High Wind in Foothills of the Blue Mountains, Oregon

A deep low pressure area moving across British Columbia combined with very strong upper level winds produced damaging surface winds across northeast Oregon. The winds were most devastating near Wallowa Lake where dozens of trees were downed and crashed into buildings and vehicles. Wallowa Lake State Park was closed as a result of the damage. Wind gusts in miles per hour across the area include Pendleton (62), Pilot Rock (60), Joseph (78), 10 miles south of Imnaha (61), Long Creek (64), 3 miles north of Helix (59). Sustained winds over 40 mph were measured at Hot Lake and North Powder. A wind gust to 111 mph was measured at Sheep Ridge, near Enterprise at an elevation of 7000 feet.