Killed as barns collapsed or trees were blown over on the animals. Agriculture took a devastating blowĪs an entire fruit and nut orchards were destroyed. Cities lost power for 2 to 3 weeksĪnd over 50,000 dwellings were damaged. Gusts reached 116 mph in downtown Portland. The storm killed 38 people and injured many more and didġ70-200 million dollars in damage (over 800 million in today's dollars). Windstorm became the standard against which all other statewide disastersĪre now measured. Columbus Day Windstorm of October 1962 [ historicalĪ generation of Oregonians received searing memories that day.Evacuation was hamperedīecause a single road was the only route out of the disaster area. Lost and 10,000 homes and their contents were destroyed. Theĭike was thought to be impervious and well constructed. When a dike holding back the snow melt swollen Columbia River failed. Rivers in Northwest Oregon was put under 15 feet of water in just two hours May 1948 Vanport Flood of north Portland Ī city of 20,000 situated near the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette.Homes were destroyed at Ione and bodies were washed more than 40 miles downstream However, telephoned warnings promptedĪn immediate evacuation and residents escaped to high ground. Station was completely destroyed, drowning the observer and his entire family.Ī similar fate would have been in store for the citizens The first rainwater in Willow Creek at Heppner and the flood crest! ThereĪre no rainfall records available for this storm because the weather observing Then flowing into the Willow Creek watershed. Runoff of water was a result of heavy rain falling on the barren rocky hills, In all, one-third of the towns' structures were wiped out. Eyewitnesses say thunderstorm rains arrived asĪ 40-foot wall of water and the ensuing flood raged through town for overĪn hour. The entire town was swept away in just a few short minutes,ĭrowning nearly 247 people. Heavy rain fell in a very short time, creating severeįlash flooding along Willow Creek, normally a peaceful stream flowing through The storm covered a very small area, probably no more This was surely the most deadly natural disaster in Oregon's recorded history.Ī strong thunderstorm, accompanied by extremely heavy rain and hail, moved In the state has increased the economic impacts of severe storms and floods. Record keeping has improved in the latter half of the century, while urbanization Note that most of the larger events are recent.
Were widespread, impacting other parts of Western United States. And many of the events did not impact just this state alone. Choosing among the numerous 20th century weather events was a difficult Has chosen the top ten weather-related events to impact Oregon in ascending Records of major weather events to affect the state over the past 100 years.īased on impacts to people, property and the economy, National Weather Service Oregon Top 10 Weather Events Oregon's Top 10 Weather Events of 1900sĪ close, staff at the National Weather Service offices in Oregon have reviewed
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