EF0 Tornado — Linn, Oregon

2009-06-04 · near Peoria, Linn, Oregon

Event narrative

A tornado was reported by the public to local television station KVAL in Eugene. NWS Storm Survey visited the residence and confirmed: a small shed-like structure was lifted off the ground and blown 21 feet to the east - counter to the prevailing storm winds. There were also circular carvings in the grass nearby.

Wider weather episode

A fairly vigorous upper level low pressure system had been blocked offshore and was finally allowed to progress onshore on June 4th. An upper level disturbance rotated around upper level low pressure system, enhancing divergence aloft and turning upper level flow easterly across much of western Oregon. This overall pattern resulted in enhanced vertical wind shear for the Willamette Valley, with southerly winds near the surface backing to easterly flow aloft. The June 4, 2009 was a significant thunderstorm outbreak by Northwestern Oregon standards, with several areas taking damage from strong thunderstorm wind gusts, minor urban area flooding, and rotation in a few storms resulted in one weak tornado.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.4934, -123.2000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 183539. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.