Hurricane Force Winds and LOTS of Rain

For the most part, the storm made good on it's potential, with the NW coastline being hardest hit by the winds. Peak gusts along the Oregon coast were recorded at 129 MPH leaving widespread power outages with whole towns cut off by flooding and downed trees across roads.










Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski declared a state of emergency because of the wind and flood damage. Although the inner regions were spared most of the wind's fury during this go-round, the sudden rise in temperature combined with massive amounts of rainfall caused mudslides and flood stages in numerous areas. Many roads are now impassible. Even a 20 mile section of the I-5 near Chehalis, WA is totally closed at this time.










Check out the links below providing a remote overview of the 'catastrophe'.. with updates, photos and video:


State Of Emergency Declared In Oregon

Hurricane-Force Winds

High Winds, Rain Cause Major Problems

Floodwaters Submerge Roads, Isolate Towns

Landmark Sitka Spruce Succumbs To High Winds

Amtrak Service Shut Down


Here at The Pavilion, the grounds are very wet. Fortunately that's the full extent of the storm's effects. Whew!

It's That Season Again

The weather 'experts' are prognosticating yet another terrible wind storm; one which supposedly could rival some of the worst wind storms of the past. As I write this, there are actually two individual, predicted tempests that could wreak havoc; almost certainly along the Oregon coast and quite possibly all the way into the Willamette Valley. The first one is expected to arrive some time this morning (Sunday, December 2nd) and the next one later this evening, possibly stronger than today's and going into tomorrow morning (Monday, December 3rd.) Most long-time area residents know to consider these over-hyped predictions of late with appropriate skepticism.. but we also know that the Pacific Northwest is capable of producing some memorable weather events once in a while. As I write this, local conditions are still mellow. Calm as can be for that matter. We'll see what happens -or not.