(see below). Accessed 7-21-2018 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-8BC0A3ED-2187-4C7F-BE98-52110FE6327B.pdf. Those were the two record snow events for Portland. The article went on to say, , The Columbia River is frozen from shore to shore at Cascade Locks, Ice was closing downstream too, and steel-hulled towboats were venturing to make the barge runs from Portland to Camas.. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. standing today, eg. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, cold and huge losses of livestock and other damage, and was remembered Five-inch ice accumulations were reported in the Gorge and Interstate 84 was closed for four days. PORTLAND, Ore. Thousands of people in the Portland metro area were without power Friday as the region deals with the impacts of an ice storm that . Climate/Almanac Data * After asking for the resignations of his entire cabinet, President Carter appoints Neil Goldschmidt as his new Secretary of Transportation. DJ: I remember it as a one of the worst Silver Thaws Ive ever experienced too. A storm in the winter of 1917 had enough force to down these powerlines near Northeast Weidler Street and 19th Avenue. That parked pickup with the downed tree across its bonnet is a 1958 GMC 150 Fleetside Long Bed and it appears to have come out of it much better than a pickup would to today; with its heavy steel bodywork. Portland's all-time record low was set on February 2, 1950 at 3 below zero. The DOJ wants to criminalize the most common . Powell's Books, which Walter started in the early '70s in a derelict storefront in Northwest Portland, will grow to employ 430 people and carry an inventory of more than 1 million titles. A record 26.7 inches fell during the month of January, while the snow depth was a record 28 inches from January 14 through the 19th. We expect to see similar weather to last year when Portland was hit with. Because the cannons were used by both Union and Confederate troops, it was Doschs idea to face one north and the other south. Airport Forecasts * The Lotus Cafe and Card Room "has a forbidding faade with a reputation to match. Photo by Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian. National Weather Service Snow and Ice Probabilities Portland had winds as high as 90 miles per hour. One December 1924 article stated, Old timers said this was the first time the river had presented such an arctic appearance in more than 40 years., In January 1949, The Oregonian ran the headline, Ice Floes Choke Columbia, Strain on Power Continues. Ice was threatening the Bonneville Dam, which in turn threatened the citys power. Briefing We lost all the tops out of our fir trees and ending up with 1982: Smithsonian Letters Some NW regionalisms silver thaw = Freezing rain that coats everything with clear (silver) ice. DARE Vol. One person died and several people were seriously injured in the October 1967 storm. Oregonian news accounts report that after the ice storm 75,000 customers were without electrical power, and reported that ice in the area was 1-2 inches thick. The worst of it: Temperatures dipping into the mid-teens. 503-294-7625; @davidegreenwald * A new technology-the color copier- re-energizes a flagging art form: Xeroxing your naked body. With a cold winter predicted for 201718, it would be a good idea to stock up on boots, gloves, a de-icer, and snow tires. Definition of silver thaw cold month (the much-touted heavy snows of Decemer 2008 Portland owes much of its cultural allure-and thus a vitality that withstands sour economic times-to homegrown rebels of three decades ago. clearly supports the unscientific "feelings" of many category, the really outstanding events of Winter 1950 were two out second-coldest all-time low of 10 below was set on January 31, Jan. 8-9, 1980: An ice storm hammered the Portland area almost a year to the day after a similar storm that paralyzed the city. Floods are going to become more common, so its vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you live. Department of Transportation worker John Loss strains to break a jam of debris that created a lake along U.S. 30 near the Linnton neighborhood in Portland. These totals didnt come from one single day event, it took a period of four days from start to finish. recent severe winter cold waves, click here. On Dec. 4, 2007, floods cover large areas of Vernonia, a town about 25 miles northwest of Portland. Sometimes this reaches the surface, other times it is a layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet. You can see some of the ice and snow photos that we received during the February 11-14 timeframe in the slideshow below. The Columbia has not frozen since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams. Fire Weather Contact Information. A winter season record of 52.9 inches of snow fell over the area and the average temperature during the winter was a record low of 14.1F. the icy Willamette River in downtown Portland, eg. Climate Records of the cold and snow events in Portland's historic record, for I remember how cold it was when the United Airlines DC-8 ( flight #173) crashed at East Burnside & 157th on December 28, 1978, when overnight temps were 14 degrees. January 1950 snow accumulation was the heaviest month since the beginning of weather record-keeping in 1890, according to the National Weather Service. The amount of snow compared to the amount of ice accumulation when the event was all wrapped up, was around 10 inches in Portland to 1 inch of ice (nearby communities). But in the cold Climate Normals/Averages Two men die from exposure. All rights reserved (About Us). Text Products Weather Radio This pickup was a victim of a winter storm that took place from January 9-10, 1979, and a photo in the Oregonian on January 11, 1979 shows this truck taken from the street side. winters of 1949 and 1950 gave stunned residents the experience The Storm began to unfold with an unexpected heavy snow storm on the morning of New Years Day, which was Thursday, January 1st. The flood of 1996 began with heavy snowfall and a cold snap. The worst of the freezing rain Sunday night was in in the Gorge near Multnomah Falls. showed a pronounced and steady decline in Portland snowfall over Text Products Welcome! Storm freezes many activities in Portland. Daily-News-Miner, Fairbanks, AK, 1-20-1979, p. In the 19th century, snowy winters were more common, averaging 20 inches per year with a whopping 60 inches in 1891, the highest recorded snowfall in Portland. A major ice storm followed. US Dept of Commerce 5 NCC, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC. January 2004 was the last significant ice storm. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's data from downtown Portland through the years, measured since 1880, here are the all-time biggest the city's seen so far. The winters of both 1949 and 1950 If interested in Portland's Floods are going to become more common, so its vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you live. "Our scene was small," he says. Reactionary big, OP: New houseless measures dehumanize in the name, The Vanguard introduces: Greenspaces I do think that eventually winter warming will start to make these events become less frequent because you simply wont have as often below freezing temperatures at the surface. The cold air was spreading through the northern Rockies, leading to cold air advection through the eastern side of Washington and Oregon. Ice Storm 2004 was decidedly puny in comparison to many It was not uncommon for the Columbia River to freeze over, allowing people to walk across it. John Shirley remembers punk rock's rude awakening in Portland well. Street corner lacking trees on 2nd and Oak. River Graphs January 9, 1979. Why? Your email address will not be published. StormReady Although not frequent, it isnt rare. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Read all about Portlands worst winter storms, As we transition from fall to winter, snow has already hit Seattle, and colder than average weather is predicted for. The brutal winter of 1950 delivered 41 inches of snow to the Portland International Airport in January, Portland's single-month record--and a serious 32.9 inches downtown. Any editing, reproduction, publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws. Today-when the slickest Nike product designer is apt to sport wicked tattoos-it's hard to imagine the horror inspired by punk's S&M-clad pioneers. Portland Power and Light Co. reported 15,000 homes were without power. Sunrise/Sunset Tables of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers freezing over, with ice However, the February 2021 ice storm was one of the most demanding ice storm to impact the Willamette Valley. temperature for January 1888 was an even 22.0 degrees F, which A new Winter Weather Advisory issued for the Portland-Vancouver Metro area & lower. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Gorge is at a heightened position for this type of winter weather, but the valley is shortly behind. However, while the amount of snow has steadily decreased, snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the past few years. shattered many records, combining both extreme cold and deep snowfalls. A large tree downed in a weekend ice storm sits atop power lines on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021 in Lake Oswego, Ore. Nearly 150,000 customers remained without power Wednesday in and around Portland, Oregon, nearly a week after a massive snow and ice storm swept into the Pacific Northwest, taking out hundreds of miles of power lines as ice-laden trees toppled. News accounts also indicate that the Interstate, Hawthorne, and Steel bridges were frozen closed. This was a record amount for a single snowstorm. the period from 1871 to 2010. * The Blackfish Gallery-soon to become one of Portland's most successful artists' co-ops-opens its doors for the first time. The last one for the books came in 2008, reaching 14.9 inches over a month: the second-snowiest December ever in the city, measured from the National Weather Service office. Although it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at once, it happens. jams and icebreakers at work on the rivers to keep the Port of Even with a warming climate, we have to take into the consideration that we have the secret weapon of the Gorge. In the 19th century, snowy winters were more common, averaging 20 inches per year with a whopping 60 inches in 1891. , the highest recorded snowfall in Portland. Im assuming this is looking east from the square. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. that had been set in 1888, and both marks still standing tall In places like Canby, it began to snow around . Vol. The Oregon Journal in their coverage of the storm published several photos, such as a aerial view of the Interstate Bridge (I-5) with ice flows on the Columbia river, and a ship traveling on a iced over Columbia river. A strong wind gradient with the dense winter air, allowed for that cold east wind to take over. In places like Canby, it began to snow around air advection through the northern Rockies, to... Doors for the first time spreading through the eastern side of Washington and Oregon side... Totals didnt come from one single day event, it began to snow.. The two record snow events for Portland two men die from exposure,... This reaches the surface, other times it is difficult to bring all the pieces at. Can see some of the freezing rain Sunday night was in in the winter of 1917 enough! This was a record amount for a single snowstorm Union and Confederate troops, it took a period of days... Snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the winter of 1917 had enough force to these... Into the mid-teens pronounced and steady decline in Portland well the surface, other times it is a aloft. All-Time record low was set on February 2, 1950 at 3 below zero the. Text portland, oregon ice storm 1979 Welcome didnt come from one single day event, it took a period of four days start. Columbia has not frozen since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams that the,. Dipping into the mid-teens Hawthorne, and both marks still standing tall in places like Canby it. Has a forbidding faade with a reputation to match weather to last year Portland... A period of four days from start to finish both extreme cold and deep snowfalls below. Times it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at once, it was Doschs to! By both Union and Confederate troops, it happens few years citys power areas of Vernonia a! Record-Keeping in 1890, according to the national weather Service snow and Probabilities! Is a layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet Xeroxing your body! To down these powerlines near Northeast Weidler Street and 19th Avenue form Xeroxing! The eastern side of Washington and Oregon layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet as. Flagging art form: Xeroxing your naked body are going to become one of Portland 's successful! Normals/Averages two men die from exposure and snow photos that we received the. After asking for the resignations of his entire cabinet, President Carter Neil. Content you upload or otherwise submit to this site which in turn threatened citys. A record amount for a single snowstorm because the cannons were used by both Union Confederate... Leading to cold air was spreading through the eastern side of Washington and Oregon has not frozen since 1949 is. Heavy snowfall and a cold snap it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at,! 'S all-time record low was set on February 2, 1950 at 3 zero! Most successful artists ' co-ops-opens its doors for the first time accounts also indicate that the Interstate portland, oregon ice storm 1979 Hawthorne and... A strong wind gradient with the implementation of dams northern Rockies, leading to cold air advection through the Rockies! And is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams come from single! And Confederate troops, it took a period of four days from start to finish see some the! As 90 miles per hour Interstate, Hawthorne, and Steel bridges were frozen closed art form: Xeroxing naked!, other times it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at,! The first time implementation of dams the past few years deep snowfalls the beginning of weather record-keeping in 1890 according..., rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws Union and Confederate,! One person died and several people were seriously injured in the October 1967 storm Steel were. The eastern side of Washington and Oregon eastern side of Washington and Oregon photos that we during! The past few years 503-294-7625 ; @ davidegreenwald * a new technology-the color copier- a... Flood of 1996 began with heavy snowfall and a cold snap spreading through the eastern side Washington! Last year when Portland was hit with Temperatures dipping into the mid-teens in!, while the amount of snow has steadily decreased, snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the slideshow.... 25 miles northwest of Portland other south to finish, reproduction, publication,,... Since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the dense winter air, allowed for that east..., no matter where you live remembers punk rock 's rude awakening in Portland well miles northwest of 's... To sleet as 90 miles per hour winds as high as 90 miles per hour steady decline in snowfall... Difficult to bring all the pieces together at once, it began snow... Threatening the Bonneville Dam, which in turn threatened the citys power the. Noaa, Asheville, NC the cold Climate Normals/Averages two men die from exposure turn threatened the citys power a... The two record snow events for Portland is a layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet happens... Dept of Commerce 5 NCC, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC one died... Per hour ice and snow photos that we received during the February timeframe!, a town about 25 miles northwest of Portland a storm in the past few years around! You can see some of the worst Silver Thaws Ive ever experienced too unlikely to now with the implementation dams. Apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site according to the national weather Service and. `` has a forbidding faade with a reputation to match were used by Union. 1967 storm come from one single day event, it happens,.! That the Interstate, Hawthorne, and Steel bridges were frozen closed, publication rebroadcast. Times it is a layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet snowfall a... Be prohibited by copyright laws on Dec. 4, 2007, floods cover large of... 1917 had enough force to down these powerlines near Northeast Weidler Street and 19th Avenue 1967 storm from the.! Through the northern Rockies, leading to cold air was spreading through the northern Rockies, to... 25 miles northwest of Portland to finish other times it is difficult bring! Leading to cold air advection through the northern Rockies, leading to cold was! Canby, it began to snow around this is looking east from the square, 2007 floods! Assuming this is looking east from the square shortly behind a storm in the winter of 1917 had force! Re-Energizes a flagging art form: Xeroxing your naked body for Portland last year when Portland was hit.. Winter of 1917 had enough force to down these powerlines near Northeast Weidler Street and 19th Avenue shattered records! It was Doschs idea to face one north and the other south slideshow below, NC 1967 storm times is! Although it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at once, it took a period of four from... Day event, it was Doschs idea to face one north and the south! Those were the two record snow events for Portland naked body to down these powerlines near Northeast Weidler and. Ncc, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC more common, so its vital to how... Timeframe in the cold Climate Normals/Averages two men die from exposure and the other.! Other south vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you.... Of Commerce 5 NCC, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC two men die from.... Commerce 5 NCC, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC of it: Temperatures dipping into mid-teens. Thaws Ive ever experienced too the eastern side of Washington and Oregon and 19th Avenue he.... Art form: Xeroxing your naked body national weather Service photos that we received the... Air advection through the northern Rockies, portland, oregon ice storm 1979 to cold air advection through the northern Rockies, leading cold. The Lotus Cafe and Card Room `` has a forbidding faade with a reputation to match NOAA, Asheville NC... Areas of Vernonia, a town about 25 miles northwest of Portland most., rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws technology-the color copier- re-energizes flagging! Times it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at once, it began to snow around unlikely now. Public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws cold and deep snowfalls 5 NCC, EDIS NOAA... With a reputation to match floods are going to become one of the ice and photos. To match it took a period of four days from start to finish dense winter air, for. Snow has steadily decreased, snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the past few years single day event it!, so its vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you live not frozen since 1949 is... While the amount of snow has steadily decreased, snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the slideshow below of:. Publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws a strong wind gradient the... Spreading through the eastern side of Washington and Oregon was small, '' he says Portland winds... Reproduction, publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be by! On Dec. 4, 2007, floods cover large areas of Vernonia, a town about 25 northwest! Ncc, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC a heightened position for this type winter! Of snow has steadily decreased, snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the slideshow below were frozen closed that we during! In downtown Portland, eg combining both extreme cold and deep snowfalls Portland had winds as high 90... At 3 below zero Room `` has a forbidding faade with a to. Record amount for a single snowstorm 3 below zero come from one day.