A series of thunderstorms developed along the Northern Blue Mountain Foothills in Oregon in the late afternoon and evening on Aug. 10th.
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 PDT wrote it up.
A series of thunderstorms developed along the Northern Blue Mountain Foothills in Oregon in the late afternoon and evening on Aug. 10th. The storms strengthened as they approached the state border with Washington, resulting in a few of the storms producing damaging winds as they passed over Milton-Freewater, OR. The strongest winds were estimated at 90mph, while damage to several homes, trees, and crops were observed during a storm damage survey.
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 Aug 10, 3:44 PM PST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pendleton OR 444 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022 .AVIATION...00Z TAFs...VFR conditions are generally expected over the next 24 hours. Thunderstorms over the Blue Mtns will continue to drift northward the next few hours with VCTS expected at PDT/ALW. The former has the best chance to see a TSRA drift immediately overhead from 00-02z. Gusty, erratic winds and hail will be possible with any activity. Back to dry and calmer weather later this evening and overnight. 99 && .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Friday night... The focus in the short-term period remains on thunderstorm chances over portions of the CWA through this evening/tonight then again Thursday and Friday afternoon. Activity over the next several hours has the potential to produce isolated strong to severe cells, mainly over the northern Blue Mtns and Wallowas into the peripheral foothill areas where several strong to severe storms have already occurred. Convective chances tonight onward are expect to generally be more run of the mill and isolated. Moderate to locally heavy precipitation with convection should be enough to inhibit new wild-fire starts to some degree. Otherwise, the only other weather feature to note will be breezy late afternoon and evening winds in the Cascade Gap areas but relative humidity look high enough to avoid any potential concerns. Models remain in good agreement regarding the overall pattern the next several days as a cut-off low positioned off the Oregon coast slowly moves northward, beginning to weaken an transition to an open wave later Friday night. Mid-level moisture caught up in the resulting southerly flow continues to provide chances for afternoon shower and thunderstorm activity, mainly over the northern Blue Mtns and Wallowas this evening/tonight, Thursday afternoon, and to some extent Friday. Thunderstorms so far today have been rather robust with further development expected the coming hours. The strongest storms are still anticipated to remain over the higher terrain based off the HREF and other CAMs but a few isolated cells drifting into the basin near or east of the Tri-Cities is possible. Once we lose daytime heating, thunderstorms should weaken and decrease. That said, some members of the HREF along with broader lingering mid- level moisture and instability suggests a chance for continued isolated convection in the aforementioned areas in addition to a brief period of isolated T-storms for the the east slopes of the Washington Cascades; low to moderate confidence in this development at this time. Thursday afternoon showers and thunderstorms will again be possible over the Northern Blues and Wallowas in response to daytime heat producing 800-1500j/kg of MLCAPE and more mid-level moisture. The steering flow and HREF suggests this activity should remain over the elevated terrain leaving the remainder of the CWA dry. The trend will be towards drier conditions as the cut-off low continues to meander north Friday limiting the available monsoonal moisture; only a slight chance for afternoon convection over the Wallowas and Northern Blues. Through this time period PWATs remain unusually high with values of 1" to 1.50", so any storms, particularly this late this afternoon/evening and Thursday afternoon should produce at least moderate rain helping to reduce fire-weather concerns. Besides the thunderstorm chances, winds will be breezy through the Cascade gap areas at times this evening through Friday, focused in the afternoon and evening hours. Cross Cascade pressure gradients of 7-8mb are projected both tonight and again Friday evening helping to produce sustained winds of 10 to 20mph with gusts 30 to 40mph for spots like the Kittitas Valley and the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge. A tight spread between the ECMWF ensemble members in this range lends confidence to the breezy conditions. Fortunately, afternoon relative humidities only drop into the upper teens into the twenties, the lowest of which won’t be co-located with the breezy winds. As a result note-worthy fire weather impacts are not anticipated. Temperatures the next several days remain near to just above normal for this time of year. 99 .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday...The long term begins with a deep upper low moving into the British Columbia coastline, allowing us to sit under a warm southwesterly flow. This will then be overcome as the Four Corners high builds in yet again. Long term guidance is now suggesting another summer heat wave building in, allowing temperatures to rise into the triple digits widespread across the lower elevations. Confidence is already moderate to high (60-75%) that we warm up once again, as cluster analysis shows nearly unanimous agreement on the strength of the ridge building in. As the ridge builds in, some moisture from the monsoon may curve around it into the region, but currently the only day for any sort of thunderstorms is Wednesday, mainly confined to Central Oregon and just eastward, but with very low confidence at this time (10%). Goatley/87 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... PDT 60 92 60 93 / 20 0 0 0 ALW 63 93 64 96 / 20 10 10 10 PSC 66 96 65 98 / 20 0 0 0 YKM 60 94 59 96 / 20 0 0 0 HRI 63 95 61 98 / 10 0 0 0 ELN 60 94 60 95 / 20 0 0 10 RDM 48 91 51 91 / 0 0 0 0 LGD 58 92 59 93 / 30 20 20 10 GCD 55 95 56 96 / 20 10 0 10 DLS 62 93 64 92 / 0 0 0 0 && .PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...None. WA...None. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....87 AVIATION...99
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
457 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
ORZ050-110030-
Wallowa County OR-
457 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central
Wallowa County through 530 PM PDT...
At 456 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Paradise, or 28 miles south of Lewiston, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Paradise.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 4576 11709 4599 11732 4600 11730 4599 11692
4596 11688 4592 11687 4589 11684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 233DEG 25KT 4598 11701
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
CPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
522 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
ORZ507-WAZ028-110045-
Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon OR-
Lower Columbia Basin of Washington WA-
522 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central
Umatilla and south central Walla Walla Counties through 545 PM PDT...
At 522 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Adams, or 11 miles northeast of Pendleton, moving north at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Adams, Helix, Cayuse, Touchet, Mission, northwestern Umatilla
Reservation and Lowden.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4563 11853 4561 11870 4597 11888 4600 11885
4600 11890 4604 11892 4609 11856 4605 11855
4601 11860 4600 11853 4564 11847
TIME...MOT...LOC 0022Z 168DEG 24KT 4578 11865
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
CPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
603 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
ORZ507-WAZ029-110130-
Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon OR-
Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington WA-
603 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central
Umatilla and southeastern Walla Walla Counties through 630 PM PDT...
At 603 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Milton-Freewater, or 10 miles south of Walla Walla, moving north at
20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Walla Walla, College Place, Milton-Freewater, Athena, Weston, Adams,
Umapine and Garrett.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4582 11830 4579 11837 4574 11841 4575 11858
4600 11861 4605 11855 4613 11856 4610 11812
TIME...MOT...LOC 0103Z 188DEG 19KT 4589 11843
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
630 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
ORZ502-507-WAZ029-030-110200-
Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon OR-
Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon OR-Northwest Blue Mountains WA-
Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington WA-
630 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Umatilla, southeastern Walla Walla and southwestern Columbia Counties
through 700 PM PDT...
At 630 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Walla Walla, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Walla Walla, College Place, Milton-Freewater, Waitsburg, Dixie,
Garrett, Ski Bluewood and Kooskooskie.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4580 11835 4590 11851 4633 11825 4610 11774
TIME...MOT...LOC 0130Z 216DEG 25KT 4598 11826
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
CPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
645 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
ORZ502-507-110215-
Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon OR-
Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon OR-
645 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Umatilla County through 715 PM PDT...
At 644 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
northwestern Umatilla Reservation, or 11 miles east of Pendleton,
moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Athena, Weston, Adams, Thorn Hollow, Cayuse, Umatilla Reservation,
Bingham Springs, Mission and Gibbon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4552 11851 4561 11874 4593 11856 4579 11813
TIME...MOT...LOC 0144Z 209DEG 20KT 4564 11858
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
CPSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
700 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
WAZ029-030-110230-
Northwest Blue Mountains WA-
Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington WA-
700 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Walla
Walla and southern Columbia Counties through 730 PM PDT...
At 659 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Dixie, or 12 miles east of Walla Walla, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Walla Walla, Dayton, Dixie, Huntsville, Ski Bluewood and Kooskooskie.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4600 11799 4600 11826 4603 11830 4637 11809
4614 11767
TIME...MOT...LOC 0159Z 217DEG 19KT 4607 11811
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
CPThe Pendleton radar (KPDT), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:59 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A NWS Storm Survey conducted the day after the event revealed areas of isolated down trees and tree branches, where one of the downed trees had landed on a home. There was also an area of corn crops that had been blown over in a unidirectional manner.
A downburst occurred from a strong thunderstorm that affected several unoccupied, parked mobile homes. One of the mobile homes was lifted 30 feet into a neighboring mobile home, destroying the lifted mobile home. Other mobile homes suffered some roof and other structural damage, as evidenced from broken glass and insulation around the site.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, August 2022
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: 1053532, 1053536.