternoon for Central Columbia River Gorge-Upper Hood
River Valley-Western Columbia River Gorge.
Winter Weather Advisory until midnight PST tonight for Central
Columbia River Gorge-Upper Hood River Valley.
Winter Weather Advisory until midnight PST tonight for Cascades
in Lane County-Northern Oregon Cascades.
WA...Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday morning through Thursday
afternoon for Central Columbia River Gorge-South
Washington Cascades-Western Columbia River Gorge.
Winter Weather Advisory until midnight PST tonight for Central
Columbia River Gorge.
PZ...None.
&&
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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.5 high wind, 2 winter storm, 1 winter weather, 1 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
CoCoRaHS observations showed 6 to 8 inches were observed in the Hood River and White Salmon areas over a 24 hour period.
CoCoRaHS observers reported 0.3 to 0.4 inches of ice on top of 3 to 6 inches of snow.
CoCoRaHS observers reported 0.3 to 0.4 inches of ice on top of 3 to 6 inches of snow.
Local TV meteorologist reported 0.4 inches of ice at his house in Corbett, and a CoCoRaHs observer recorded 1.13 inches of ice on top of 0.5 inches of snow also in Corbett.
The weather station on Marys Peak recorded wind gusts up to 104 mph, while the Rockhouse RAWS station recorded wind gusts up to 96 mph.
Wind gusts recorded up to 65 mph, measured at Yachats. Another station at Gleneden Beach recorded wind gusts up to 64 mph, and up to 59 mph at the Newport AWOS.
Wind gusts recorded up to 71 mph, which was observed at the weather station in Pacific City.
The weather station at Mt Hebo at an elevation of 3500 feet recorded wind gusts up to 71 mph. In an adjacent zone, Rockhouse RAWS station recorded wind gusts of 59 mph.
The Rockhouse RAWS weather station recorded wind gusts up to 59 mph.
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: 684192, 684193, 684195, 684201, 684199, 684197, 684196, 684198, 684200.