Great Gale of 1880
Encyclopedia
The Great Gale of 1880 was an extremely deep area of low pressure
(possibly deeper than 955 millibars (mb) or 28.20") that impacted the Northwest United States on January 9, 1880.
Parts of the lower Columbia seem to have experienced a blizzard, as related from Westport
:
An article printed on January 12, 1880 noted,
In the Fort Clatsop
area along the Lewis and Clark river, it was reported
Likely, all these locations were north of the storm’s center. A west and northwest wind is a particular giveaway. The mention of strong winds at Westport and Fort Clatsop is also an interesting feature, and may have been the result of a strong bent-back occlusion.
In contrast to the north coast, a letter from Newport, Oregon
printed in the Oregonian on January 17, 1880 reported
There was no snowfall on the coastal hills around Newport, but "several miles from here it is five inches, and gradually deepens as you go east. Said to be 18 inches deep at Siletz, Oregon
." Further south, it was reported on January 19 that Gardiner was struck with a "perfect gale" that threw large breakers ashore and shoved water into a warehouse, threatening livestock. "The rain came down in torrents," and the Umpqua River
and Smith River
flooded high, adding to the wet mess. "The storm raged with great violence at Coos Bay
." The three-masted schooner Emma Utter dragged anchor and was smashed ashore. Owing to the vivid descriptions of the storm’s strength, these locations were likely south of the cyclone’s center. The southeast wind at Newport is particularly informative in this regard.
The powerful gale struck much of the Willamette Valley in the mid to late morning. For example, "the heaviest windstorm ever known in these parts" struck Monmouth, in Polk County, at about 11 AM. The strong winds also struck the city of Corvallis at 11 AM, with the gale lasting until about 3 PM, and started around 9 AM in Blodgett
in the coast range to the west. In Portland, the powerful wind began at 11 AM, and lasted until about 2:30 PM. This contrasts sharply against the wind arrival times for places along the Lower Columbia, which as noted above, were around 2 PM, about the time that the winds had abated in the Willamette Valley
. The timing difference is an important part of this storm’s interpretation.
. Due to limited wind data in 1880, this assessment is based primarily on anecdotal evidence presented in newspapers, such as the Daily Oregonian, and from weather observations that could be had from carefully monitored stations like those of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. If the articles are taken at face value, then it seems that damage in 1880, at least to timberland and orchard trees, was comparable to the Columbus Day Storm.
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
(possibly deeper than 955 millibars (mb) or 28.20") that impacted the Northwest United States on January 9, 1880.
Newspaper Reports and Anecdotes
On January 19, 1880, a letter to The Daily Oregonian from an Astoria resident reads,- From the graphic, and, in some cases, the heart-rending accounts published in the Oregonian descriptive of the disasters resulting from the late severe windstorms in other portions of the state and the neighboring territory, it would appear that our town and county suffered less injury than almost any other.
Parts of the lower Columbia seem to have experienced a blizzard, as related from Westport
Westport, Oregon
Westport is an unincorporated community on the Columbia River in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Westport is connected to Cathlamet, Washington across the river via the Wahkiakum County Ferry to Puget Island. U.S...
:
- On the 9th at 2 o-clock P.M., a storm of snow and wind set in and continued for two hours with all the fury of a hurricane.
An article printed on January 12, 1880 noted,
- The storm near the mouth of the Columbia seems to have been entirely distinct from the one which swept through the Willamette ValleyWillamette ValleyThe Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
, and scarcely as severe or prolonged. The wind was from the northwest, and did not commence to blow violently until nearly 2 o'clock Friday afternoon.
In the Fort Clatsop
Fort Clatsop
Fort Clatsop was the encampment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the Oregon Country near the mouth of the Columbia River during the winter of 1805-1806...
area along the Lewis and Clark river, it was reported
- The wind changed suddenly to the west, and while the trees were heavily laden with snow, struck the forest with terrific effect.
Likely, all these locations were north of the storm’s center. A west and northwest wind is a particular giveaway. The mention of strong winds at Westport and Fort Clatsop is also an interesting feature, and may have been the result of a strong bent-back occlusion.
In contrast to the north coast, a letter from Newport, Oregon
Newport, Oregon
Newport is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It was incorporated in 1882, though the name dates back to the establishment of a post office in 1868...
printed in the Oregonian on January 17, 1880 reported
- We have just experienced one of the severest gales; nothing like it has occurred since the settlement of the bay. It was southeast, lasted about five hours, and was terrible in force… The tide rose seven feet higher than was ever known; nearly all the old wharves are taken away.
There was no snowfall on the coastal hills around Newport, but "several miles from here it is five inches, and gradually deepens as you go east. Said to be 18 inches deep at Siletz, Oregon
Siletz, Oregon
Siletz is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,133 at the 2000 census. The city is located next to the Siletz Reservation and is the site of the annual Nesika Illahee Pow Wow in August.-Geography:...
." Further south, it was reported on January 19 that Gardiner was struck with a "perfect gale" that threw large breakers ashore and shoved water into a warehouse, threatening livestock. "The rain came down in torrents," and the Umpqua River
Umpqua River
The Umpqua River on the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States is approximately long. One of the principal rivers of the Oregon Coast and known for bass and shad, the river drains an expansive network of valleys in the mountains west of the Cascade Range and south of the Willamette Valley,...
and Smith River
Smith River (Oregon)
Smith River is a tributary of the Umpqua River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains of the Central Oregon Coast Range between the watershed of the Umpqua to the south and the Siuslaw River to the north...
flooded high, adding to the wet mess. "The storm raged with great violence at Coos Bay
Coos Bay
Coos Bay is an S-shaped inlet where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, approximately 10 miles long and two miles wide, on the Pacific Ocean coast of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The estuary is situated south of the Salmon River. The city of Coos Bay, once named Marshfield, was...
." The three-masted schooner Emma Utter dragged anchor and was smashed ashore. Owing to the vivid descriptions of the storm’s strength, these locations were likely south of the cyclone’s center. The southeast wind at Newport is particularly informative in this regard.
The powerful gale struck much of the Willamette Valley in the mid to late morning. For example, "the heaviest windstorm ever known in these parts" struck Monmouth, in Polk County, at about 11 AM. The strong winds also struck the city of Corvallis at 11 AM, with the gale lasting until about 3 PM, and started around 9 AM in Blodgett
Blodgett, Oregon
Blodgett is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States, where Oregon Route 180 meets U.S. Route 20 in the Central Oregon Coast Range 15 miles west of Corvallis. It is near the confluence of the Tumtum and Marys rivers. The population was 58 at the 2010 census.Blodgett was...
in the coast range to the west. In Portland, the powerful wind began at 11 AM, and lasted until about 2:30 PM. This contrasts sharply against the wind arrival times for places along the Lower Columbia, which as noted above, were around 2 PM, about the time that the winds had abated in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. The timing difference is an important part of this storm’s interpretation.
Historic Rank
If Pacific Northwest cyclones competed for "strongest storm on record," the final round would probably be between the windstorm of January 9, 1880, and the infamous Columbus Day Storm of 1962Columbus Day Storm of 1962
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was an extratropical cyclone that ranked among the most intense to strike the United States Pacific Northwest since at least 1948, likely since the January 9, 1880 "Great Gale" and snowstorm...
. Due to limited wind data in 1880, this assessment is based primarily on anecdotal evidence presented in newspapers, such as the Daily Oregonian, and from weather observations that could be had from carefully monitored stations like those of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. If the articles are taken at face value, then it seems that damage in 1880, at least to timberland and orchard trees, was comparable to the Columbus Day Storm.
- Not even among the traditions of the native Indian inhabitants of the country is there record of a tempest so wild and furious in its aspect or so disastrous and terrible in its results. —From “The Storm King,” The Daily Oregonian, January 10, 1880.