Very heavy rain along with the melting of recent snowfall caused flooding at several locations in southern Oregon in late February.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Very heavy rain along with the melting of recent snowfall caused flooding at several locations in southern Oregon in late February.
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 24, 3:30 PM PST, 2 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
330 PM PST Sun Feb 24 2019
...Updated Aviation Discussion...
.DISCUSSION...There have been numerous updates to the local
warning and advisory suite today, with upgrades and adjustments
needed to account for expected, and some unexpected, occurrences
today. Main forecast efforts have been focused on the next 3 to 4
days, with rain, snow, wind, and flooding all impacting portions
of the area. There have been some changes to the forecast, mainly
in regards to an overall southward shift of the model solutions,
especially Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning.
The immediate concerns will be low elevation snow in Douglas
County, heavy snow in the mountains, and flooding for much of the
West Side. As a band of heavier precipitation pushes south, snow
levels from Cottage Grove to Yoncalla have dropped to below 500
feet. While we expect this to be mostly temporary, a few inches
of snow are possible. This area of low elevation snow is expected
to slide south towards Roseburg, but is not likely to make it much
farther south than that. Winter Storm Warnings in the Douglas
foothills have been extended to lower elevations, and an Advisory
has been issued for the coastal mountains and higher elevations
of northern and central Douglas county through tonight to account
for an increased chance for accumulating snow. Heavy snow is still
falling over the Cascades and across portions of the East Side,
with gusty winds and blowing snow adding additional hazards. See
the PDXWSWMFR for more information on snow headlines and concerns.
Meanwhile, river levels have started to rise in many areas.
Flooding is now almost certain for the Coquille River at Coquille,
as well as the South Fork at Myrtle Point, by tomorrow. Deer Creek
at Roseburg is now expected to flood, while some other rivers in
the area may approach minimal flood stage. Standing water and
high creeks have also been reported across Coos and Curry
Counties, and the threat of debris flow on burn scars has
increased due to some impressive rainfall rates (well over 0.50
inches per hour). Rainfall will continue through tonight for much
of these areas, so the threat remains for landslides, flooding,
road ponding, and other high-water concerns. Several flood
Watches have been upgraded to Warnings, with other Watches
remaining in effect. Please see the flood products PDXFLWMFR and
PDXFFAMFR for more details.
High winds are expected along the coast south of Cape Blanco,
over the mountains, in the Shasta Valley, and across the East
Side as the boundary slides back north tomorrow morning.The GFS
is showing 700 mb winds in excess of 80 knots, which would create
very strong winds in the usual trouble spots. For areas with
snow, this will result in very low visibilities and near-blizzard
conditions are possible. With trees loaded with snow and/or the
ground saturated, tree damage and downed trees and power outages
are possible across the area, while travel will very difficult for
high profile vehicles. See the PDXNPWMFR for more details at the
coast and Shasta Valley, while the PDXWSWMFR covers areas where
snow is expected.
As mentioned before, the southward shift will keep snow levels
lower through the event, and will also pushed the main band of
precipitation a bit farther south. With the front now pushing
through most of the area by Monday afternoon, there is a bit of a
dry spell from then into Tuesday, with temperatures dropping
significantly by Tuesday morning, and snow levels lowering as a
result. While snow levels now look to drop to the West Side valley
floors, precipitation will have mostly ended there, or at least
become very light. The ECMWF, the more northerly solution compared
to the GFS and NAM among others, keeps precipitation over much of
the area, but also keeps snow levels higher. Have trended the
forecast towards the general model consensus. All models bring the
front back north again Tuesday night into Wedensday, but how far
north remains uncertain. Snow levels will rise along with the
precipitation rates, but mountain snow (especially near Mount
Shasta) moderate to heavy rain will return to much of the region.
Headlines may need to be adjusted or issued for this part of the
event, once the details become more clear.
For the rest of the forecast term, active weather is expected to
continue, although there appear to be some breaks possible this
weekend or early next week. Some low elevation snow is possible
Thursday as another front and cold upper level trough slide
through the area, but no other unusual late February or early
march weather is expected at this time. Temperatures should trend
near or slightly below normal. The good news, with all of the
activity over the week, we do expect snowpack and seasonal
rainfall totals to reach or exceed normal values for nearly the
entire area, which bodes well for the water season and the coming
year. -BPN
&&
.AVIATION...For the 25/00Z TAFs... The frontal boundary has moved
south, and snow accumulations are starting to stick at Roseburg,
so freezing levels north of the Umpqua Divide have fallen to
around 500 feet MSL with locally lower levels (around 100 feet)
MSL while freezing levels are higher south of the Umpqua Divide.
The front should move northward raising the freezing level some
time tomorrow morning to around 2000 feet. Gusty south winds in
favored valleys and across the higher terrain, possible mountain
wave turbulence, and pockets of low level wind shear in sheltered
valleys. Moderate to heavy precipitation will bring a mix of MVFR
and IFR ceilings and visibilities in rain and snow with higher
terrain obscured. Downslope winds will create VFR conditions at
times in some of the valleys such as the Rogue Valley, including
KMFR. -Schaaf/BTL
&&
.MARINE...Updated 300 PM PST Sunday, 24 February 2019... The
frontal boundary draped across the area this afternoon is expected
to push northward tonight into Monday morning as a wave of low
pressure moves along it. South winds are expected to increase to
gales late this evening from Cape Blanco southward. There is some
uncertainty as to how far north gales will get, though the models
do agree in keeping them south of Cape Blanco. The increase in
southerly winds will cause very steep and hazardous seas to
develop across the majority of the waters as they propagate
northward Monday morning through Monday afternoon. The most
hazardous conditions tonight into Monday morning are expected
between Gold Beach southward. Seas will then gradually subside
late Monday into Tuesday, with overall sea conditions then
remaining relatively calm through Wednesday night. BTL
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST Monday for ORZ029>031.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Monday for ORZ029-030.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Monday for ORZ031.
Flood Watch through Monday evening for ORZ021-023>028.
High Wind Warning until 10 AM PST Monday for ORZ021-022.
Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for ORZ024.
Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Monday for ORZ023.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Monday for ORZ025.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Monday for ORZ027-028.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST Monday for CAZ083>085.
Flood Watch from late tonight through Tuesday morning for
CAZ080>083.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Monday for CAZ080.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Monday for CAZ082-083.
High Wind Warning until 4 PM PST Monday for CAZ081.
Pacific Coastal Waters...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM PST Monday for PZZ356-376.
Gale Warning from 10 PM this evening to 7 AM PST Monday for
PZZ356-376.
Hazardous Seas Warning from 7 AM to 4 PM PST Monday for
PZZ350-356-370-376.
Flood Watch through Monday evening for PZZ350.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 7 PM PST Monday
for PZZ350-370.PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
424 PM PST SUN FEB 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 WSW STEAMBOAT 43.33N 122.80W
02/24/2019 E4.0 INCH DOUGLAS OR DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ODOT REPORTED ABOUT 4 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN
1000 TO 1200 FEET (ELEVATION) AROUND MILE
POST 136 OF OREGON HIGHWAY 138. HE IS ALSO
REPORTING TREES DOWN.
&&
BSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
443 PM PST SUN FEB 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM HEAVY RAIN GREEN 43.15N 123.38W
02/24/2019 E1.42 INCH DOUGLAS OR TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
CCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
453 PM PST SUN FEB 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0453 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 ENE MYRTLE CREEK 43.04N 123.19W
02/24/2019 M2.20 INCH DOUGLAS OR PUBLIC
&&
CCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
455 PM PST SUN FEB 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 ENE BROOKINGS 42.06N 124.28W
02/24/2019 M4.57 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HEAVY RAIN REPORT FROM 1
ENE BROOKINGS.
&&
CCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
456 PM PST SUN FEB 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1226 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNE LANGLOIS 42.94N 124.45W
02/24/2019 M3.17 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HEAVY RAIN REPORT FROM 1
NNE LANGLOIS. 2.64 INCHES IN 12 HOURS SINCE
NOON 0.79 INCHES IN ONE HOUR ENDING AT 8 AM.
&&
CCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
500 PM PST SUN FEB 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SSW OBRIEN 42.05N 123.71W
02/24/2019 M2.20 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.06 IN 11 HOURS REPORTED AT 12PM. CORRECTS
PREVIOUS HEAVY RAIN REPORT FROM 2 SSW
OBRIEN.
&&
CCThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Deer Creek at Roseburg rose above flood stage (10.0 feet) at 24/1730 PST, crested at 11.78 feet at 24/2030 PST, then fell below flood stage at 25/0430 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, February 2019
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: 800676.