Strong Wind in Cascade Foothills in Lane County, Oregon

An IMET on the Holiday Farm Fire took some pictures as well as estimated wind gusts from observations and RAWS sites that are likely lost to the fire. Attached pictures might not be precisely located within the zone as information was taken from unknown exact locations.

After a period of upper level ridging brought a return to above normal temperatures in early September, very strong easterly downslope and offshore winds off the Cascades and Coastal Ranges occurred. Winds increased rapidly during the afternoon and evening of September 7 with the passage of an unseasonably strong backdoor cold front, and persisted through much of the following day. This resulted in extremely critical fire weather conditions when the strong winds combined with extremely low relative humidity and exceptionally dry existing fuel conditions. The result was explosive growth of ongoing wildfires, and the new start and explosive spread of numerous new wildfires. Widespread wind gusts from 50-70 mph were common on ridge tops and numerous other in exposed areas, including portions of the greater Portland metro area, the Willamette Valley, and areas of the Oregon coast. Strong winds caused widespread damage to trees, and downed numerous power lines across the region, which started at least 13 additional wildfires. Large portions of the cities of Detroit, Mehama, and Gates were destroyed, and significant portions of Idanha, Mill City, and Lyons also burned. Resultant large wildfires included these named incidents - In Oregon: Beachie Creek, Chehalem Mountain/Bald Peak, Riverside, and Lionshead, and in Washington: Big Hollow. Rapidly spreading wildfires resulted in multiple fatalities, hundreds of displaced persons for many weeks, and billions of dollars in damage.