North Oregon Cascades Foothills storm history

Very hot temperatures. There were three consecutive days with maximum temperatures greater than 100 degrees measured at several stations. The hottest day was on June 28 where temperatures peaked around 112 degrees. The minimum temperatures were warm as well with nighttime tempera…

Fairly widespread tree damage, and power outages in the area caused by down trees, power lines. Many areas of wind damage subsequently burned.

The Beachie Creek wildfire started around 1100PDT on August 16, 2020 in Marion county, OR at coordinates 44.821, -122.188. The fire grew to approximately 193,500 acres before being declared officially under control on December 2, 2020. Destroyed were 486 residential homes, 36 non…

Frost on the roads and bridges resulted in several traffic accidents, including one fatality on Highway 103 near the US-26 intersection.

Spotter reported 2.5 inches snow from February 14th to 15th.

Spotter reported 2.5 inches snow from February 14th to 15th.

One to two feet of snow fell through the period. A sharp wind shift early the 13th resulted in bitter cold wind chills as low as -30F.

Snow accumulations on the order of 10-20 inches occurred across the foothills above 2000 feet, with some exposed locations even reporting brief blizzard conditions. The foothill elevations occasionally had snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour.

Between 8 and 16 inches of snow fell for elevations above 2000 feet.

Large tree uprooted with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph in the area. Saturated soils may have been a contributing factor. Wind speed and time of event estimated from radar and mesonet data in the area.

Snow began falling around 0800 PST with significant accumulations around 1900 PST, then tapering off around 1000 PST on the 28th. A total of 4 to 8 inches fell.

Around 8 to 16 inches of snow fell in about 12 hours above 1000 feet elevation.

Snow began falling around 0900 PST with significant accumulations during the afternoon, then tapering off around 2230 PST. A total of 6 to 12 inches fell. Locally 8 to 10 inches in the Scotts Mills and Stayton areas per CoCoRaHS.

Snow began falling around 0500 PST with significant accumulations around 0900 PST, then tapering off around 0900 PST on the 14th. A total of 4 to 12 inches fell. General 3 to 7 inch snow totals, but locally up to 12 inches around Detroit and upper portions of the Santiam Canyon.

Lyons measured a peak gust of 60 mph.

Most areas saw some combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Impacts were mostly from ice.

High temperatures on the 17th were in the upper 80s to upper 90s. Overnight temperatures were quite warm with lows in the 60s to mid 70s with cooler locations in the low valleys of the Cascade Foothills.

Elevations above 1500 feet received up to 6 to 12 inches of snow.

A very active frontal system brought heavy snow to the Northern Oregon Cascades Foothills on the 3rd with snow totals of 11 to 15 inches.

A prolonged winter weather even occurred across the Pacific Northwest during the Christmas holiday, resulting in significant travel issues. Around 8 to 20 inches of snow fell through the period.

South Fork Bull Run measured 7 inches of snow.

Eagle Creek RAWS (EGKO3) reported high temperature of 101 degrees on the 11th and 12th.

Wide variety of impacts due to snow and ice, ranging from a crippling snow/ice event in the northern half, a crippling ice event in the Santiam Canyon, to minimal impacts in mostly plain rain for the extreme southern portion of the zone. There were reports of over 2 feet of snow …

The Holiday Farm wildfire was under control on January 6th.

The Beachie Creek wildfire was declared under control on December 2nd.

The Riverside wildfire as declared contained on December 3rd.

Fire suppression activities continued on the Holiday Farm wildfire in the cool and wet weather of December.

Fire suppression activities continued on the Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm and Riverside wildfires in the cool and wet weather of November.

Fire suppression activities continued on the Beachie Creek wildfire through October as cooler and wetter weather arrived.

Fire suppression activities continued on the Holiday Farm wildfire through October as cooler and wetter weather arrived.

Fire suppression activities continued on the Riverside wildfire through October as cooler and wetter weather arrived.

The Riverside wildfire started around 0000PDT on September 8, 2020 in Clackamas county, OR at coordinates 45.049, -122.062. The fire grew to approximately 138,000 acres before being officially declared under control on December 3, 2020. Destroyed were 56 residences and 83 minor s…

The Holiday Farm wildfire started around 2020PDT on September 7, 2020 in Lane county, OR at coordinates 44.172, -122.231. The fire grew to approximately 173,400 acres before being officially declared under control on January 6, 2021. Destroyed were 431 residences, 24 non-resident…

The Lyons (CoCoRaHS) had two stations report 6 inches of snow over a 12 hour period. Station OR-LN-20 had good detail in their report as well. Stations up by Zigzag were close, but generally in the 3-5 range.

The Sweet Home area had 8 to 12 inches of snow.

Numerous SNOTELs reported 12 to 24 inches, with heaviest snow down around Santiam Pass. Much of the snow fell in a 12 hour period.

Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches were observed within a 12 hour period.

Snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with the greatest amounts closer to the Columbia Gorge. Marion Forks SNOTEL reported 11 inches and South Fork Bull Run SNOTEL reported 9 inches.

CoCoRaHS observer south of Molalla reported that a few composition shingles were blown off his roof. Another observer east of Stayton reported a power outage. A weather station in Mill City reported wind gusts up to 57 mph.

Wind blew over a 100 foot cedar tree, which fell onto a house in Estacada.

Reports on Facebook of 8.0 inches of snow in Sandy and Estacada.

There were reports of 6.5 to 8.5 inches of snow south of Lyons. Higher up in the Cascade Foothills were reports of 10 inches at Zigzag and 15 inches at the South Fork Bull Run SNOTEL.

Precipitation types were mixed, with generally 1-2 of snow/sleet and around 0.25 of freezing rain.

There was a report of 0.4 inch of ice accumulation near Sodaville.

Generally 2 to 14 inches of snow was reported, with higher amounts reported farther north.

The Marion Forks SNOTEL measured 16 inches of snow.

High winds resulted in downed trees and power outages in the vicinity of the Northwest Oregon Cascade Foothills. Two near by RAWS (Yellowstone and Eagle Creek) reported wind gusts of 50 mph which is a rare strength for these often wind blocked locations.

A 80 year old woman was trapped in bed all night after strong winds uprooted a large fir tree that fell on her house. The tree split the house in half. Several days of heavy rain contributed to weakened root system from saturated soils.

Spotters reported around 6 to 8 inches of snow for the Cascade Foothills followed by a quarter of an inch of ice.

The 36 Pit Wildfire resulted in evacuations of a RV park and closures of several camp grounds and recreational areas near Estacada, OR. A 5-mile stretch of Highway 224 was closed as well as some local roads and trails.