A Synopsis of the December 1-4, 27 Storm Events An aerial view of the flooded I-5 overpass looking south Flooding in Chehalis. (Associated Press ) Maryanne Reiter, Hydrologist Weyerhaeuser Co.
The Wind The Snow The Rain Photo from Kiro News Photo by Stephen Pierce from OCS link The Three Storms of Early December 27
Storm 1: The Snow Snowfall The first storm produced heavy snow in the mountains and lighter low elevation snow throughout the region due to the artic air over the area. While only up to 1" of snow fell around Seattle, several higher elevation areas of the Cascades received over a foot of snow. This heavy snow resulted in deadly avalanches in the Washington Cascade Mountains. Snowmelt The warm temperatures early in the storm caused much of the new snow to melt. However, because the new snow did not contain high amounts of water (low snow water equivalent) and because there was not a significant low elevation snowpack, snowmelt amounts were minimal (1-3 ) for areas below 4, ft compared to the high rainfall. Snotel sites used to estimate snowmelt in flood area
Storm 2: The Wind PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 1245 PM PST MON DEC 3 27..A STRONG PACIFIC SYSTEM CONTINUES TO ROCK THE COASTAL REGION THIS AFTERNOON... On December 2, a low pressure system moved over the area resulting in extremely high winds along the Coast from Newport to Hoquiam. It is the first time the NWS issued a warning for hurricane-forces winds. Wind gusts of over 8 mph were observed along much of the coast with record set at Naselle Ridge with a peak wind gust of 147 mph. LOCATION PEAK WIND GUST...SHINGTON COAST... CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT...14 MPH KLIPSAN (Long Beach... 12 MPH DESTRUCTION ISLAND...93 MPH...OREGON COAST... BAY CITY (NEAR TILLAMOOK)...129 MPH CAPE MEARES (ELEV. 15 FT)...114 MPH ROCKAY BEACH...14 MPH TILLAMOOK BAY TIDE GAGE...1 MPH ASTORIA (WEST SLOPE)...86 MPH CLATSOP SPIT...86 MPH REPORTING ASTORIA AIRPORT... 85 MPH LINCOLN CITY...125 MPH YAQUINA HWY 11 BR... 88 MPH LINCOLN CITY (OTHER REPORT).. 85 MPH NEWPORT AIRPORT...83 MPH Wind speed (mph) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 11/3/27 : Figure 1. Clatsop Spit Station Wind Speed (mph) 12/1/27 : 12/2/27 : 12/3/27 : 12/4/27 : 12/5/27 : 12/6/27 : The wind storm had not only high wind gusts, but also had a long duration, increasing the potential for damage. This chart shows high wind speeds for Clatsop Spit in Oregon that lasted from Dec 2nd through the 4 th.
Storm 3: The Rain Total storm rainfall (observed) The most significant of the three storms arrived December 3rd with near record high temperatures and a moist tropical air which led to record rainfall in many areas of southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon (Wolf Read, OWSC). Total storm rainfall: satellite Wildwood 12.53 This image shows rainfall totals as recorded by the Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
The Rain: Maximum 24 hour precipitation In some areas, 24-hour maximum storm intensities exceeded 1 year 24-hr amounts as estimated by NOAA. For example, the Chehalis maximum 24- hour storm precipitation of 5.38 exceeded the 1-year 24-hour amount of 3.74. In Vernonia, OR the 24-hour rainfall intensity was 8.31, exceeding the 1-year intensity by almost 2.5. Rank Site_Name Elevation (ft) State Dec. 27 storm 24- hour max. precip. (in) NOAA 1- year 24 hr precip. amount (in) 1 Rock Cr Weyerhaeuser 1424 14.35 7.5 2 Raccoon Weyerhaeuser 186 13.85 7.59 3 Frances 23 9.7 7.84 4 South Fork 2257 OR 9.49 9.86 5 Wildwood 37 9.29 6.75 6 Cedar 222 OR 9.18 11.21 7 Vernonia 755 OR 8.31 4.92 8 Rye Mountain 2 OR 7.29 1.7 9 Shelton 269 6.42 8.5 1 Miller (RAWS) 131 OR 6.4 6. 11 Chehalis (RAWS) 262 5.38 3.74 12 Elma 7 4.77 6.25 13 Humptulips salmon hatchery 14 4.71 8.62 14 Rochester 151 3.83 6.39 15 Olympia Airport 23 3.8 6.1 24 hr amounts from http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hdsc/noaaatlas2.htm
Storm 3 continued: The Floods 6 DECEMBER 27 FLOOD HYDROGRAPH FOR THE CHEHALIS RIVER NR DOTY 5 Discharge (cfs) 4 3 2 1 year event Equipment malfunction 1 12/1/7 12: PM 12/2/7 12: AM 12/2/7 12: PM 12/3/7 12: AM 12/3/7 12: PM 12/4/7 12: AM Discharge (cfs) USGS 12275 CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR GRAND MOUND 9 8 1 year event 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12/1/7 12: AM 12/2/7 12: AM 12/3/7 12: AM 12/4/7 12: AM 12/5/7 12: AM 12/6/7 12: AM 12/7/7 12: AM USGS 12135 WILLAPA RIVER NEAR WILLAPA 175 1 year event 15 Discharge (cfs) 125 1 75 5 NOTE: This is all provisional data and should be used with caution until approved by the USGS 25 12/1/7 12: AM 12/2/7 12: AM 12/3/7 12: AM 12/4/7 12: AM 12/5/7 12: AM 12/6/7 12: AM 12/7/7 12: AM
Storm 3: Flood surge in Centralia 8 USGS 12255 CHEHALIS RIVER AT CENTRALIA, Gage height, feet 75 Stage ht (ft) 7 65 6 55 5 12/1/27 : 12/2/27 : 12/3/27 : 12/4/27 : 12/5/27 : 12/6/27 : 12/7/27 : 12/8/27 : The Chehalis River at Centralia had an extreme rise in stage beginning around 7 PM on the 3 rd indicating the potential effect of the flood wave from the upper Chehalis in the Doty area according to Larry Schick of the ACOE. NOTE: This is all provisional data and should be used with caution until approved by the USGS
Storm 3: The Floods 6 PEAK FLOW HISTORY for the CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR DOTY Annual peak discharge (cfs) These charts show the December 27 peak flows compared to historic flows for selected gages where the recent event appears to be the flood of record. The Chehalis River basin had 5 new records set as a result of the storm. 25 2 15 1 5 PEAK FLOW HISTORY of the SOUTH FORK CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR WILDWOOD 1996 1997 Dec 3rd, 27 event 1998 1999 2 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 NOTE: Dec 27 is provisional data and should be used with caution until approved by the USGS Annual peak discharge (cfs) Discharge (cfs) 5 4 3 2 1 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 1 year event 194 1945 1949 195 1955 196 1965 Water year Dec 3rd, 27 event 197 1975 198 1985 199 1995 2 25 PEAK FLOW HISTORY for the WILLAPA RIVER NEAR WILLAPA 1 year event 1953 1957 Missing 1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 Water year 1985 1989 1993 Dec 3rd, 27 event 1997 21 25
Summary A series of extreme magnitude events: The first ever hurricane-force wind warning issued by NWS. Maximum recorded wind gust of 147 mph. It was also a long-duration wind event. Record rainfall: climate stations in the north Oregon coast and in SW Washington had high rainfall with several stations breaking records. The highest storm totals were recorded in SW. In addition, several stations there had 24 hour rainfall well in excess of the 1 year 24 hr amount. Ten rivers exceeded their flood of records. In the Chehalis River basin 5 all-time high records were broken. As Larry Schick meteorologist with the Army Corps of Engineers said referring to the Chehalis River at Doty, "This is an extraordinarily rare event. A huge event. Double the previous record.