Lower Columbia storm history
Storm events recorded in Lower Columbia, Washington between 1950 and 2025.
53
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
4
Floods
1
Deaths
$1.9M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
Very hot temperatures. There were three consecutive days with maximum temperatures greater than 100 degrees. Maximum temperatures were around 108 degrees on June 27 and June 28. There was one death reported due to heat related illness.
There were numerous reports of large trees down on homes and cars in the Kelso, Longview, Columbia Heights, and Lake Sacajawea areas with significant damage.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Spotter reports of 3 to 8 inches of snow fall. Timing is based on spotter reports, radar and nearby AWOS at Kelso.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Ice accumulation of 0.25 to 1 inch.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Trained Skywarn Spotters reported 1 to 7 inches of snow overnight of the 9th in the Kelso/Longview area.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Although it appears Kelso and Castle Rock only received 1 to 3 inches of snow, locations Kalama southward received up to 6 inches per the NOHRSC analysis.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Widespread 2 to 6 inches of snow between Castle Rock and Kalama.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Media reported 0.25 inch ice in the La Center, WA area. Public reported 0.2 inch ice in the Kalama, WA area.
Heat Heat
High temperatures on the 17th were in the mid to upper 90s. For example, the high temperature at Southwest Washington Regional Airport (KKLS) was 97 degrees. Overnight temperatures were quite warm with lows in the mid 60s.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Up to 12 inches of snow fell before precipitation turned to rain.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Spotters reported 4 to 6 inches of snowfall.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
The high temperature at Kelso (KKLS) was 100 degrees on the 11th and 101 degrees on the 12th.
Heat Heat
On July 29th and 30th, the high temperature at the KKLS AWOS was 97 degrees. Temperatures in the region peaked in the mid and upper 90s.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Widespread snow fell over the region beginning the night of the 11th and continued in waves through the 14th. Snow accumulations of 8 to 14 inches were fairly consistently reported across the zone. Widespread transportation delays occurred including along I-5. Scattered power out…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Most precipitation at river level fell as rain or a rain/snow mix. Elevations above 500 feet observed much more snow. A trained spotter in Longview, WA at 750 feet reported 7.5 inches of snow. Another trained spotter in Kalama reported 7.5 inches of snow at an elevation of 1350 f…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public report via Facebook of 5.0 inches of snow in Castle Rock.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
There were reports of 6 to 11.5 inches of snow in the Lower Columbia region around Kelso, Longview, Lexington, and across the river in Rainier, OR and Clatskanie, OR.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
There were reports of 4 to 8 inches of snow around Kelso, Longview, Castle Rock, La Center, and Lexington.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
There were reports of around 4 inches of snow from Warren in the Lower Columbia up the I-5 corridor to Castle Rock.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
There was a report of 4 inches of snow in Longview.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong winds downed several trees and tree limbs resulting in power outages to several thousand people in Cowlitz County.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
One to 3 inches of snow fell follwed by a trace to 0.10 inch of freezing rain. Slick roads resulted in traffic delays and accidents.
High Wind High Wind
A Department of Transportation sensor measure sustained winds of 40 mph.
An injury from swimming in the Toutle River, WA during a hot weather spell could be indirectly related to the hot temperatures on July 1, 2014. A man and two children were swimming in the Toutle River when a strong current took the three of them under water. The girl's mother jum…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A trained spotter in nearby Longview, WA reported 4 inches of snow followed by 0.1 to 0.25 inch of ice accumulation.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A trained spotter in Longview reported 4 inches of snow. Archived radar data estimates that this snow was over a 6 hour period.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Light snow began early in the morning, then increased during the afternoon resulting in a Winter Weather Advisory being upgraded to a Winter Weather Warning. A person from the gernal public reported 7 inches of snow in Woodland, and two trained NWS spotters reported 6 inches of s…
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
An 88 year old woman wandered from her nursing home, became disoriented, and died outdoors. The Cowlitz County Coronor ruled the cause of death Hypothermia. The media reported temperatures of 28 degrees early Friday. Mesonet stations in Longview reported a minimum temperaure of 2…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A trained spotter in Longview measured 9 inches of new snow. Trained spotters measured heavy snowfall in other parts of Longview with 6.5 inches of new snow and in Kalama with 4 inches of new snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A trained spotter in Kalama, Washington measured 6 inches of new snow between 16:00 PST and 22:00 PST on February 24th. Heavy snow was also reported at Longview with 5 inches of new snow and at Castle Rock with 4 inches of new snow. Interstate 5 was closed north of La Center due …
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A resident of Kelso/Longview measured 4 inches of new snow. This snow accumulation in Kelso/Longview was also reported on a social media site.
High Wind High Wind
Strong winds were estimated based reports of power outages in the city of Kalama.
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rain caused a landslide on highway 411 near mile post 9.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A snow storm produced 4 to 10 inches across the Lower Columbia region of southwest Washington on Christmas Day. Some reports include 6 to 10 inches in Woodland and 4 inches in Kalama.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Four inches of snow fell in the lower Columbia region of southwest Washington.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Nine to 10 inches of snow fell in the Lower Columbia region. Some reports include 9 inches in Longview and 10 inches in Kalama.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Between 4 to 6 inches fo snow fell in the Lower Columbia Region of southwest Washington. Additionally, one-quarter to one-half inch of freezing rain fell in many locales.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Power outage to approx. 116 customers in Woodland due to a downed tree limb falling into power lines.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Power outage to approx. 60 customers in Castle Rock due to a downed tree limb falling onto power lines.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Power outage to approx. 276 customers in Kalama due to a downed tree falling onto power lines.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Power outage to approx. 1120 customers in west Longview due to wind-damaged power lines.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Seven inches of new snow reported in Woodland.
High Wind High Wind
Approximately 52 to 57 kt gusts reported in Longview.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Flood Flood
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Flood Flood
An uncharacteristically strong early summer storm brough heavy rain and strong gusty wind to Southwestern washington. Downed trees snapped power lines to a power station at Gorley Springs. In Wahkiakum County, Skamakowa Creek, Fossil Creek, and Grays River rose out of their banks…
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 4 | 0 |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |