Heavy Snow — Lower Columbia, Oregon

1996-11-18 to 1996-11-19 · Lower Columbia, Oregon

Wider weather episode

A strong Pacific storm system dumped snow in the North Oregon Cascades with 11 inches of accumulation at Santiam Pass, 31 inches at Mount Hood Meadows and Bennett Pass with 12 inches at Government Camp. Timberline received 20 inches of snow. The storm also brought snow to the Coast Range with 6 inches at Sunset and Dilly, and 5 inches at Wilson River. the Northern and Central Willamette Valley saw snow at higher elevations and in the Portland metropolitan area with 3-5 inches of accumulation. In Dallas a church roof collapsed and in Clatskanie a snow laden tree fell on a pickup truck. In the Columbia Gorge, 14 inches fell at Upper Hood River and 8 inches at Parkdale. As warm air moved over the region, snow changed to heavy rain at lower elevations of Northwest Oregon. Two day rain totals ranged from 3 to over 5 inches at many locations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5578392. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.