A deep upper level cut-off low and secondary low-level circulations resulted in bands of moderate to heavy snow developing over central Oregon on the 11th, then advecting east over Wallowa County in the overnight hours of the 11th and morning of the 12th.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 PDT wrote it up.
A deep upper level cut-off low and secondary low-level circulations resulted in bands of moderate to heavy snow developing over central Oregon on the 11th, then advecting east over Wallowa County in the overnight hours of the 11th and morning of the 12th.
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 Dec 11, 3:55 AM PST, 4 hours 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
355 AM PST Sun Dec 11 2022
Updated Aviation Discussion
.SHORT TERM...Current radar is picking up on a few isolated
cells in Central oregon. Looking at webcams across the area there
are some light snow flurries beginning to show up. Nighttime
satellite is also highlighting a few areas of fog and freezing
fog, mostly over the Tri-Cities and Wallowa. Observations have
shown a downward trend in the winds and this will continue through
the forecast period. There is a <30% chance that the Basin and
adjacent valleys will see freezing rain this morning, so if on the
roads in theses areas, drive with caution.
Short term is characterized by the beginning of the next system.
Models are having a little bit of a difficult time digesting the
precipitation, but pattern recognition and the ECMWF EFI has boosted
our confidence to moderate/high (70-80%) for where the precipitation
will be. Advisories are currently in affect for N Central Or,
Central Or, East slopes of the Cascades and the Foothills of the
Blues. At 10 am this morning an advisory will go into affect for
Wallowa county above 3000 ft due to models and ensembles indicating
some wrap around precipitation associated with the location of the
low later this morning. SREF/HRRR/NAM models show the low to be to
currently deepening and sitting just off the southern coast of
Oregon. They are in firm agreement with the placement and timing,
just struggling with the precipitation amounts and arrival. As the
low traverses onshore, models show it dipping to the south of the
CWA wrapping moisture around creating some upslope moisture
through the Wallowas. The low will continue to move eastward and
precipitation will begin to diminish across the region with the
exception of some lingering wrap around moisture in the Wallowas and
along the Blues. Temperatures today will be in the low to mid 30s
across the CWA with lows dipping into the low to mid 20s.
By Monday the center of the low will be mostly over Idaho leaving
the region with a slight chance (20-30%) of again some wrap around
moisture along the eastern mountains. Mostly dry elsewhere as the
leading edge of a ridge begins to move down from the Gulf of Alaska
and set up along the coast. SREF/NAM models are in fairly strong
agreement on the placement and timing of the leading edge. This will
bring in N to Northeast flow aloft ushering in some frigid
temperature later in the week. NBM is showing temperatures will
remain in the low to mid 30s for Monday. Bennese/90
.LONG TERM...Tuesday through Sunday...A cold and dry forecast is in
store for the long term period. In fact, subfreezing temperatures
are forecast for almost every location in the CWA both during the
day and night. The PacNW will be under a NNE flow aloft through
Friday...possibly into next weekend depending on the location of an
offshore high pressure ridge. Confidence is very high on the
bitterly cold temperatures, and the ECMWF EFI blankets most of the
area in the unusually cold temperatures through the time period. At
this time, winds are not a major concern, therefore the apparent
temperature will not be extremely lower than the actual temperature.
However, a northerly gradient will set up for most of the week that
will entrench the deep cold air that has already been in place
across most of the Columbia Basin since the end of November. Recent
precipitation will increase the likelihood of radiational freezing
fog for Tuesday morning, and the NBM paints a large area with low
visibility and stratus clouds. Any dense fog potential lessens the
remainder of the week as the inversion will become more shallow due
the cold air advection aloft.
There are model differences in the overall synoptic pattern, as this
is often common with Rex block patterns. There will be two large
closed lows--one off the eastern Pacific and another over the
eastern half of the U.S. This leaves the west coast under a highly
amplitude ridge. The eastern Pacific low will eventually undercut
the ridge. The discrepancies in the deterministic and ensembles will
not play a huge role in the sensible weather. The NBM has a slight
chance of snow for the WA Cascades late Sunday at 15 pct PoPs with
limited moisture in a NW flow aloft. Otherwise, the forecast will
show dry conditions. Wister/85
&&
.AVIATION...12Z TAFs...Flight rules will vary considerably from one
terminal airport to another. Moving from north to south...YKM is
VFR and forecast soundings show continued mid and high level clouds
but continued VFR. PSC is under LIFR with a light north wind, but
the low to the south is sending bands of mid level moisture that
will help lift CIGs and VSBY and improve conditions to IFR or MVFR.
No precipitation is in the TAF for PSC, but forecasters are keeping
an eye on enhanced returns moving into HRI that could be in the form
of mixed precipitation based on Dual Pol analysis. ALW is also LIFR
at this time and will have a better chance of snow late this
afternoon and evening. PDT will also observe snow with conditions
deteriorating from VFR to IFR in light snow at the same time. RDM
and BDN are reporting light rain and snow mix but will soon change
to snow with IFR conditions later today and tonight. Wister/85
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT 34 28 34 23 / 40 50 20 0
ALW 36 29 34 24 / 40 50 20 10
PSC 36 28 34 24 / 30 20 10 0
YKM 39 21 37 17 / 40 10 0 0
HRI 36 29 36 24 / 30 40 10 0
ELN 39 25 37 17 / 40 10 0 0
RDM 35 21 35 14 / 80 50 10 0
LGD 39 30 34 22 / 60 60 40 10
GCD 38 28 35 20 / 70 60 50 0
DLS 41 32 42 28 / 60 30 0 0
&&
.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Monday for ORZ050.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for
ORZ508>511.
WA...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...90
LONG TERM....85
AVIATION...77PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
641 AM PST SUN DEC 11 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0639 AM SNOW 17 SSE DAYTON 46.09N 117.84W
12/11/2022 M4.0 INCH COLUMBIA WA PUBLIC
4 INCHES IN 24 HOURS. SKI BLUEWOOD.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
644 AM PST SUN DEC 11 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0639 AM SNOW 17 SSE DAYTON 46.09N 117.84W
12/11/2022 M4.0 INCH COLUMBIA WA PUBLIC
4 INCHES IN 24 HOURS. SKI BLUEWOOD.
0610 AM SNOW 8 SSW THREE RIVERS 43.70N 121.52W
12/10/2022 M5.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR PUBLIC
5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW REPORTED FROM LA PINE.
0550 AM HEAVY SNOW TIETON 46.70N 120.75W
12/10/2022 M5.0 INCH YAKIMA WA PUBLIC
5 INCHES OF SNOW RECORDED AT 550 AM DEC
10TH.
0148 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SE MISSION 45.61N 118.58W
12/10/2022 M70 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
SINCE 9PM DEC 9 UNTIL CURRENT, WINDS HAVE
GUSTED BETWEEN 50MPH TO 70MPH AND CONTINUE.
PEAK GUST WAS 70MPH AT 1:48AM.
0130 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 E MISSION 45.67N 118.59W
12/10/2022 M72 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
CORRECTS PREVIOUS NON-TSTM WND GST REPORT
FROM 4 E MISSION. SINCE 9PM DEC 9 UNTIL
CURRENT, WINDS HAVE GUSTED BETWEEN 55 TO 72
AND ARE CONTINUING. 72MPH GUST OCCURED AT
130AM DEC 10TH.
1227 AM HEAVY SNOW BEND 44.07N 121.31W
12/10/2022 U6.0 INCH DESCHUTES OR PUBLIC
6 INCHES REPORTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT.
NW CROSSING, BEND.
1200 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SSW MISSION 45.59N 118.72W
12/10/2022 M59 MPH UMATILLA OR MESONET
SE WINDS GUSTING TO 50-59 MPH SINCE 9 PM
12/9.
1116 PM SNOW YAKIMA 46.59N 120.53W
12/09/2022 M2.8 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
2.8 INCHES OVER THE PAST 12 HOURS.
0952 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 15 SE PENDLETON 45.52N 118.60W
12/09/2022 M52 MPH UMATILLA OR PUBLIC
VIA FB A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 52
MPH WINDS AND SLEET.
0952 PM HEAVY SNOW SELAH 46.66N 120.53W
12/09/2022 M4.0 INCH YAKIMA WA PUBLIC
A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 4 INCHES OF
NEW SNOW IN SELAH AND STILL SNOWING
MODERATELY.
0949 PM HEAVY SNOW MOXEE 46.56N 120.40W
12/09/2022 M4.0 INCH YAKIMA WA PUBLIC
A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 3-4 INCHES
OF SNOW VIA FB.
0947 PM FREEZING RAIN 14 W COLLEGE PLACE 46.04N 118.68W
12/09/2022 M0.00 INCH WALLA WALLA WA PUBLIC
VIA FB A REPORT OF 32 DEGREES AND FREEZING
RAIN IN TOUCHET.
0944 PM HEAVY SNOW NACHES 46.73N 120.70W
12/09/2022 M4.0 INCH YAKIMA WA PUBLIC
4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AND STILL SNOWING
HEAVY.
0935 PM HEAVY SNOW 22 N WHITE SALMON 46.05N 121.48W
12/09/2022 M12.5 INCH YAKIMA WA TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM SPOTTER REPORTED VIA FB 12.5 INCHES OF
SNOW TODAY WITH 35 INCHES SNOW DEPTH
CURRENTLY. KL-36.
0932 PM HEAVY SNOW ELLENSBURG 47.00N 120.55W
12/09/2022 M4.0 INCH KITTITAS WA PUBLIC
A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED 4 INCHES OF
NEW SNOW VIA FB.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Via a public social media report in Madras, OR, 6 inches of new snow was recorded at 1000 PST on Dec. 11th. A trained spotter 1 mile west southwest of Redmond reported 7.3 inches of since the previous night at 1100 PST on Dec. 11th.
A trained spotter 5 miles east of Joseph, OR measured 7 inches of new snow in a 24 hour period ending at 0945 PST on Dec. 12th. Via a public report 1 mile west northwest of Enterprise, OR, 6 inches of new snow fell in a 24 hour period ending at 1000 on Dec. 12th.
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, December 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: 1073254, 1073219.