Deep low pressure of the coast of Oregon combined with high pressure inland resulted in gusty easterly winds from the western Columbia River Gorge. East wind impacted the Portland & Vancouver metro region.
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.
Deep low pressure of the coast of Oregon combined with high pressure inland resulted in gusty easterly winds from the western Columbia River Gorge. East wind impacted the Portland & Vancouver metro region.
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 Jan 4, 3:24 AM PST, 8 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Portland OR
324 AM PST Wed Jan 4 2023
.SYNOPSIS...An active weather pattern will bring a series of breezy
storm systems through the weekend with snow levels generally
remaining at or near the Cascades passes except in the Gorge where
snow or freezing rain will fall through late Wednesday night and
possibly Thursday as well.
&&
.DISCUSSION...A strong zonal jet will persist across the north
central Pacific between 35N and 40N into the weekend. Expect to see
more surface lows developing and lifting northeastward towards
through the weekend. Most ensemble guidance suggests these lows will
be far enough offshore or weak enough to limit threat for strong
southerly winds to materialize even along the coast. So will see
periods of valley rain and high mountain snow into early next week.
The majority of ensemble guidance suggests any moderate or stronger
atmospheric rivers will remain south of the region so few hydrology
concerns exist despite multiple rounds of rain expected Friday into
early next week.
With lower pressure continuing offshore and cold, higher pressure
east of the Cascades will see offshore winds rise and fall as lows
approach and depart. East winds will again increase today, strongest
through the west end of the Gorge and east Portland/Vancouver metro
area as the next occluded front approaches. Deterministic guidance
still showing differences - GFS has strongest TTD-DLS pressure
gradient, peaking around -12 mb tonight while the NAM is considerably
weaker peaking near -7 mb. Short term hi-res models favor the
stronger solution which would support gusts 45 to 55 mph for east
Portland/Vancouver metro later this afternoon into Thu morning. So
will issue a Wind Advisory for that area. In the western Gorge will
likely see gusts around 60 mph in areas in the Corbett area, but up
to 75 mph at Crown Point.
Another concern tonight will be precipitation type in the Central
Gorge and Upper Hood River Valley. Models are in good agreement
showing over-running precipitation spreading into southwest Oregon
Wednesday morning and working its way northeast through the day. This
will bring another threat for a mix of winter-type precipitation to
the Central Gorge and Upper Hood River Valley. The 00Z HREF ensemble
mean shows a mix of snow and freezing rain for in that area 06Z to
12Z Wednesday. Snow should be the dominant type in the Upper Hood
River Valley, with freezing rain favored in the Central Gorge and
also protected lower valleys in the south Washington Cascades, such
as the Wind River Valley. Fortunately, total precipitation amounts
are expected to be rather light, for limited impacts, but enough to
issue a Winter Weather Advisory. Wintry mix of snow, freezing rain,
sleet will continue to affect the central Gorge and Upper Hood River
Valley at times into the weekend as cold air likely to remain trapped
in that area. /26 /Neuman
&&
.AVIATION...12Z TAFs: An approaching low pressure system will
promote low level offshore flow across NW Oregon, SW Washington
throughout the TAF period. Strongest winds expected along the
coast and out of the Columbia River Gorge, with gusts up to 45 kt
Wednesday afternoon. Latest guidance shows rain moving into the
KONP-KEUG area around 18Z Wednesday, and spreading northward
through the day. Conditions to remain VFR for all TAF sites. Stratus
will likely backbuild slightly on the east slopes of the Coast
Range which could obscure the terrain.
For detailed Pac NW aviation weather information, go online to:
http://weather.gov/zse
KPDX AND APPROACHES...Expect VFR with east winds throughout the
forecast period. Winds will after 18Z, with gusts to around 35 kt
possible Wednesday afternoon. Rain from the next system will
likely be moving in around 20Z Wednesday, but conditions likely
remain VFR. -BMuhlestein/DH
&&
.MARINE...Current buoy observations as of 2 AM show significant
wave heights trending around 10 to 12 ft with a dominant period
of 15 seconds. Small Craft Advisory conditions will be maintained
across the coastal waters through this afternoon. Conditions will
deteriorate going into Wednesday evening and will remain hazardous
through Thursday as a deepening low pressure system currently
near 39N/137W moves northeastward. The low will track towards
Vancouver Island with the central pressure remaining west of the
coastal waters. As a ridge of high pressure builds north across
the west coast and the deep low moves east-northeast, an offshore
gradient will setup across the coastal waters producing strong
Gale Force gusts Wednesday evening, nearing Storm Force conditions
by Thursday morning.
The inner waters will likely be blocked from the strong offshore
Gales because of the Coast Range. However, easterly winds coupled
with a building westerly swell which will shift to a fresh southerly
swell that will build into the mid teens to 20s will create
chaotic, steep and hazardous seas. Gale Force wind gusts are
possible in the coastal waters out to 10nm but they aren't as
widespread to issue a Gale Warning at this time. The Hazardous
Seas warning may be upgraded to a Gale Warning with future
forecasts.
Winds will become southerly on bottom side of the low and spread
across the coastal waters by Thursday afternoon. Combined seas
will build into the 20 to 25 ft range with highest seas Thursday
afternoon. Seas will gradually drop back to the midteens by
Friday. Active weather continues into the weekend. -BMuhlestein
&&
.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon PST
Thursday for Central Columbia River Gorge-Upper Hood River
Valley.
WA...Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon PST
Thursday for Central Columbia River Gorge.
Wind Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 10 AM PST Thursday
for Greater Vancouver Area.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM PST this afternoon for coastal
waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to Florence OR out 10
nm.Columbia River Bar-Coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater
WA to Florence OR from 10 to 60 nm.
Hazardous Seas Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM PST
Thursday for coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to
Florence OR out 10 nm.Columbia River Bar.
Gale Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM PST Thursday for
coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to Florence OR from
10 to 60 nm.
&&
www.weather.gov/portland
Interact with us via social media:
www.facebook.com/NWSPortland
www.twitter.com/NWSPortland1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Reports of trees toppled in the Vancouver and Woodland areas because of wind.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, January 2023
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: 1080315.