Winter Weather — Central Oregon Coast, Oregon

2019-02-09 · Central Oregon Coast, Oregon

Event narrative

Oregon State Police responded to a report of a two vehicle crash around 11:07 AM. Driver lost control on Highway 101, three miles south of Florence, Oregon, and hit another vehicle. Road was covered by snow at the time. The driver lost his life. The driver and passenger of the vehicle hit both sustained serious injuries but survived.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system dropped south along the coast from Victoria Island. The low pressure system brought arctic air south out of Canada into the Columbia Basin, which was then funneled into the northern Willamette Valley. This system brought heavy snow to the Coast Range and the Cascade Foothills, the Columbia Gorge, and Hood River Valley. It also brought snow down to the Valley floor near the Columbia Gorge in the Portland Metro area. Other areas on the south and west side of the Portland Metro area did see some periods of lighter snow but not much if any snow accumulated on the ground.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 808882. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.