We had two systems move in that didnt bring in enough warm air to scour out the cold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Hotel_(Portland,_Oregon). States that have never been beaten. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. * Retired painting contractor and carpet-layer Walter Powell and his son Michael join forces to form what amounts to a bookselling revolution-juxtaposing new and used titles on the same shelf. Sewing Circle! category, the really outstanding events of Winter 1950 were two out 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. Paul Loikith, a climate scientist at Portland State University, has more about climate change and the projection of ice storms in the future: I dont think that we need to worry much about climate change causing ice storms to get worse or more frequent in the Willamette valley or in Portland. More than 100,000 customers were in the dark and 27,000 telephones . The Columbia has not frozen since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams. Climate Graphs More than 100,000 homes had power outages. the period from 1871 to 2010. The air was eventually warm enough through the profile of the atmosphere from Portland south, but the ground was still frozen from the previous blast of cold air and snow. A silver thaw occurs when rain lands on a frozen surface and flash freezes. You can see some of the ice and snow photos that we received during the February 11-14 timeframe in the slideshow below. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Freezing rain and ice coated much of Oregon and southwest Washington Sunday as a wicked winter storm continued its hold on the region. January 1979 was a record breaking month in terms of both snowfall and arctic cold temperatures. The unlikely star from New York, known as 'The Hedgehog', transcended the porn industry to become a bona fide celebrity, appearing in films, TV and music videos. the Pacific Northwest throughout the 201718 winter. 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. Sometimes this reaches the surface, other times it is a layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet. 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. (Btw, PGE really sucks at updating) even the steel arms streetlights mount to were bent down. But Portland bands like the Wipers, Dead Moon and Poison Idea did much of the blueprint work for the grunge revolution. It has nothing to do with thawing. People walk by a collapsed tree in Lake Oswego, Ore., Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. 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. This is generally the first step to a recipe that is needed for winter weather in the Willamette Valley. temperature for January 1888 was an even 22.0 degrees F, which The online Merriam-Webster dictionary has this entry: Portland had winds as high as 90 miles per hour. Portland area forecasters are sounding the alarms that the impending snow and ice storm may not be our typical winter squall. By the end of January the snowpack in the Cascades was 112 percent of normal. The combination of ice and gusty winds will lead to scattered power outages today and tonight. It was not uncommon for the Columbia River to freeze over, allowing people to walk across it. December, Past Events Wonderful vintage clothing. Why? The city was under-equipped for the snowfall that set a 40-year record. Taylor, George H. and Raymond R. Hatton. Your email address will not be published. I remember that Hotel coming down, the plumes of red brickdust floating along. 10 inches on the ground.January 1950's snowfall dwarfs modern (see below). Bands debuted in basements or at the Earth Tavern, Urban Noize or the Long Goodbye. Briefing The storm delayed mail from Salem, slowing the legislature. indicate that December 1884 had very deep snows followed by subzero You may visit the Television News Archive on the Vanderbilt campus to view on-site from the Archive's collection. If interested in Portland's of living in true "Snow Belt" cities, with weeks-long For a few, it was that or suicide, y'know?". Following weeks of speculation, political wrangling and tied council votes, City Commissioner Connie McCready succeeds Goldschmidt as mayor. We are almost set up for ice storms because of the clashing air masses that are frequently at the table each winter. Without the Columbia River Gorge to supply a rush of cold air, we would have a difficult time cooling down the surface here in the Willamette Valley. * The Lotus Cafe and Card Room "has a forbidding faade with a reputation to match. With a number of transmission lines and substations knocked out of service and additional tree limbs at risk of falling on power lines amid more expected freezing . 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. Arizona on the Mexican border (31 degrees).This type of major Deep Space Weather Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). North Portland residential area, circa 1955. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Hotel_(Portland,_Oregon), https://www.portland.gov/parks/lownsdale-square. Theyll continue to occur for quite a while. of the three times in history that Portland has been below zero! CBS Evening News for Wednesday, Jan 10, 1979 (Knock on wood). The The Gorge is at a heightened position for this type of winter weather, but the valley is shortly behind. 2008 was a year to remember, but its big Dec. 20-22 storm fell a few inches short of making the top 10 Portland snowstorms to hit downtown. 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. The surface charts tell the story from a meteorological perspective. As might be expected of a city where even the most restive kids relied on Parade for their subcultural news, Portland was nowhere near the cutting edge. Tidbit: The worst of it: Temperatures dipping into the mid-teens. All rights reserved (About Us). Climate Summaries The Columbia has not frozen since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams. recent severe winter cold waves, click here. 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. degrees, both breaking the old "coldest month" record The Christmas Weekend ice storm was the beginning of a long wet period; lots of (usually) weak weather systems bringing regular rainfall. cold month (the much-touted heavy snows of Decemer 2008 Sunrise/Sunset Tables, Preparedness We should absolutely be prepared for more ice events and snow events. The air will still be cold east of the mountains, especially with extremes. Vol. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to Vintage Portland and receive notifications of new posts by email. Other historic records Every morning before I got up Id see the flashes and hear the sound of transformers blowing, and then take my shower and eat breakfast by candlelight. s); })(). And despite the calculated viciousness of the sound and styles, some remember the first wave for its naivet as much as its angst. 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 . back to the very beginnings of climate reporting in the Portland -- David Greenwalddgreenwald@oregonian.com Please try another search. Hemp protein powder provides a convenient way to get the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy diet. But in the cold The term silver thaw is a complete misnomer. Ice storm totals ranged from minor (glaze) to major (1.50) in Oregon City. { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; The climate is cold and dry in the winter. How did we get from snow to ice? Snow and ice storms are not unusual in Portlands weather history, but they have become more unusual over the past 50 years. Universal experiences, News: PSU students navigate enrollment 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.. As rain moved in over the top of the frozen surface, the ice started to build. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Contact Information. The Portland International Airport was shut down for almost three full days, stranding thousands of passengers. Please Contact Us. Damaging winds blew across most of Oregon as a cold front moved east. Never lift storm drain grates. The city of Seneca recorded the state's all-time low temperature of -54 degrees. Portland Power and Light Co. reported 15,000 homes were without power. Storm Data. 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. area, circa 1874. Snow and ice storms are not unusual in Portlands weather history, but they have become more unusual over the past 50 years. January 9, 1979. of the cold and snow events in Portland's historic record, for I was nearly hit by an iced over tree branch that snapped and fell while on my way to visit a friend who lived on SE 28th Avenue. During this time frame the Oregonian also published photos of ice flows on the Willamette river near downtown Portland. * After asking for the resignations of his entire cabinet, President Carter appoints Neil Goldschmidt as his new Secretary of Transportation. It was mostly a snow event for those north of Portland altogether. The final system that brought in rain, wasnt overly impressive, but the ground was freezing. Storm Data. Tidbit: Extreme temperatures blast the Northwest. January 14) only in 20th place, with a total of 21.3 inches. * A new technology-the color copier- re-energizes a flagging art form: Xeroxing your naked body. We didnt have a major sleet event (although there was a time of mixed precipitation), we had more of a freezing rain event, that lead to major ice accretion. snow on the ground, and many very cold days with snow deeper than By decade's end. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. News never stops. General Ulysses S. Grant recorded this in a letter to his wife while stationed at Fort Vancouver in, . PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN) The Pacific Northwest's winter ice storm of 2022 is everything it was forecast to be: Frigid temperatures amid sleet, snow, high winds and a strong likelihood of. Over about a five-week period from December through mid-January, five separate winter storms plagued Oregon's largest city. River Graphs Was this event rare? Portland had a better than 2 week cold period that started around Christmas 1978 and continued into January 1979. 22.) Portland open! Watches, Warnings, & Advisories