Historic September Comes to an End
Was that a wild end to September, or what? In some cases more than 15″ of rain fell in just 72 hours over this past weekend. Rainfall totals like this are simply staggering for the month of September in the Pacific Northwest, especially considering these are just under 72 hour totals. Records dating back more than 140 years have already fallen in Portland as downtown neared the 7″ mark for the month. For comparison, the normal rainfall for Portland in September is about 1.50″. Astoria, Oregon was closing in on nearly one foot of rain for the month of September of which more than 7″ fell in just the past 72 hours of the month. More than seven major cities across Oregon and SW Washington have already set new all-time rainfall records for September including, Portland, Salem, Eugene, Astoria, Hillsboro and Vancouver.”
The following are weekend rainfall totals from 10am Friday through 8am Monday morning (just under 72 hours) along with monthly totals through Sunday night (the 29th) at 12 midnight located just below that. Once again, special thanks to the great staff at the Portland office of the National Weather Service.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
825 AM PDT MON SEP 30 2013
…A SERIES OF STRONG AUTUMN STORMS LASHED THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST OVER THE WEEKEND THAT PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAIN AND LOCAL FLOODING AND HIGH WINDS.
…LISTED BELOW ARE THE RAINFALL TOTALS FROM 10 AM FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27 THROUGH 8 AM PT MONDAY SEPTEMBER 30 (JUST UNDER 72 HOURS TOTAL)…
LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE LAT/LON
…WILLAPA HILLS…
HUCKLEBERRY RIDGE 9.74 0611 AM 09/30 46.50N/123.38W
ROCK CREEK 9.54 0630 AM 09/30 46.53N/123.40W
BROOKLYN 4.30 0630 AM 09/30 46.73N/123.55W
…NORTH OREGON COAST…
ASTORIA AIRPORT 6.99 0500 AM 09/30 46.16N/123.88W
TILLAMOOK 6.84 0612 AM 09/30 45.46N/123.80W
W F SATSOP RIVER 6.26 0630 AM 09/30 46.18N/123.56W
…CENTRAL OREGON COAST…
2 SSE HECETA BEACH 3.44 0600 AM 09/30 44.01N/124.12W
FLORENCE 3.44 1200 AM 09/30 44.00N/124.09W
NEWPORT MUNI AP 3.36 0500 AM 09/30 44.58N/124.05W
DUNES 3.08 0604 AM 09/30 43.96N/124.12W
…COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON…
CEDAR RAWS 11.27 0610 AM 09/30 45.21N/123.77W
LEES CAMP 11.10 0800 AM 09/30 45.58N/123.56W
SOUTH FORK 9.99 0612 AM 09/30 45.60N/123.48W
TIDEWATER 7.89 0614 AM 09/30 46.01N/123.56W
RYE MOUNTAIN 7.46 0614 AM 09/30 45.22N/123.53W
MILLER 5.67 0612 AM 09/30 46.02N/123.27W
NEHALEM RIVER NR FOSS 5.42 0600 AM 09/30 45.70N/123.75W
NEHALEM RIVER NR VERNONIA 4.34 0600 AM 09/30 45.81N/123.28W
…CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON…
CANNIBAL MOUNTAIN 7.51 0603 AM 09/30 44.35N/123.89W
WILKINSON RIDGE 7.02 0557 AM 09/30 44.33N/123.72W
VILLAGE CREEK 6.73 0653 AM 09/30 44.25N/123.47W
SUMMIT 4.80 0800 AM 09/30 45.58N/123.56W
…LOWER COLUMBIA AND I – 5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY…
CASTLE ROCK 4.82 0609 AM 09/30 46.27N/122.89W
KELSO-LONGVIEW AIRPORT 3.32 0500 AM 09/30 46.12N/122.89W
…GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA…
1 SSW TIGARD 3.68 0625 AM 09/30 45.41N/122.78W
SCAPPOOSE INDUSTRIAL AIRPARK A 3.48 0500 AM 09/30 45.77N/122.86W
PORTLAND (NE) 3.45 0800 AM 09/30
KGW-TV 3.42 1000 PM 09/29 45.52N/122.69W
HILLSBORO AIRPORT ASOS 3.36 0500 AM 09/30 45.54N/122.95W
WFO PORTLAND ROOFTOP WEATHER 2.83 0500 AM 09/30 45.56N/122.54W
PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 2.82 0500 AM 09/30 45.59N/122.60W
WFO PORTLAND 2.77 0630 AM 09/30 45.56N/122.54W
WILLAMETTE RIVER NR OREGON CIT 2.76 0615 AM 09/30 45.36N/122.61W
TROUTDALE AIRPORT 2.28 0500 AM 09/30 45.55N/122.40W
…GREATER VANCOUVER AREA…
LARCH MOUNTAIN 5.29 0609 AM 09/30 45.72N/122.35W
1 W MINNEHAHA 3.17 0500 AM 09/30 45.66N/122.64W
2 WSW HAZEL DELL 2.81 0500 AM 09/30 45.67N/122.69W
PEARSON FIELD AIRPORT 2.79 0500 AM 09/30 45.62N/122.66W
…CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY…
MC MINNVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 3.38 0500 AM 09/30 45.19N/123.13W
SALEM AP (MCNARY FIELD) 3.13 0500 AM 09/30 44.91N/123.00W
AURORA STATE AIRPORT 2.80 0500 AM 09/30 45.25N/122.77W
…SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY…
2 SE SPRINGFIELD 4.27 0600 AM 09/30 44.03N/122.96W
WILLOW CREEK 3.71 0654 AM 09/30 44.03N/123.17W
CORVALLIS 3.60 0645 AM 09/30 44.42N/123.33W
CORVALLIS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 3.28 0455 AM 09/30 44.50N/123.29W
EUGENE-MAHLON SWEET FIELD 2.97 0500 AM 09/30 44.13N/123.22W
…UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY…
MIDDLE MTN 4.26 0614 AM 09/30 45.58N/121.60W
…WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE…
6 NW NORTH BONNEVILLE 6.14 0600 AM 09/30 45.72N/122.04W
BONNEVILLE DAM 5.01 0700 AM 09/30 45.64N/121.95W
LOCKS 4.79 0608 AM 09/30 45.67N/121.88W
HOOD RIVER 2.21 0500 AM 09/30 45.67N/121.54W
…SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADES…
SWIFT CREEK (MT ST HELENS) 15.30 0730 AM 09/30 46.16N/122.18W
JUNE LAKE (MT ST HELENS) 15.00 0730 AM 09/30 46.15N/122.15W
SHEEP CANYON 11.80 0730 AM 09/30 46.19N/122.25W
DRY CREEK 9.71 0625 AM 09/30 45.94N/121.99W
SWIFT DAM RAIN GAGE (PP&L) 8.23 0901 PM 09/29 46.07N/122.20W
ORR CREEK 5.84 0609 AM 09/30 46.36N/121.60W
ELK ROCK 5.74 0601 AM 09/30 46.31N/122.39W
BUCK CREEK 5.39 0625 AM 09/30 46.06N/121.54W
…SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS…
CANYON CREEK 6.81 0652 AM 09/30 45.92N/122.30W
YALE LAKE 3.11 0214 AM 09/30 45.96N/122.33W
…NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES…
LOG CREEK 8.91 0606 AM 09/30 45.50N/121.90W
DETROIT DAM 6.45 0500 AM 09/30 44.72N/122.25W
BOULDER CREEK 6.31 0658 AM 09/30 44.72N/122.00W
WANDERERS PEAK 5.50 0607 AM 09/30 45.11N/122.20W
RED BOX 4.78 0607 AM 09/30 45.03N/121.92W
MARION FORKS FISH HATCHERY 4.71 0642 AM 09/30 44.61N/121.95W
…NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS…
FALLS CITY 9.10 0730 AM 09/30
YELLOWSTONE MTN 8.34 0617 AM 09/30 44.59N/122.43W
HORSE CREEK 5.48 0627 AM 09/30 44.95N/122.40W
PEBBLE 5.20 0653 AM 09/30 44.23N/122.99W
HEADWORKS PORTLAND WATER BUREA 4.08 1200 AM 09/30 45.45N/122.15W
JORDAN 3.38 0613 AM 09/30 44.72N/122.69W
EAGLE CREEK 2.95 0613 AM 09/30 45.37N/122.33W
…CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY…
EMIGRANT 3.66 0653 AM 09/30 43.48N/122.23W
FIELDS 3.01 0617 AM 09/30 43.68N/122.30W
SUGARLOAF 1.40 0506 AM 09/30 43.67N/122.65W
…CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY…
BRUSH CREEK 5.91 0614 AM 09/30 44.28N/122.85W
TROUT CREEK 5.25 0614 AM 09/30 44.11N/122.58W
2 WNW DISSTON 3.43 0613 AM 09/30 43.73N/122.81W
RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON
455 AM PDT MON SEP 30 2013
…HISTORIC SEPTEMBER RAINFALL OCCURRING ACROSS THE REGION…
WITH THE RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL MANY OBSERVATIONS STATIONS HAVE REPORTED RECORD AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. ALL RAINFALL TOTALS ARE CURRENT THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29 2013. WITH A FULL DAY REMAINING IN THE MONTH…RAIN TOTALS FOR THIS MONTH WILL LIKELY INCREASE A BIT MORE. A FINAL UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED EARLY
NEXT MONTH.
ALL-TIME WETTEST SEPTEMBERS ON RECORD
STATION NAME (START OF PERIOD OF RECORD)
————————————————
1. ASTORIA (1890)…
1. SEP 2013……… 10.51 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1906……… 8.66 INCHES.
3. SEP 1920……… 8.55 INCHES.
4. SEP 1905……… 7.38 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 2.14 INCHES.
2. EUGENE (1890)…
1. SEP 2013……… 6.16 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1927……… 5.21 INCHES.
3. SEP 1911……… 4.91 INCHES.
4. SEP 1986……… 4.65 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.29 INCHES.
3. HILLSBORO (1929)…
1. SEP 2013……… 6.10 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1945……… 3.68 INCHES.
3. SEP 1982……… 3.46 INCHES.
4. SEP 1977……… 3.43 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.26 INCHES.
4. MCMINNVILLE (1894)…
1. SEP 1996……… 7.58 INCHES.
2. SEP 2013……… 5.58 INCHES AND COUNTING
3. SEP 1901……… 4.83 INCHES.
4. SEP 1914……… 4.28 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.31 INCHES.
5. PORTLAND AIRPORT (1940)…
1. SEP 2013……… 5.06 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1986……… 4.30 INCHES.
3. SEP 1982……… 3.98 INCHES.
4. SEP 1945……… 3.96 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.47 INCHES
6. PORTLAND DOWNTOWN (1872)…
1. SEP 2013……… 6.21 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1927……… 5.52 INCHES.
3. SEP 1911……… 5.19 INCHES.
4. SEP 1969……… 4.87 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.54 INCHES.
7. SALEM (1872)…
1. SEP 2013……… 6.63 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1927……… 5.52 INCHES.
3. SEP 1911……… 5.19 INCHES.
4. SEP 1969……… 4.87 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.28 INCHES.
7. VANCOUVER, WA (1896)…
1. SEP 2013……… 4.98 INCHES AND COUNTING.
2. SEP 1911……… 4.88 INCHES.
3. SEP 1925……… 4.46 INCHES.
4. SEP 1927……… 4.35 INCHES.
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL: 1.56 INCHES.
The Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) will host the 21st annual Winter Weather Forecast Conference on Saturday, October 26th 2013 beginning at 10am at OMSI in Portland. This annual meeting is the single largest conference of its kind in the Pacific Northwest! Weather forecasters from across the region will once again converge on Portland to give their best prognostications for what this upcoming winter will bring weather-wise to Oregon and SW Washington. This meeting is also free and open to all ages of the general public. Please arrive early if you want a seat. We will also raffle off a $300 Davis home weather station to one lucky winner. This meeting normally attracts a capacity of 300+ attendees. To view complete details on this meeting please see: http://ametsoc.org/chapters/oregon/MeetingInfo/2013/2013_10_26_OR_AMS_Meeting_Announcement.pdf
Stay tuned!
Steve Pierce
President, Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS)
Columbian Newspaper Weather Blogger
Don’t forget — you can get my latest weather and climate updates via Facebook. Send me a friend request at http://facebook.com/stevepiercevancouver and I will add you in. Don’t forget to also bookmark this blog at http://blogs.columbian.com/weather. Are you an amateur simply interested in weather? Maybe you are a professional meteorologist? Why not join the single largest chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in the country with 180 fellow members? The Oregon chapter hosts eight monthly meetings from September through June. All of these meetings are free and open to the public. We are always looking for new members. Dues are just $10 a year! For Oregon AMS meeting details and a membership application, please see http://ametsoc.org/chapters/oregon
Steve Pierce
Steve Pierce is widely known as Oregon and Washington's "go-to-guy" when it comes to fast, accurate historical meteorological research and forecasts. Steve is currently the President of the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Steve is also recognized as a regional weather commentator and blogger who can be heard on local radio stations and seen in print media outlets across the Pacific Northwest. His Weather Blog is hosted by the Columbian Newspaper in Vancouver. Check it out! He is a third generation resident of Vancouver, Washington and holds a degree in Communications. Both sets of Steve's grandparents migrated to Vancouver during World War II. One set traveled from Lenox, Iowa to work in the Kaiser Shipyards supporting the war effort. The other set came to Vancouver from Olympia, Washington to work as educators for the rapidly expanding Vancouver School District. When the war was over, both sets of grandparents decided to stay in Vancouver and continue raising their families, as did thousands of other families at the time. Those who are most familiar with Steve can attest to the fact that weather is his true passion. His love for "all things weather" began at the age of 7 when Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980. He was fascinated with which direction the ash plumes were headed. Then came the very powerful windstorm of Friday, November 13, 1981, also referred to as the "Friday the 13th" storm. This was the strongest storm to hit the Portland / Vancouver area since the great Columbus Day Storm of 1962! At age 11, he was asked to publish an extended weather forecast for his elementary school's weekly newsletter. In the 1980's, at age 14, Steve was the youngest of KGW-TV's local "weather watchers" and would phone in his daily Vancouver weather stats to then television meteorologist Jim Little for use on-air. Steve has lived through all of the major Pacific Northwest weather events of the past 30 years, and then some. The most notable events include; the bitterly cold winter of 1978-1979, the record setting snow storms of January 1980, the summer heat wave of August 1981, the windstorms of November 1981 and December 1995, the severe arctic blast of February 1989, the record flood of February 1996, the historic ice storm of January 2004, the Vancouver tornado of January 2008 and the record setting snow storm of Christmas 2008. Not to mention every Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption in between. With access to the most extensive set of historical weather records available to date, Steve has personally designed and integrated a proprietary system that gives him the ability to quickly locate and manipulate weather data as far back as the 1800's. As one local Meteorologist put it, "Steve has fast access to historical weather data that is needed for media, agriculture, business, personal, historical and other climatological needs. He can quickly manipulate the data in many different ways. His forecasts are also quite accurate, especially at longer lead times." Steve also provides local storm assessments, narratives and weather presentations to the general public, as requested. In his spare time, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, the outdoors, vacationing at his family's coastal cabin and just relaxing! By the way, do you like your weather on the "extreme" side? So does Steve! Whether it is collecting damage assessment data & photos after record setting 125 mph winds at the coast in December 2007, being one of the first on the scene after the January 2008 Vancouver tornado, or feeling (literally) the awesome power of 100 mph wind gusts at Oregon's Crown Point in January 2010, Steve has experienced it all! As Steve says, "don't just love weather, live weather!" Check out Steve's personal weather website at: http://www.piercevideo.com/weather.shtml