Most snowstorms need two ingredients: cold air and moisture.
Rarely do the two ingredients occur at the same time over western Oregon, except
in the higher elevations of the Coast Range and especially in the Cascades.
But snowstorms do occur over eastern Oregon regularly during December through
February. Cold arctic air sinks south along the Columbia River Basin, filling
the valleys with cold air. Storms moving across the area drop precipitation,
and if conditions are right, snow will occur.
However, it is not that easy of a recipe for western Oregon.
Cold air rarely moves west of the Cascades Range. The Cascades act as a natural
barrier, damming cold air east of the range. The only spigot is the Columbia
River Gorge, which funnels the cold air into the Portland area. Cold air then
begins deepening in the Columbia River valley, eventually becoming deep enough
to sink southward into the Willamette valley. If the cold air east of the Cascades
is deep, it will spill through the gaps of the Cascades and flow into the western
valleys via the many river drainage areas along the western slope. The cold
air in western Oregon is now in place. The trick is to get a storm to move near
or over the cold air, which will use the cold air and produce freezing rain,
sleet, and/or snow. Sometimes, copious amounts of snow are produced. Nearly
every year, minor snowfalls of up to six inches occur in the western interior
valleys. However, it is a rare occurrence for snowfalls of over a foot in accumulations.
February 14 to 16, 1990
A storm brought 24 to 35 inches of snow to the Columbia
Gorge cities of Cascade Locks and Hood River. Up to 28 inches fell in the
North Coast Range, 16 inches at Timberline Lodge. The Willamette Valley
was coated with 2 to 4 inches except the higher hills around Portland received
up to 1 foot. On the 16th, 10 to 15 inches of new snow fell in the North
Coast Range and 20 to 35 inches in the North Cascades. The South Cascades
reported between 1 and 2 feet additional snow. The Columbia Gorge had up
to 6 inches of more snow while the Willamette Valley had 2 to 5 inches more.
South-central areas did not escape the new snow with 9 inches reported from
Chemult, 6 to 8 inches in the Klamath Falls and Lakeview areas. Tipton Summit
in the northeast mountains had 6 inches of new snow as did Juantura in the
southeast.
February 1 to 8, 1989 Arctic air pushed southward across Oregon between the 1st
and the 3rd of the month. Heavy snow fell over all of Oregon. Some coastal
areas had 6 to 12 inches of snow, an event of which is almost unheard. Salem
reported 9 inches of snow and over a foot settled over the state. Numerous
record temperatures were set. Strong winds produced wind chill temperatures
of between 30 and 60 degrees F below zero. There were extensive power failures
as well as considerable home and business damage resulting from frozen plumbing
throughout the state. Damage estimates exceeded well over a million dollars.
Several moored boats sank on the Columbia River because of ice accumulation.
There were five weather-related deaths, three in auto accidents caused by
ice and snow, and two in which women had frozen to death.
January 25 to 31, 1969 [historical
photo in Willamette Valley] For many areas, this storm was the most extreme on record.
Snowfall over the state was much above normal, mostly in part due to a very
cold January. Between the 25th and 30th, snowfall records throughout Lane,
Douglas, and Coos counties, were surpassed by incredible numbers. Snowfalls
of 2 to 3 feet fell on the valley floors, with much heavier amounts in the
higher terrain. At Eugene, a snowdepth of 34 inches was recorded on the
30th, and the total January snowfall was 47 inches, nearly 7 times the normal
monthly snowfall! Roseburg reported a snowdepth of 27 inches and a monthly
snowfall of 35.2 inches. Along the coast, where the average snowfall is
generally less than two inches, January snowfall totals ranged from 2 to
3 feet, with snowdepths of 10 to 20 inches reported. Hundreds of farm buildings
and several large industrial buildings collapsed under the weight of the
heavy wet snow. Losses in livestock were heavy. Many entire communities
were completely isolated for nearly a week. At times, traffic on nearly
every major highway west of the Cascades and some in central Oregon were
halted at a number of locations. Total losses from this snowstorm in Oregon
were estimated between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000.
January 9 to 18, 1950 January 1950 was a very cold month statewide, with freqent
snowstorms. For the state as a whole, snow was the heaviest during this
January than ever before since the beginning of weather record keeping,
which began in 1890. For some areas, the heaviest one-day snowfall was reported
during the first few days of the month, while for others the heaviest one-day
snowfall occurred during the last few days. For most locations, the heaviest
occurred during the period of January 9 through the 18th. Actually, there
were three storms, but very little time separated them. Their net effect
was a nearly continuous storm. On the 13th, snow was accompanied by high
winds, creating widespread blowing and drifting of snow. Deep snow drifts
closed all highways west of the Cascades and through the Columbia River
Gorge. A very severe sleet storm began around noon on the 18th.
Within hours sleet piled up to depths of 4 to 5 inches in northwestern Oregon.
During the night of the 18th, the sleet turned to freezing rain, and created
much havoc on highways, trees, and power lines. Hundreds of motorists were
stranded in the Columbia River Gorge. The stranded motorists had to be rescued
by train, though even all rail traffic had considerable difficulty and many
delays in getting through the Gorge. Freezing rain downed many trees and
power lines, creating widespread power outages across northwestern Oregon.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage occurred.
Select 1950 Snowstorm Totals (inches)
Location
1 day
3 days
10 days
Greatest Snowdepth
Crater Lake
27.0
66.0
180.0
136.0
Parkdale
17.0
32.0
75.0
61.0
Bonneville Dam
12.0
25.0
42.0
39.0
Bend
16.0
23.0
33.0
25.0
Portland
8.0
14.0
22.0
15.0
Also, here are the snowfall totals across the state for
the entire month.
Western Oregon January 1950 Snowfall Totals
Location
January 1950 Snowfall
Albany
54.7 inches
Astoria Agricultural Station
39.4 inches
Bandon
6.0 inches
Brookings
6.0 inches
Clatskanie
68.5 inches
Corvallis
52.0 inches
Cottage Grove dam
121.0 inches
Detroit dam
122.0 inches
Estacada
31.0 inches
Eugene
36.0 inches
Falls City
78.0 inches
Forest Grove
59.0 inches
Gold Beach
3.0 inches
Hillsboro
42.4 inches
Leaburg
50.0 inches
Marion Forks
196.0 inches
McMinnville
47.0 inches
Medford
20.1 inches
Molalla
30.0 inches
Newport
6.2 inches
North Bend
2.5 inches
Oregon City
34.0 inches
Otis
20.0 inches
Portland Airport
41.0 inches
Portland downtown
32.9 inches
Powers
18.1 inches
Prospect
87.5 inches
Reedsport
5.0 inches
Riddle
42.9 inches
Roseburg
28.0 inches
Salem
32.8 inches
Santiam Pass
128.5 inches
Sexton Summit
73.9 inches
Three Links
96.0 inches
Tillamook
18.9 inches
Timberline Lodge
224 inches
Troutdale
36.7 inches
Eastern Oregon January 1950 Snowfall Totals
Location
January 1950 Snowfall
Antelope
40.0 inches
Baker City
24.4 inches
Bend
56.5 inches
Burns
31.9 inches
Cascade Locks
92.5 inches
Condon
43.1 inches
Crater Lake
136.0 inches
Dufur
18.0 inches
Enterprise
30.8 inches
Fossil
49.3 inches
Fremont
49.2 inches
Granite
80.0 inches
Grizzly
42.5 inches
Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge
25.5 inches
Heppner
36.5 inches
Hood River
93.8 inches
Klamath Falls
56.5 inches
Klamath Falls airport
38.1 inches
La Grande
42.0 inches
Madras
28.0 inches
Meacham
41.8 inches
Mitchell
25.8 inches
Moro
54.0 inches
Ochoco Ranger Station
67.7 inches
Odell Lake East
134.0 inches
Ontario
17.0 inches
Parkdale
138.5 inches
Pendleton
41.6 inches
Prineville
24.0 inches
Redmond
36.0 inches
Redmond airport
28.8 inches
Rome
8.1 inches
The Dalles
76.0 inches
Umatilla
24.8 inches
Union
24.8 inches
Unity
19.0 inches
Wickiup dam near Sunriver
68.3 inches
January 31 to February 4, 1937
While this storm was quite general over the state, the heavy snowfalls were
largely confined to the western slopes of the Cascades and the Willamette
Valley. Heaviest snow fell on the afternoon and evening of January 31 and
into the morning of February 1. Deep snow drifts blocked major highways and
most minor roads in northern Oregon and the Cascades mountains passes for
several days. Following are some snowfall amounts from the storm:
Select 1937 Snowstorm Totals (inches)
Location
1 day
Storm Total
Albany
16.0
18.0
Cascade Locks
22.0
46.0
Cascade Summit
8.0
28.0
Corvallis
12.0
18.0
Crater Lake
24.0
72.0
Dallas
24.0
26.2
Forest Grove
9.0
16.0
Government Camp
10.0
33.5
McMinnville
7.0
15.5
Parkdale
10.0
32.5
Portland
13.8
17.5
Salem
25.0
25.6
Siskiyou Summit
10.0
13.0
The Dalles
7.0
7.0
December 9 to 11, 1919
This snowstorm was one of the third heaviest snowfall-producing storms to
hit Oregon on record. It was a particularly cold December with the lowest
statewide average temperature since record keeping began in 1890. The Columbia
River froze over, closing the river to navigation from the confluence with
the Willamette River upstream. The snowstorm affected nearly every part of
the state, with heavy snow falling over a widespread area. The heaviest snow
fell on the 10th. Here are some of the many snowfall reports:
Select 1919 Snowstorm Totals (inches)
Location
1 day
Storm Total
Albany
10.0
25.5
Ashland
15.5
17.8
Bend
28.0
49.0
Cascade Locks
13.0
21.5
Corvallis
11.0
20.0
Crater Lake
22.7
45.0
Eugene
4.5
8.5
Forest Grove
13.6
25.1
Fremont
11.0
22.0
Government Camp
11.4
21.4
Grants Pass
5.5
5.5
Heppner
12.0
16.0
Klamath Falls
8.0
8.0
La Grande
3.5
7.0
Lakeview
5.8
5.8
McMinneville
14.0
24.0
Parkdale
40.0
63.0
Pendleton
12.0
15.0
Portland
13.5
17.5
Salem
17.5
23.0
Siskiyou Summit
36.0
50.0
The Dalles
17.0
26.0
January 30 to February 3, 1916
Snow produced by this storm fell mostly along the northern Oregon border.
Heaviest snowfall occurred in the Hood River valley where Parkdale received
29.5 inches in one day (February 2) and a storm total of 81.5 inches. Heavy
snow also fell at other locations, especially in the higher Cascades. Government
Camp had a one-day snowfall of 41.0 inches and a storm total of 85.7 inches.
There had been considerable snow earlier at many of these locations, especially
those in the Cascades. At many of these locations, the earlier snow had not
melted. As a result, very substantial snow depths occurred with the addition
of the new snow.
Select 1916 Snowstorm Totals (inches)
Location
Storm Total
Greatest Snowdepth
Cascade Locks
46.5
61.0
Glenora
33.5
35.0
Pendleton
28.0
31.0
Portland
13.5
not available
Condon
21.0
not available
Heppner
28.5
not available
Parkdale
81.5
not available
Government Camp
85.7
110.0
January 11 to 15, 1916
This storm affected the entire state. A few days earlier, on the 6 through
the 10th, heavy snow fell in the mountainous areas. During the first snowstorm
of the 6th through the 10th, Siskiyou Summit received 15.0 inches in one day,
and 34.5 inches for the entire storm. During the same storm, Cascade Locks
received 7.0 inches in one day and 24.0 inches for the entire storm. During
the second storm of January 11 through the 15th, every reporting station in
western Oregon, except for the southwestern interior and the coastal areas,
recorded storm totals of at least 5.0 inches and most locations had 8.0 inches
or more! McMinnville had the honors of the most snow in one-day, with 11.0
inches falling on the 12th. Siskiyou Summit received another 24.0 inches,
adding to the 34 inches already on the ground from the previous storm. Higher
elevations in the Cascades received very heavy snowfall.
January 5 to 10, 1909
Many locations, particularly in western Oregon, received more snow in this
6-day period than they normally would receive in an entire year! Here are
some of the snowfall totals:
Select 1909 Snowstorm Totals (inches)
Location
1 day
Storm Total
Albany
3.5
11.5
Ashland
4.6
9.1
Eugene
7.5
15.1
Forest Grove
8.0
29.0
Grants Pass
5.5
8.5
Lakeview
7.0
17.0
Portland
8.5
19.3
The Dalles
4.5
14.5
December 20 to 23, 1892
Substantial snow fell across most of northern Oregon, with the greatest snowfall
reported over northwestern Oregon. In the northwest part of the state, storm
totals ranged from 15 to 30 inches. Here are some the more extreme snowfall
reports:
Select 1892 Snowstorm Totals (inches)
Location
1 day
Storm Total
Albany
9.0
15.0
Corvallis
9.0
14.0
Portland
14.0
27.5
Forest Grove
15.0
28.0
Pendleton
6.0
8.0
December 16 to 18, 1884
Only a few widely scattered observing stations existed at this time. However,
enough reports were available to provide some insight to this heavy snowstorm.
Most of the heavy snow fell over the Columbia River Basin from Portland to
The Dalles and along the Cascades foothills in the Willamette valley. Here
are some snowfall reports:
www.weather.gov 
