Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 8 to 10, 2019

Name: Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 8 to 10, 2019
Start: 2019-02-08T11:45
End: 2019-02-10T10:00
Location: Oregon

February 8 to 10, 2019 · NWS PDT · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A potent storm system brought heavy snow to much of the region beginning early morning on the 9th of February and tapering off by the morning of February 10th. Snowfall totals of 8 to 12 inches in the Columbia River Gorge, north, 5 to 10 inches in north central Oregon and around 4 inches in the Blue Mountains foothills and Columbia Basin were recorded.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS PDT wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Feb 8, 9:36 AM PST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 8, 9:36 AM PST, 2 hours 9 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
936 AM PST Fri Feb 8 2019

.UPDATE...Initial band of snow is moving across the Columbia Basin
over the Tri-Cities down towards the foothills of the Blues. Brief
visibility down to a half mile or less is possible. Elsewhere,
snow will begin to develop this afternoon. In central OR,
Blues/Wallowas early afternoon and the WA Cascades by late
afternoon. The Columbia Basin will fill back in with snow this
evening as the upper-level low continues to drop south out of BC
towards the WA/OR coast. Expect off and on snow across the CWA
through the weekend as the low slowly treks east across OR. As of
now expecting heaviest snow across the Cascades/Blues/Wallowas,
south-central WA through the foothills of the OR Blues and north-
central OR, where 5 to 10 inches is possible. Elsewhere, 2 to 6
inches of snow possible. Upgraded Watch to Winter Storm Warnings
for north-central OR and foothills of the OR Blues. Winter Weather
Advisory is now out for foothills of WA Blues, central OR, Wallowa
county and Grand Ronde Valley.

AVIATION...18Z TAFS...Band of moisture with light snow from central
Oregon through southeast Washington will drop south through the day
with mainly VFR and MVFR conditions from RDM/BDN/PDT/ALW/PSC. IFR
cigs and vsby with light snow will begin at YKM by late day and
spread across to all sites overnight and continue through much of
the day Saturday.  Winds will be light today and tonight, but strong
north to nw wind 10-20kts with gusts to 30kts will begin after 12z
at YKM/PSC/ALW/DLS/PDT and cause areas of blowing snow. 93

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 230 AM PST Fri Feb 8 2019/

SHORT TERM...Today through Sunday...Upper low will develop along
the BC coast today...drop southward along the Washington and Oregon
coasts tonight and Saturday and then swing across Oregon on Sunday.
This will bring a winter storm to much of the region with the
potential for significant snowfall...especially given an expected
reinforcing shot of arctic air. By Saturday snow ratios could easily
be 15 to 1 especially across the northern areas which will augment
snow amounts. With this forecast package all areas will be under a
warning or advisory with just a few areas remaining under a winter
storm watch. The day shift will evaluate these few remaining areas
and decide what highlights will need to be issued. Snow amounts of 5
to 10 inches will be widespread by midday Sunday as the system winds
down. Blowing snow will be a concern as well across Washington as
gusty north to northeast winds are expected to develop Saturday with
the arctic surge. By sunday high temperatures will struggle to get
out of the teens with the fresh snow cover. 78

LONG TERM...Sunday night through Friday. A series of low
pressure systems and disturbances will move across the two state
area through the extended keeping our area with snow chances through
the period. The first storm system is forecast to move across the
pacnw Sunday night and Monday. A brief break Monday night will give
way to another storm system that will spread some accumulating snow
to the region Tuesday before drifting east by Wednesday. A third
storm system is expected Thursday into Friday. Temperatures will
remain below normal through the period.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  26  21  25  11 /  70  50  80  80
ALW  29  23  28  14 /  70  50  80  70
PSC  27  22  24  16 /  50  70  80  80
YKM  26  16  21  12 /  20  90  90  70
HRI  28  22  25  14 /  60  50  80  80
ELN  26  13  20   9 /  30 100  90  60
RDM  35  23  32   8 /  50  50  80  60
LGD  29  24  33  15 /  60  60  80  80
GCD  36  26  37  17 /  60  80  80  70
DLS  30  22  26  14 /  10  80  90  60

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM Saturday to 7 AM PST Sunday
     for ORZ509-511.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Sunday
     for ORZ041.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM PST Sunday for ORZ503-506.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Saturday to 4 PM PST Sunday
     for ORZ049-050.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Sunday for ORZ502.

     Winter Storm Warning from 9 PM this evening to 1 PM PST Sunday
     for ORZ044.

     Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Sunday
     for ORZ508-510.

     Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM Saturday to 1 PM PST Sunday for
     ORZ507.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Sunday for ORZ505.

WA...Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Sunday
     for WAZ024-521.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Sunday for WAZ030.

     Winter Storm Warning from 9 PM this evening to 1 PM PST Sunday
     for WAZ028.

     Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 AM PST
     Sunday for WAZ520.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM Saturday to 1 PM PST Sunday
     for WAZ029.

     Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 AM PST
     Sunday for WAZ026-027.

&&

84/93/93

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Lower Columbia Basin

When: February 8, 11:45 AM PST to February 10, 10:00 AM PST
Where: Lower Columbia Basin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.506, -119.160 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Eastern Columbia River Gorge

When: February 8, 11:00 PM PST to February 10, 5:00 AM PST
Where: Eastern Columbia River Gorge forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.314, -120.689 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ochoco-John Day Highlands

When: February 9, 2:00 AM PST to February 10, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Ochoco-John Day Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.381, -120.359 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon

When: February 9, 2:00 AM PST to February 10, 9:00 AM PST
Where: Foothills of the Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.174, -119.941 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, North Central Oregon

When: February 9, 2:00 AM PST to February 10, 10:00 AM PST
Where: North Central Oregon forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.283, -120.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Grand Ronde Valley

When: February 9, 2:00 AM PST to February 10, 9:00 AM PST
Where: Grand Ronde Valley forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 45.310, -118.009 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon

When: February 9, 10:00 AM PST to February 10, 10:00 AM PST
Where: Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 45.592, -118.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, John Day Basin

When: February 9, 3:00 PM PST to 11:00 PM PST
Where: John Day Basin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.885, -120.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oregon in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, February 2019

Sources

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: 796542, 796541, 796544, 796546, 796547, 797063, 796545, 796543.