at 12:12 PM by Pierce Larkin

Eugene, OR Impacted by Damaging Ice Storm

We have been discussing in detail and depth the storm system poised to impact us this weekend. The storm system is lining up to create a wild temperature swing between now and Sunday, and possibly wintry mix on Saturday night.

NAM Simulated Radar valid for 3am on Sunday. Notice the band of sleet over the area. (Pivotal Weather)
NAM Simulated Radar valid for 3am on Sunday. Notice the band of sleet over the area. (Pivotal Weather)

To our west, however, there have already been major impacts. A snow storm is forecast to impact a large portion of the northern US. A large swath of 4-10″ of snow is likely to fall between Rapid City and Green Bay, impacting travelers today and tomorrow.

The swath of Winter Storm Warnings across the northern US is ridiculous. h/t NWS
The swath of Winter Storm Warnings across the northern US is ridiculous. h/t NWS

This has storm system first impacted the west coast, and impacted it significantly. Much of California received beneficial rainfall on the order of 2-3″ in some spots. This caused flooding in some areas, but they desperately needed it. In addition to this, the California mountains received major snowfall.

However, the most significant weather event to result from this was the ice storm that occurred in Eugene, Oregon. Eugene sits in a valley surrounded by high mountains. Cold air often can drain into the valley, allowing for the surface to stay cold, while the air above the surface is above freeing. This is a prime set up for freezing rainfall.

h/t srh.noaa.gov
h/t srh.noaa.gov

Temperatures stayed between 30°F and 32°F, which allowed for the rain to supercool as it fell to the surface. And boy did it fall. Freezing rain accumulated in amounts between 0.5″ and 1.00″, and it did a lot of damage. The event is a large anomaly, as this isn’t the kind of thing that occurs often in that portion of the world.

(via Youtube user glassdogangle)

The damage there reminds me a lot of the 2009 ice storm damage in our region. Though the highest amounts were lower there than they were in the ’09 ice storm here, the damage is similar. Luckily, a similar event isn’t expected here locally with the wintry mix on Saturday night.