High Winds. A strong frontal system probably.
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.
High Winds. A strong frontal system probably. South winds probably.
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 Dec 26, 2:14 PM PST, 6 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Portland OR
214 PM PST Mon Dec 26 2022
.SYNOPSIS...A series of Pacific frontal systems will bring wet and
occasionally windy conditions to the region throughout the upcoming
week. Tonight and Tuesday will be particularly stormy as strong low
pressure brushes the Pac NW coast. Subfreezing air trapped in the
central Columbia Gorge and Hood River Valley will result in freezing
rain tonight. Then stronger westerly winds should finally scour out
the cold air Tuesday. Strong winds are likely for much of SW
Washington and NW Oregon later tonight into Tuesday. Snow levels
will remain high through tonight, then should lower to the Cascade
passes on Tuesday. Additional systems will follow, bringing more
bouts of rain and Cascades snow. A less active weather pattern sets
up for the weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Thursday...Deepening low near 44N/138W
already beginning to occlude with warm front extending to northwest
Oregon. This low will track to just off the central or north WA
coast around midday Tuesday with forecast central pressure around
970-975 mb per deterministic models. EPS ensemble members show low
centers clustering on the north WA coast, while GEFS members are
slightly south of that. Overall pretty good agreement.
Winds - High Wind warning out for the coast/coastal mountains with a
Wind Advisory for the interior lowlands (Willamette, southwest WA.)
Southerly 850 mb winds pick up to 70-90 kts tonight with as the cold
front approaches. NAM indicating 60-70 kt just up to the coastline at
925 mb tonight. So current forecast of gusts to 80 mph at the
beaches, and 60-70 mph gusts for other areas at the coast. Will
continue with the Wind Advisory for the interior lowlands, but will
be at the high end of advisory level. So will definitely see impacts
such as downed trees and resulting power outages. The bent-back
occlusion and its associated sting jet will likely slap the north
coastal zones Tuesday morning, depending how close the low center is
to the forecast area.
Temperatures now above freezing in the central Gorge and Hood River
Valley but should see temps dip to freezing this evening. So will see
freezing rain continue tonight with limited cold air in the lower
Columbia basin, as well as the cold air mass moderating temperatures
late tonight.
Cool onshore flow behind Tuesday morning's front will cause showers
to persist through Wednesday. With 00z GFS 850 mb temps down to
around -2 deg C, can expect snow levels to lower to around 3500 feet.
The Cascades could rack up several inches of snow Tue night into Wed
but with snow ratios on the low side, looks marginal for winter
headlines there. And the active weather doesn't stop there...
additional frontal systems are likely to keep our weather active
through the end of the work week. /mh Weagle
.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...
The strong jet across the northeast Pacific remains directed at the
Pacific Northwest begins to buckle on Friday as the jet stream splits
and heads into California. As a result will see a trend to less
stormy weather through the weekend. May even see a dry day Sunday.
With the jet stream heading south of the region, the PacNW will be in
the cool side of the jet with snow levels wavering around 3000 to
4000 ft, so incoming weather systems will bring accumulating snow to
the Cascades. NCEP 500 mb clusters are is good agreement so feel
moderately confident in the upcoming changes. The PacNW will be on
the cool side of the jet through early next week with snow levels in
the 3000 to 4000 ft range for the most part, so will see accumulating
snow in the Cascades.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...In the near term - The stalled warm front over the
coast/coast range of northwest Oregon to just east of the Willapa
Hills in SW WA this afternoon. Have adjusted QPF for this afternoon
with rain rates around 0.1 to 0.2 tenths per hour. Expect to see
another inch or so through late afternoon. The front will then begin
to lift north tonight, increasing rain over southwest WA. Rain will
increase tonight with the approach of the next storm.
Flood warning on the Grays River continues but currently getting a
bit of a break in the rain, but renewed moderate to heavy rain
tonight should bring it up to flood stage. As a result of the
changes and new QPF forecast, have issued a Flood Watch for the coast
and coast mountains in northwest Oregon/southwest Washington for
tonight through Tuesday night. Current forecasts so the Wilson River
near Tillamook and Nehalem River near Foss approach flood stage
Tuesday afternoon. Also flooding of creeks and other flood prone
areas is possible tonight. Also with initial southerly winds may
target the Nehalem River basin more than some others, due to how that
river and its headwaters are situated.
Overall, we can expect around 1 inch for the inland valleys, 2 inches
for the coast, and 3-5 inches of rain for the higher terrain.
&&
.AVIATION...00Z TAFs: A warm front over far nw Oregon into sw
Washington will lift slowly northward through this evening. Mostly
a mix of MVFR with pockets of IFR along and north of the front.
But, to the south, have little if any precipitation and mostly VFR
CIGS, with variable mid-level clouds.
Later tonight, strong low pressure well offshore will draw closer,
with strong Pacific front approaching. This will bring increasing
rain, with MVFR along the coast, with CIGS inland gradually
lowering to MVFR. This front will push across the region later Tue
am, but little improvement in conditions through the day.
Southerly winds will pick up tonight as well, and inland late
tonight into Tue. Along the coast, expect gusts 35 to 45 kt
tonight, becoming 45 to 60 kt after 12Z and extending and over
higher terrain of the coastal mtns. These gust winds will spread
into the interior lowlands late tonight into early Tue, with gusts
35 to 50 kt for most areas. Even the Columbia River Gorge will see
gusty west winds later in the day, with much milder weather.
For detailed Pac NW aviation weather information, go online to:
http://weather.gov/zse
KPDX AND APPROACHES...Warm front just west of the region will be
slow to lift northward. Meanwhile, it is maintaining a mix of
MVFR and IFR into this evening, though will be periods when MVFR
deck thins and just have lower VFR. Next cold front will be
approaching later tonight, with rain and MVFR increasing again.
Will maintain E to SE wind 10 to 15 kt into tonight for KPDX
towards the Gorge, with southerly winds aloft. That will create
occasional low level wind shear around/above 2000 to 2500 ft.
Think will see switch to gusty southerly winds between 15Z and 18Z
Tue, with gusts 40 to 45 kt afterwards. /Rockey
&&
.MARINE...Warm front across western Washington and far nw Oregon
extends offshore to west of Cascade Head. This front will lift
northward tonight. Gusty southerly winds over south and west
central Oregon coastal waters will spread north across all of the
waters this evening, maintaining the current Gale Warning.
A 975 mb low, located about 650 nm west of Cape Blanco as of 1
pm, will slowly weaken as it moves northeastward tonight into
early Tue. But, a newer low will strengthen about 350 off the
Washington later tonight, then drop a bit to the south before
turning to the east and on to the Washington coast during the day
on Tue. As such, will see gradients tighten tonight, with strong
southerly gales. As the first system approaches, will see strong
winds across the Oregon waters, with gusts 45 to 55 kt. Then, as
second low arrives, the tightest gradients shifts across the
waters, with gusts 45 to 55 kts again, this time over all of the
waters. brunt of strong winds for Tue am. Given current models
trends, appears strong winds will be from about 7 am to 1 pm, as
the tightest gradients shifts over Washington/north Oregon waters.
As such, will maintain current Marine Storm Warning for tonight
through Tue evening. Winds will turn southwesterly in the
afternoon, gradually easing later in afternoon into evening.
During this time, seas will build fast, primary due to steep
wind-driven seas. Seas 20 to 25 kt tonight will become 25 to 30 ft
Tue am, with potential of 30 to 35 ft on the Oregon waters during
the peak wind time later Tue am into early afternoon. Seas will
continue to subside Tue night into Wed, with seas dropping back
under 20 ft early Wed.
While rest of the week remains active, will not see winds or seas
as high as will have on Tue. That is, will have periods of 20 to
25 kt winds, mainly with the front on Thu, while seas stay mostly
in the lower teens through Sat. /Rockey
&&
.BEACH HAZARDS...with higher seas, will have plenty of energy in
the waves through the surf zone. As such, will have High Surf
Warning for later tonight through Tue evening. Highest surf
conditions will be on Tue, with breakers of 25 to 35 ft, possibly
higher on Oregon coast. Also, will maintain current Coastal Flood
Watch, in which could see minor flooding along the beaches and
lower reaches of the rivers and along bays. Mostly like for this
will be on the south Washington Coast, primary in Willapa Bay.
Normal tides are not all that high, given lunar cycle. But, with
winds and churned up wave action, may have to upgrade this watch
to warning later, but for now will hold as a watch.
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Flood Watch through late Tuesday night for Coast Range of
Northwest Oregon-North Oregon Coast.
High Surf Warning from 8 PM this evening to midnight PST Tuesday
night for Central Oregon Coast-North Oregon Coast.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 7 PM PST Tuesday
for Central Coast Range of Western Oregon-Central Oregon
Coast-Coast Range of Northwest Oregon-North Oregon Coast.
Coastal Flood Watch from midnight PST tonight through Tuesday
evening for Central Oregon Coast-North Oregon Coast.
Wind Advisory from 2 AM to 7 PM PST Tuesday for Central
Willamette Valley-Greater Portland Metro Area-Lower
Columbia-South Willamette Valley.
Ice Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Tuesday for Central Columbia
River Gorge-Upper Hood River Valley.
WA...Flood Watch through late Tuesday night for South Washington
Coast-Willapa Hills.
High Surf Warning from 8 PM this evening to midnight PST Tuesday
night for South Washington Coast.
Coastal Flood Watch from midnight PST tonight through Tuesday
evening for South Washington Coast.
Wind Advisory from 2 AM to 7 PM PST Tuesday for Greater
Vancouver Area-I-5 Corridor in Cowlitz County.
Ice Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Tuesday for Central Columbia
River Gorge.
High Wind Warning from 5 AM to 7 PM PST Tuesday for South
Washington Coast-Willapa Hills.
PZ...Gale Warning until 7 PM PST Tuesday for Columbia River Bar.
Gale Warning until 10 PM PST this evening for coastal waters
from Cape Shoalwater WA to Florence OR out 60 nm.
Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 7 PM PST Tuesday for
coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to Florence OR out
60 nm.
&&
www.weather.gov/portland
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NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
714 PM PST MON DEC 26 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 AM FREEZING RAIN 5 WNW DEADWOOD 44.12N 123.85W
12/23/2022 E0.50 INCH LANE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
FREEZING RAIN TOOK DOWN DOZENS OF TREES
ALONG INDIAN CREEK ROAD. ICE WAS ESTIMATED
TO BE 1/2 INCH THICK ABOUT 4 MILES UP THE
ROAD FROM HIGHWAY 36.
&&
CNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
715 PM PST MON DEC 26 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0616 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 E EVERGREEN 45.63N 122.51W
12/26/2022 M1.10 INCH CLARK WA PUBLIC
0712 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 W MCMINNVILLE 45.21N 123.23W
12/26/2022 M1.26 INCH YAMHILL OR PUBLIC
&&11 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple stations along the coast measured sustained winds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts of 60 to 80 mph. Were there any impacts. Any power outages or trees fall.
Multiple stations along the coast measure sustain wind of 45 to 50 mph with gusts of 60 to 65 mph. Were there any impacts such as power outages.
The Rockhouse RAWS station measured a max sustained wind of 50 mph with a gust of 82 mph while the Megler Bridge measured a max wind of 50 mph with a gust of 71 mph. Were there any impacts.
Trout Creek station measured max wind of 40 mph and gust of 69 mph.
Lyons measured a peak gust of 60 mph.
Widespread gusts of 40 to 55 mph throughout the north Willamette Valley. Gusts came and went through the period, with most of the damage occurring around 1200 PST on the 27th. | |Many trees were uprooted, snapped, or had broken limbs due to the winds. Several in Garden Home had downed trees, some as large as 2 ft in diameter. PGE and Pacific Power had combined outages of over 100,000 across the region.
Widespread gusts of 40 to 55 mph throughout the central Willamette Valley. Gusts came and went through the period, with most of the damage occurring around 1200 PST on the 27th.
Many trees were uprooted, snapped, or had broken limbs due to the winds. PGE and Pacific Power combined for outages of over 100,000 across the region.
The Santiam Pass station measured a max wind of 42 mph with a gust of 71 mph. Multiple highways closed due to strong winds and downed trees, including US26, OR-173 and US-20. Ski lifts were also closed.
The maximum wind recorded was 32 mph with a gust of 59 mph. The high wind caused a tree to fall on a truck on US Highway 26 at 1130 PST on the 27th, killing 3 people and injuring one. The Highway 26 was then closed for most of the day.
A tree down on Dodge Ram near exit 40, killing one and injuring a passenger. I-84 was closed for several hours between Troutdale and Cascade Locks due to this incident.
Hood River East and Viento WxFlow stations measured high winds of 57 to 62 mph with gusts of 72 to 86 mph.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Coast Range of Nw Oregon | 2022-12-27 | 19 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Coast Range of Nw Oregon | 2022-12-27 | 41 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Coast Range of Nw Oregon | 2022-12-27 | 4 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Western Columbia River Gorge | 2022-12-27 | 20 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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: 1100793, 1100796, 1100800, 1100862, 1100857, 1100801, 1100807, 1100860, 1100799, 1100877, 1100879.