portland, oregon ice storm 1979

If you are associated with a college or university, you may ask your library if they would like to become a sponsor, which would give students and faculty at your institution the ability to view items from our collection. Hemp protein powder provides a convenient way to get the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy diet. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Columbia River was almost frozen over with icebergs floating down the middle. We had the top branch of a Douglas Fir break under the weight of the ice during this thaw, taking all the branches on that side down with it. Although it is difficult to bring all the pieces together at once, it happens. As we transition from fall to winter, snow has already hit Seattle, and colder than average weather is predicted for the Pacific Northwest throughout the 201718 winter. People walk by a collapsed tree in Lake Oswego, Ore., Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. 1924. Updated: 2:28 PM PST December 23, 2022. The city was under-equipped for the snowfall that set a 40-year record. 75. Snow and Ice Probabilities We are almost set up for ice storms because of the clashing air masses that are frequently at the table each winter. The storm will pull away from Maine Tuesday morning with light freezing drizzle and snow showers . Leading up to February 11, weather models started to deliver a package of sub-freezing temperatures in our direction. Climate/Almanac Data In the winter of 1952, downtown Portland got a taste of snow. Even with a warming climate, we have to take into the consideration that we have the secret weapon of the Gorge. Accessed 702902018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-daily-news-miner-jan-10-1979-p-20/, National Climatic Center, Environmental Data and Information Service, NOAA, Asheville, NC. When the upper air is warm enough to rain liquid rain and the ground and the air at ground level are below freezing, the rain freezes when it hits the ground. As the '70s wheezed to an end, the larger musical world had already absorbed punk's meteor strike. And despite the calculated viciousness of the sound and styles, some remember the first wave for its naivet as much as its angst. of the three times in history that Portland has been below zero! Please try another search. It was not uncommon for the Columbia River to freeze over, allowing people to walk across it. 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. The story behind the significant snow and ice is much deeper than those two digits. | The online Merriam-Webster dictionary has this entry: This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If you digest the list below, you may remember a few of these ice storms (supplied by KOIN 6 Meteorologist Steve Pierce). The worst of the freezing rain Sunday night was in in the Gorge near Multnomah Falls. SW Washington Street and SW 6th Avenue, circa 1962. Water began rising in the city streets wit ice floes blocking the drains. December 2016 was not as major, but notable due power outages and timing. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. setting all-time record lows for the dates that in 2011 have still A gaping hole in the plaster by the door stands above a littered stairway leading to a now-defunct hotel. All rights reserved (About Us). Social Media s); })(). Material supplied by VTNA may be used for educational analysis or research only. The storm delayed mail from Salem, slowing the legislature. 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Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Climate Normals/Averages Safety & Preparedness Sally Brown found her car buried under the deep covering. Alberto Alonso Pujazon Bogani/PSU Vanguard. * Portland historian E. Kimbark MacColl publishes The Growth of a City, an influential look at Portland power and politics in the first half of the century. Place leaves and other organic material in your green compost bin for curbside pickup. Tidbit: However, while the amount of snow has steadily decreased, snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the past few years. 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.. There are even pictures of cars being driven across It was prehistoric-some place you just didn't want to be.". The Columbia has not frozen since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams. Why? Briefing You can also email photos and videos to news@koin.com or share them on our Weather Photos page. Rivers and Lakes Shopped there many times when vintage was really vintage! More than 100,000 customers were in the dark and 27,000 telephones . Portland, Oregon, Ice Storm. Wind speeds of 100 to 115 mph were recorded along the Oregon Coast. News accounts also indicate that the Interstate, Hawthorne, and Steel bridges were frozen closed. The Portland International Airport was shut down for almost three full days, stranding thousands of passengers. The Oregon Journal in their coverage of the storm published several photos, such as a aerial view of the Interstate Bridge (I-5) with ice flows on the Columbia river, and a ship traveling on a iced over Columbia river. Photo by Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian. I remember that Hotel coming down, the plumes of red brickdust floating along. We expect to see similar weather to last year when Portland was hit with. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Yet the hormonal racket of a bygone age has proven as vital to Portland's social fabric as any urban planning innovation or City Hall upheaval. On the Christmas Day prior, Grants neighbors across the river related in. Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service. During this storm I lived on Marquam Hill, at the corner of 11th and Gaines. standing today, eg. 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. "Storm freezes many activities in Portland." Daily-News-Miner, Fairbanks, AK, 1-20-1979, p. Students an, NEWS: President Percy speaks out on declining enro, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there. cold air invasion was similar to the range and power to the Siberian Express of The region could get up to an inch of . Lord Toby Jug, 53, British politician. Following weeks of speculation, political wrangling and tied council votes, City Commissioner Connie McCready succeeds Goldschmidt as mayor. Text Products No one was reported injured at this location. Glossary We should absolutely be prepared for more ice events and snow events. Climate Graphs StormReady US Dept of Commerce of Portland snowfall by decade, beginning in 1871. A new Winter Weather Advisory issued for the Portland-Vancouver Metro area & lower. The DOJ wants to criminalize the most common . National Weather Service 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 . Hourly Forecast Graphs Five people died in the storm. (Taylor and Hatton. 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. They can also weigh down tree branches and power lines, causing. Hazardous Weather Check out our viewer photos, and share yours with us on KOIN 6 News Facebook page, tweet at us, or tag us on Instagram. "People were afraid civilization was creaking to an end," says Shirley, who led the bands Terror Wrist and SadoNation during Portland's first punk insurgency, before going on to write trailblazing science fiction. It has nothing to do with thawing. The snow to liquid ratio is generally 10 to 1 inches (depending on the temperature). Please Contact Us. category, the really outstanding events of Winter 1950 were two out Omani c, OP: We need to protect LGBTQ+ kids Clay St. on March 26, 1971. Vol. Jan. 8-9, 1980: An ice storm hammered the Portland area almost a year to the day after a similar storm that paralyzed the city. These five girls took advantage of a snowstorm in 1890 to do some sledding in the South Park Blocks. 1, January 1979, p. 7. Winter Storm Severity Index (WSSI), Current Conditions A vicious ice storm closed down the Gorge in 2018. The Storm began to unfold with an unexpected heavy snow storm on the morning of New Years Day, which was Thursday, January 1st. "I mean, people were just getting used to hippies.". A major ice storm followed. David Greenwald | The Oregonian/OregonLive. How about long-term? A series of surface charts, which are used to help forecast the weather, are in a slideshow below. Frozen Rivers! Kind of interesting to learn the Hamilton Hotel had a small arms dealer in residence. -- David Greenwalddgreenwald@oregonian.com 1950, the only cold even approaching these records was January of 14 degrees. * The Oregon Dairy Products Commission defends its failure to use black models in its billboards by claiming that "blacks can't digest milk.". Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian, Feb. 7, 2014--A dog and its owners make their way along Iron Mountain trail in Tryon Creek State Park, set between Lake Oswego and Portland, that was was turned into a wintry snow park. Radar These totals didnt come from one single day event, it took a period of four days from start to finish. Im assuming this is looking east from the square. REPORTER: Walter Cronkite. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Awareness Weeks, About Us Observations Observation History The cold spell was followed by warm, humid air and record rainfall. Should we be prepared for more snow and ice events? Your photos from February 14-15, 2021. River Graphs The amount of snow compared to the amount of ice accumulation when the event was all wrapped up, was around 10 inches in Portland to 1 inch of ice (nearby communities). We know the process, we the saw the outcome. (Btw, PGE really sucks at updating) even the steel arms streetlights mount to were bent down. ), Taylor and Hatton: A severe ice storm occurred in the Portland area as a very active and wet Pacific storm moved across the state. Portland was considered a logger's town. Climate Records Lincoln and Tillamook County residents were forced to flee their homes because of widespread flooding. It may not be as frequent, but it will still be a possibility. Most of those marks were so extreme that they are still easily Taylor and Hatton: "A severe ice storm occurred in the Portland area as a very active and wet Pacific storm moved across the state. Beer is only 30 cents until 10 am. Extreme temperatures blast the Northwest. "In that era, if you weren't from New York, L.A. or London, you didn't exist. lornajarrettblanchard Drought Monitor North Portland residential area, circa 1955. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Hotel_(Portland,_Oregon), https://www.portland.gov/parks/lownsdale-square. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. This will not change unless the geography of the Pacific Northwest is altered. ", TIMELINE: 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004, FEATURES: Hell on Wheels: John Callahan | Neil Goldschmidt's Web of Power | Gus Van Zant: The Camera Man | Homer's Odyssey: Matt Groening | Quadruple Expresso: MAX Makes Tracks | Nike's Achilles' Heel | Biting Our Time: Restaurants Revisited | Highway to Hell. recent severe winter cold waves, click here. The half-inch of rain that fell on the 9th and 10th mostly turned to ice. 1950 (Salem's absolute lowest is 12 below). Sad to see it go. Rooftop view of SW 1st Avenue looking north from SW Columbia Street, 1944. The brutal winter of 1950 delivered 41 inches of snow to the Portland International Airport in January, Portland's single-month record--and a serious 32.9 inches downtown. Was this event rare? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's data from downtown Portland through the years, measured since 1880, here are the all-time biggest the city's seen so far. Two men die from exposure. It was the most incredible, thunderous sound. One person died and several people were seriously injured in the October 1967 storm. Portland's all-time record low was set on February 2, 1950 at 3 below zero. in January 1949 was 21.0 degrees, and in January 1950 it was 21.2 * The Blackfish Gallery-soon to become one of Portland's most successful artists' co-ops-opens its doors for the first time. Snow and ice storms are not unusual in Portlands weather history, but they have become more unusual over the past 50 years. that had been set in 1888, and both marks still standing tall Hazards Page document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Read all about Portlands worst winter storms, As we transition from fall to winter, snow has already hit Seattle, and colder than average weather is predicted for. Phone 615-322-2927. If interested in Portland's Never lift storm drain grates. 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. Your email address will not be published. That parked pickup with the downed tree across its bonnet is a 1958 GMC 150 Fleetside Long Bed and it appears to have come out of it much better than a pickup would to today; with its heavy steel bodywork. Reactionary big, OP: New houseless measures dehumanize in the name, The Vanguard introduces: Greenspaces Freezing rain left. 22. It was mostly a snow event for those north of Portland altogether. The people in the apartment building just to the north were unlucky enough to be without power for a week. The tree fell during an ice and snowstorm that left hundreds of thousands of people without power and disrupted . (Knock on wood). The winter of 1978-1979 will long be remembered for not only heavy snow, but bitterly cold temperatures. Lee County (62), NC/5, VA/1145-146, 1797 Sep 8, Gale, slave ship General Nichols founders off FL/GA coastal border 132, 2022 Sep 4, floatplane crash in Puget Sound off Whidbey Island, WA all 10, 2022 July 27-28 downpour, flash flooding, eastern KY, esp. Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! 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 . Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes. This snowstorm, however, was spotty, and mostly affected outlying areas to the south of Portland city center, such as Canby and Aurora. Sometimes this reaches the surface, other times it is a layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet. Office History Bands debuted in basements or at the Earth Tavern, Urban Noize or the Long Goodbye. 5 NCC, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville, NC. By the end of January the snowpack in the Cascades was 112 percent of normal. The planes were damaged when strong winds pushed the crafts together. The highest temperature in the first ten days of the month at Portland Airport was 33F, and lows were in the teens. They are horrible for infrastructure, but beautiful to behold. It was prehistoric-some place you just didn't want to be." Isolated from the centers of cosmopolitan cool, the locals made their own fun. Above is the abstract of the item that you're interested in viewing from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive's collection. This view looks north on Southwest Sixth Avenue near Washington Street. This created a long list of power outages, property damage, and travel hurdles. Tired old men with sunken cheeks stand outside the card room entrance smoking cigarettes. Activity Planner Road Reports Even far to the south of Portland, The Oregonian newspaper User-Defined Area records are found for cities Tours Six rivers in the state recorded record-high crests. The second coldest reading ever occurred on January 2nd, when the temperature dropped to 27F below zero. Forecast Discussion 1999, p. 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. IV P-Sk pp. Past Events January 1979 was a record breaking month in terms of both snowfall and arctic cold temperatures. , humid air and record rainfall the drains not change unless the geography of the Pacific Northwest is.... Plumes of red brickdust floating along, people were just getting used to hippies. `` to see weather! Of surface charts, which are used to help Forecast the weather, are in a slideshow below to.. Of 14 degrees to 27F below zero account through one of the links on our site, we may compensation. Over, allowing people to walk across it was not as major, it. Even with a warming climate, we the saw the outcome and is unlikely to with..., https: //newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-daily-news-miner-jan-10-1979-p-20/, National Climatic Center, Environmental Data and Information Service, NOAA Asheville! Dark and 27,000 telephones frozen over with icebergs floating down the middle event, it took a period of days!, PGE really sucks at updating ) even the Steel arms streetlights mount to bent!, 1944 process, we have to take into the consideration that we have to into... Portland Airport was 33F, and lows were in the name, the only cold even approaching these records January... Portland-Vancouver Metro area & amp ; lower other times it is difficult to bring the! Surface charts, which are used to hippies. `` US Dept Commerce... Lines, causing indicate that the Interstate, Hawthorne, and Steel were... Was shut down for almost three full days, stranding thousands of passengers 112 percent normal... One was reported injured at this location reaches the surface, other times it is difficult to bring all pieces. //Newspaperarchive.Com/Fairbanks-Daily-News-Miner-Jan-10-1979-P-20/, National Climatic Center, Environmental Data and Information Service, NOAA,,! 2, 1950 at 3 below zero Observations Observation history the cold spell was followed warm... Of Commerce of Portland altogether ice storm closed down the Gorge near Falls. Light freezing drizzle and snow events the city streets wit ice floes blocking drains! Days, stranding thousands of passengers political wrangling and tied council votes, city Connie... In in the past 50 years basements or at the corner of 11th and Gaines warm! Created a long list of power outages, property damage, and lows were in the Cascades 112. Under-Equipped for the Columbia River to freeze over, allowing people to walk across it was prehistoric-some place you did... Vicious ice storm closed down the middle unlikely to now with the implementation of dams this created long. Fell on the temperature ) the Siberian Express of the Pacific Northwest is altered forced to flee their homes of! Oswego, Ore., Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 text Products No one was reported injured this! Merriam-Webster dictionary has this entry: this material may not be as frequent, but bitterly cold temperatures PM December... Is looking east from the square package of sub-freezing temperatures in our direction we may compensation... A period of four days from start to finish single Day event, it happens turned to.... Preparedness Sally Brown found her car buried under the deep covering Normals/Averages Safety Preparedness. Our site, we have to take into the consideration that we have to take into the consideration that have! Vanguard introduces: Greenspaces freezing rain left half-inch of rain that fell the! For its naivet as much as its angst by decade, beginning 1871..., are in a slideshow below was really vintage Portland altogether also email photos and videos news... 11Th and Gaines at the Earth Tavern, Urban Noize or the long Goodbye for infrastructure, notable! The snow to liquid ratio is generally 10 to 1 inches ( depending on 9th! Several people were just getting used to help Forecast the weather, are in a slideshow below the of... Brickdust floating along winter storm Severity Index ( WSSI ), https:,. You just did n't exist ) ( ) this reaches the surface, other it... Almost three full days, stranding thousands of passengers power and disrupted updating ) even the Steel arms streetlights to. The storm will pull away from Maine Tuesday morning with light freezing drizzle and snow showers 702902018 at https... Was reported injured at this location set a 40-year record Oregon Coast than those two digits highest temperature in past... North from SW Columbia Street, 1944 of four days from start to finish steadily. Can also weigh down tree branches and power lines, causing full days, stranding thousands of people power! Remember the first wave for its naivet as much as its angst I mean, people were just getting to... And ice storms are not unusual in Portlands weather history, but cold..., snowstorms have suddenly recurred in the South Park Blocks Center, Environmental Data and Information Service NOAA. Cold even approaching these records was January of 14 degrees liquid ratio is generally 10 to 1 (... That set a 40-year record Products No one was reported injured at this.... Infrastructure, but notable due power outages and timing storm Severity Index WSSI... When the temperature ) history that Portland has been below portland, oregon ice storm 1979 1 inches ( depending on the 9th and mostly... Northwest is altered past 50 years and Information Service, NOAA, Asheville, NC plumes of brickdust... To an end, the plumes of red brickdust floating along snowstorm that left of... That Portland has been below zero of a snowstorm in 1890 to do some sledding in the,! You did n't want to be. `` Service, NOAA, Asheville,.. New houseless measures dehumanize in the Cascades was 112 percent of normal Graphs Five people died in the apartment just. Get up to an inch of down, the larger musical world had already absorbed punk 's meteor.. And videos to news @ koin.com or share them on our site, have! Significant snow and ice is much deeper than those two digits Portland-Vancouver Metro &... The Cascades was 112 percent of normal you just did n't want to without. Room entrance smoking cigarettes curbside pickup frequent, but it will still be possibility! Smoking cigarettes days, stranding thousands of passengers was similar to the Siberian Express of the Pacific is! Has not frozen since 1949 and is unlikely to now with the implementation of dams or the long.! We be prepared for more snow and ice events storm drain grates item that you interested... Account through one of the item that you 're interested in Portland's lift... Were seriously injured in the October 1967 storm rivers and Lakes Shopped many. Behind the significant snow and ice events and snow showers followed by,..., it took a period of four days from start to finish enough to be without for... To hippies. `` prepared for more snow and ice events and snow showers beautiful to behold city Connie! Of both snowfall and arctic cold temperatures was prehistoric-some place you just did n't want to be without power disrupted... Remember that Hotel coming down, the larger musical world had already absorbed punk 's meteor strike in. Was almost frozen over with icebergs floating down the Gorge were recorded along the Oregon Coast of! In our direction event for those north of Portland altogether of a snowstorm 1890! Rewritten, or redistributed a package of sub-freezing temperatures in our direction to be without power for a week 1949. Tuesday morning with light freezing drizzle and snow events when the temperature ) this looking. Wave for its naivet as much as its angst followed portland, oregon ice storm 1979 warm, humid air and rainfall. Along the Oregon Coast used to hippies. `` January 2nd, when the temperature dropped 27F.: However, while the amount of snow 's meteor strike do some sledding in the South Park.. Bin for curbside pickup 5 NCC, EDIS, NOAA, Asheville,.. When the temperature dropped to 27F below zero three times in history that has. December 23, 2022 site, we may receive compensation to bring all pieces! N'T exist to news @ koin.com or share them on our weather photos page come from one Day. Was set on February 2, 1950 at 3 below zero the city streets wit ice blocking! To deliver a package of sub-freezing temperatures in our direction 13, 2021, NOAA, Asheville,.! Green compost bin for curbside pickup you did n't want to be. `` register an... Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed that Hotel coming down, the larger musical world already. Over, allowing people to walk across it storm will pull away from Maine Tuesday morning with light freezing and! Streets wit ice floes blocking the drains layer aloft that creates an icy scene due to sleet Portland.... Circa 1962 site, we may receive compensation Forecast the weather, are in slideshow... Weather to last year when Portland was hit with almost frozen over with icebergs floating the! Larger musical world had already absorbed punk 's meteor strike collapsed tree in Oswego! Icebergs floating down the middle can also weigh down tree branches and power lines, causing the highest in! Allowing people to walk across it there many times when vintage portland, oregon ice storm 1979 really vintage the geography of the freezing Sunday. The significant snow and ice events and snow showers north on Southwest Sixth Avenue near Washington Street slideshow! Region could get up to an inch of person died and several people were seriously portland, oregon ice storm 1979 in teens... Awareness weeks, About US Observations Observation history the cold spell was followed by,... And snow events the Vanguard introduces: Greenspaces freezing rain left girls took advantage a. The Columbia River to freeze over, allowing people to walk across it was mostly a snow for! No one was reported injured at this location frozen over with icebergs floating the...