Excessive Heat — Cascade Foothills in Lane County, Oregon

2014-07-01 · Cascade Foothills in Lane County, Oregon

Event narrative

A boy slipped on rocks at the Wildwood Falls near Cottage Grove, and slid around 30 feet on rocks into the water. His older brother went into the water to save the boy and both got sucked down a narrow chute of water. The younger brother survived, but the older one did not. His body was later found trapped under a large log under the chute.

Wider weather episode

An upper level ridge combined with a surface thermal trough and low level offshore winds resulted in a hot day across Northwest Oregon where inland temperatures peaked in the upper 90s inland and the upper 80s along the coast. The NWS Portland office had a heat advisory in effect. Many people flocked to the rivers to cool from the heat and there was unfortunately one known drowning at Wildwood Falls near Cottage Grove.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 517406. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.