An atmospheric river event, starting late Sunday February 27th and continuing through Monday February 28th, brought heavy rain and strong winds to northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Rainfall amounts varied from around one inch in the Willamette Valley, to 5 to 10 inches in the Coast Range as well as the Washington and northern Oregon Cascades.
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 PQR wrote it up.
An atmospheric river event, starting late Sunday February 27th and continuing through Monday February 28th, brought heavy rain and strong winds to northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Rainfall amounts varied from around one inch in the Willamette Valley, to 5 to 10 inches in the Coast Range as well as the Washington and northern Oregon Cascades. Widespread urban and small stream flooding occurred in the Greater Portland-Metro area, and rivers flooded along the coast, in particular the Grays, Wilson and Nehalem rivers.
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 Feb 27, 3:01 PM PST, 12 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Portland OR
301 PM PST Sun Feb 27 2022
.SYNOPSIS...An atmospheric river brings periods of heavy rain to the
region Monday. There will be a brief break Tuesday night, before
another round of moderate rain arrives Wednesday. Rivers will surely
rise the next several days with potential for flooding beginning
Monday for the flashier rivers along the north Oregon and south
Washington coasts.
&&
.SHORT TERM...Tonight through Wednesday...Rain and wind will be the
weather highlights for the next day or two. Strong zonal jet
continues across the north Pacific between 35 and 40N to about 135W
while a persistent upper ridge continues over the western states.
This jet is bringing frequent moisture impulses from the western
Pacific along a nearly stalled boundary into the PacNW. Will see
increasing rainrates tonight and Monday as an atmospheric river
focuses over northwestern WA tonight then gradually shifts to
southwest WA and north OR coastal area Monday. Precipitable water
(PW) values around between 0.8 and 1.2 inches extend southwest off
the coast to north of Hawaii. The PW values are around 160% to 190%
of climatology. Integrated Vapor Transport (IVT) values from EPS &
GEFS show peak IVT values of 800-900 kg/ms midday Monday to the north
OR/south WA coast. IVT values drop dramatically later Monday into
Tuesday and the boundary slides slowly south. But another wave on the
front may increase rainrates Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, this
time focusing mainly on the central coast and coast range.
Winds will be another issue tonight in to Monday. The pressure
gradients will increase tonight as the next wave on the front nears
the coast. At the coast, peak wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph likely to
occur tonight and Monday morning, but still a chance for high winds
to continue through Monday afternoon as additional waves on the front
approach the area. The coast range too will be windy, but not quite
meeting high wind criteria tonight and Monday. Interior valleys,
mainly the Willamette Valley, will likely become breezy on Monday
with gusts 30 to 40 mph expected.
Freezing levels will continue to rise from around 5000 ft today to
7000 to 8000 ft Monday through Tuesday, the gradually lower to around
5000 to 6000 ft by Wednesday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...A flood watch has been issued for the south WA coast and
Willapa Hills as well as the north OR coast and coast range for
Monday through Tuesday afternoon. Current forecast shows the Grays
river near Rosburg peaking just above flood stage early Monday
afternoon. Other rivers and streams in the area will see sharp rises
Monday as well, but current forecast indicating no flooding.
The central coast range rivers may also see quick rises on Tuesday as
another impulse of heavier rain impacts that area. Models are still
working out the details on timing and intensity so will have to
monitor.
&&
.LONG TERM...Wednesday night through Saturday...Fairly wet
frontal zone will finally shift inland Wed night, with rain
transitioning to showers overnight. Still mild, with temperatures in
the 40s. Snow level will gradually lower, with snow at or near
passes in the Cascades. But, with precipitation waning, snow
accumulations stay on the less impressive side, with 2 to 5 inches
likely Wed night into Thu am.
Rather messy pattern for Thu into Fri, with upper trough slowly
working its way across the region. Will maintain higher PoPs for
Thu, as seems have high potential for rain or showers. Seems
reasonable with models showing upper trough shifting inland over Pac
NW during the day, and still have rather moist 850 to 700 westerly
flow. But, will trend PoPs downward Thu night into Fri, as have less
favorable forcing for showers and northwest flow aloft.
This northwest flow aloft will strengthen later Fri into next
weekend. Should be enough to shift storm track to the south a bit.
Low pressure off Oregon coast will slowly dig towards Calif for Fri.
Still enough to keep low PoPs for our area at that time, with
marginal PoPs for Sat (10-30 pct). However, another strong front
over the Gulf of Alaska will push towards the Pac NW Sat night and
Sun, with another round of rain and mountain snow. /Rockey
&&
.AVIATION...00Z TAFs: A mix of VFR/MVFR cigs were continuing
across northwest OR and southwest WA Sunday afternoon, with the
lowest cigs along the coast. Strong southerly winds with gusts
around 25-30 kt will continue along the coast through this
afternoon before increasing closer to 35-45 kt by 06Z Monday as a
coastal jet develops. Southerly winds will also increase across
the Willamette Valley tonight into Monday morning with gusts as
high as 25-30 kt. Have also added a mention of low-level wind
shear to most TAF sites, mainly to account for strong speed shear
between the surface and 2000 ft AGL (south winds at the surface
around 10-20 kt, increasing to around 55 kt at 2000 ft AGL).
Minimal directional shear is expected based on forecast
soundings.
Aside from the increasing south winds late today into tonight,
expect widespread rain across the region this evening through the
day tomorrow. The heaviest rain is expected to the north of KSLE
where surface visibilities may drop as low as 1-2 SM at times.
Periods of light rain expected for KEUG.
For detailed regional Pac NW aviation weather information, go
online to: https://weather.gov/zse
KPDX AND APPROACHES...Periods of rain will continue this evening
through tomorrow, heaviest between 13-19Z Monday morning when
rain may become heavy at times and lower surface visibilities
down to 1-2 SM. Strong southerly surface winds should develop
shortly after sunrise on Monday. Low level wind shear is also a
concern tonight and tomorrow as wind speeds will be close to 55
kt at 2000 ft AGL. Very little directional shear is expected
though. -TK
&&
.MARINE...A warm front will continue lifting northward over the
coastal waters through Sunday afternoon, bringing increasing
south winds. Gale force winds to 40-45 kt will redevelop behind
the warm front late this afternoon and evening and then expected
to continue through Monday evening. Isolated gusts as high as 50
kt cannot be ruled out over the inner waters, as a coastal jet
will set up and enhance winds near the coast. Winds will gradually
ease Monday night into Tuesday as a cold front moves onshore and
weakens.
The strong southerly winds will result in significant wind wave
action, which will also be combined with a westerly background
swell around 6-8 ft. This setup should push combined seas to
near 20 ft again tonight and Monday morning. Seas will begin to
subside again later Monday, but will likely stay at or above 10
ft through Tuesday night and possibly into Wednesday as well. -TK
&&
.BEACH HAZARDS...A high tidal cycle coupled with swollen rivers
may lead to some minor tidal overflow flooding along portions of
the north coast Monday and Tuesday. -TK/Neuman
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 4 PM PST Monday
for Central Oregon Coast-North Oregon Coast.
Flood Watch from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon for
Coast Range of Northwest Oregon-Lower Columbia-North
Oregon Coast.
WA...High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 4 PM PST Monday
for South Washington Coast.
Flood Watch from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon for
South Washington Coast-Willapa Hills.
PZ...Gale Warning until midnight PST Monday night for coastal waters
from Cape Shoalwater WA to Florence OR out 60 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM PST Monday for Columbia River
Bar.
&&
www.weather.gov/portland
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www.twitter.com/NWSPortlandThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor flooding occurred along the Grays River. Heavy rain fell as surrounding areas measured 2 to 10 inches of rain. No damages were reported.
Megler Bridge measured a max wind of 48 mph and gust of 65 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, February 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: 1009314, 1010115.