Rod's Weather Headlines

Snow Storm Sets Records

By Rod Hill on 2021-02-17

Below is a list of PDX records and weather facts from our big storm:

1.  9.4" at PDX over a 24-hour period Feb. 12-13th sets the all-time February record for a single 24-hour event. 

2.  The 9.6" of total snow this month is 2nd all time for the month of February.  (Record is 13.2" in 1949) 

3.  The snowfall is the most on the ground in Portland since December of 2008 when 19" fell during the month and Christmas Day had 10" on the ground. 

4.  February 12, 13, 14 all set records for the coldest high temp. for the date at 30°, 30° & 32°.  

5.  February 12th tied a record low of 24° for the date and was the coldest low temp at PDX during the event, along with 24° on the 13th. 

6.  PGE says it was the worst storm in terms of power outages in some 40 years or more.  (Columbus Day windstorm was Oct. 1962)


My dog Maximus in the snow.  We had 10" at our home Friday night and a storm total of 13 inches. 
 -Rod Hill

Ice Storm Warning Issued for Portland

By Rod Hill on 2021-02-14

NWS has issued an Ice Storm Warning for Portland from 1:00 pm on this Sunday to 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. Mid and upper levels of the atmosphere will see warming as lower levels fueled by a cold east wind, will hold near freezing. Portland and Vancouver will see showery or light precip Sunday afternoon turn to freezing rain or sleet if surface temps warm above 32 degrees.

Sunday evening will see steady hours of moisture arrive and continue through the night. Ground temps 29-32 degrees will be possible which would lead to hours of freezing rain and ice accumulations up to 1/2" by Monday morning. The ice would lead to power outages and downed trees. It is at least possible that temps will warm in some areas into the mid 30s bringing rain.

East winds will finally end Monday, allowing warming temps into the 40s and ending the threat of winter weather.

Rod Hill

ICE STORM WARNING IN PURPLE

WINTER STORM WARNING BEGINS AT NOON ON THIS THURSDAY

By Rod Hill on 2021-02-11

The combination of two winter storm fronts will deliver accumulating freezing rain, sleet and
snow in downtown Portland Thursday night, Friday and Saturday. A 3rd front Sunday night
will bring possible warming to our region, but it’s too early to tell when the threat of winter
weather will end.

Portland will see slowly dropping temperatures this afternoon with freezing weather and icy
roads likely by early evening if not before. Gusty east winds are already blowing near the gorge
and Troutdale and Gresham report an icy mix of precipitation at this hour. A hard freeze in the
20s tonight with sticking snow and possible ice at times across the Portland metro. Some areas

could see 4” of snow on the ground by Friday morning, but precipitation totals will be scattered

and an icy mix will limit snow potential overall.

Friday morning snow showers will turn into a steady snow during the day as the 2nd storm front
approaches. Much of Portland is at risk to see hours of freezing rain and or sleet Friday night
into Saturday morning. Ice accumulations of 1/2” or more followed by snow showers during the day
would make for very difficult travel.

All total, significant ice accumulations and pockets of 8” of snow on the ground or more is likely in our local
Portland area through the day Saturday.

East winds near the gorge gusting 45-60 mph have a Blizzard Warning in place for the west gorge.

Salem and the coast will likely see above freezing daytime temps but an icy and snowy mix at night.

Coldest metro temps through Saturday night near 25 degrees, but daytime highs Friday and Saturday

may stay shy of 30 degrees with gusty east winds.

Rod Hill

WINTER STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR THURSDAY

By Rod Hill on 2021-02-09

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for all of western Oregon except the coast and up through southwest Washington and the gorge. The watch begins Thursday afternoon and expires Saturday morning (but may be extended). Steady moisture increasing Thursday daytime and showers into the night will likely be a mix of accumulating sleet, freezing rain and snow. Weather models show 1-3" of snow plus ice for much of the I-5 corridor, although areas such as Salem may miss out and see mainly daytime rain and overnight flurries. Gusty east winds are expected to bring the cold air and incoming moisture will clash for a mix of ice and snow. The forecast is not a slam dunk, meaning stay tuned for updates. Areas closest to the cold gorge east winds will have the most likely chance to see snow and ice accumulation.

Saturday holds the potential for a major snow storm. Stay updated as I track this winter weather pattern through Sunday morning.

Click on the 7day forecast for specific daily weather updates.

-Rod Hill

FLOOD WATCH UPDATE

By Rod Hill on 2021-01-12

Flood Watch in effect until 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. Below are total rain projections from Monday evening through Tuesday night.

Rod Hill

FLOOD WATCH MONDAY NIGHT - WEDNESDAY

By Rod Hill on 2021-01-11

The map below from NWS shows a FLOOD WATCH for all of western Oregon and southwest Washington (dark green color), starting this evening and lasting into Wednesday morning. 

A warm front will bring developing rain or showers today.  The main event begins this evening with hours of steady rain.   
Hours of mostly steady rain Tuesday into Wednesday morning will be heaviest Tuesday overnight as a low pressure center nears the coast and a cold front arrives into Wednesday morning.  60-hour rain totals during the event could bring 4” of rain to the coast, 2.50” to the I-5 corridor and 6” or more to the mountains.  Snow levels will rise above 6,000 feet.  Areas of high water will develop Tuesday.  6-8” of water in the Coast Range will likely cause some rivers to reach flood stage Tuesday overnight into Wednesday morning. 

Rain will be heavy enough Monday night to cause high water spots Tuesday morning on area roadways.

Snowy Cascade travel through New Year's Weekend

By Rod Hill on 2020-12-29

A warm front arriving Tuesday night and a trailing cold front Wednesday afternoon will kick-off a stretch

of active weather through New Year's and into the mid-part of next week.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for tonight starting

at midnight and lasting into Thursday morning. Travelers over the Cascades should expect

snow covered roadways at times. Snow levels tonight will be near 5,000 feet, meaning

Government Camp will see rain. Wednesday morning snow is expected at pass level with

levels near 4,000 and down to 3,500 feet during the day. Government Camp could see 6” of

snow through early Thursday, while resorts at 5,000’ see up to a foot of fresh snow!

Holiday travelers will see a wet mix Friday below 5,000 feet and accumulating snow over

all Cascade passes Saturday and Sunday. The heaviest snow rates and strongest winds

in the high country will arrive Saturday evening into early Sunday morning with the strongest

weather front of the week. Weather models show more than 2 feet of total snow above 5,000

feet tonight through Sunday.

Be sure and check my Mt. Hood Weather Page for current conditions and updates.

Rod Hill

FLOOD WATCH - HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES

By Rod Hill on 2020-12-20

A FLOOD WATCH continues today for our region. Rain totals since last evening are generally around

an inch here in the valley, which matches forecast projections. Steady rain continue to fall today, tonight and much of Monday with an additional 1-2” of rain, pushing storm totals to 2.50 - 3.25” over Portland and Salem. The front that arrived last night will orientate parallel to the upper wind flow and hold stationary over Portland today. A secondary low center will arrive Monday afternoon or evening and push the frontal boundary through Portland and off to the east. Rain will break up Monday night and dry weather will take hold Tuesday. Winds will calm a bit on this Sunday and be variable 5-25 mph, but southwest gusts Monday will pick back up 20-35 mph. Snow level today near 6,500 feet. Heavy rain will continue at pass level the next 24 hours.

Weather models show breaks in the rain Sunday afternoon north of Vancouver and possible breaks in the rain Sunday overnight and Monday morning for much of our region, including Portland and Salem as the rain area pushes north of Portland. The trailing low center arriving Monday, will bring a return of steady rain to the I-5 corridor. The 3-day rain episode will end Monday overnight or early Tuesday morning.

Rod Hill

Weekend Flood Concerns

By Rod Hill on 2020-12-18

Heavy weekend rains may lead to flooding issues in typical smaller water way basins and near burn scars

left from September’s wildfires. Forecast models show 2.25 - 3.00” of total rainfall tonight through the day

Monday over the Willamette Valley and southwest Washington. Coast rain totals may reach 3.00 - 4.50”

and mountain rain totals could reach 6.00” through Monday.

The wildcard is the unknown potential for rapid runoff over the wildfire burn scars areas along the west slope

of the Cascades and in Lincoln County. Assuming weather models are correct with rain projections, the rain

totals spread out over 3-4 days would likely not produce widespread issues, but again the runoff potential over burn

scars is an unknown.

Current timing of rain shows a separate front bringing around 1/4” of rain this evening and then hours of steady rain

arriving late Saturday afternoon and pouring through the day Monday.

A classic flood risk would deliver 6” of mountain rain over a 24-36 hour time frame. This weekend’s rain event will

be spread out over 3 days as mentioned, which will help minimize the flood risk. The graphic below shows total rainfall potential Friday night through Monday evening:

Snow levels will be high, rising to 7,500’ Saturday night and holding near to above 6,000 feet through Monday morning.

Rod Hill

December Winter Outlook Update

By Rod Hill on 2020-12-16

A quick rain and mountain snow update with numbers posted through Monday December 14th. October, November and December to date all show below normal rainfall for the season at PDX. The graphic shows Portland mean temperature just shy of a full degree above normal for the period.

The graphic below shows Mt. Hood resorts at present showing nearly twice the snow base of 2019 at this time. The current snowpack at 5,400 feet is 87% of normal. While the snow numbers are decent, they fall short of the La Nina "booming" projection calling for 100% of normal snowpack or more for the season ending April 30th.

The point of posting this article is to report a somewhat disturbing trend of weakening fronts since the final week of November. Although this December is beginning to see more active wet weather, I still feel it is likely PDX will post another month below climate average in terms of total moisture.