Weather Eye: August records blow down in gusts that evoke winter

A powerful wintry storm blew through Saturday, the likes of which I have never seen in August. Portland’s August wind record is now 43 mph — it had been 39 mph.

Power outages were numerous, locally and across the Pacific Northwest.

Coastal areas got hammered, with winds as high as 90 mph in Oceanside, Ore., and 85 mph on Naselle Ridge in Southwest Washington. Other Washington Coast winds: Cape Disappointment 70 mph, Ocean Park 62 mph, Long Beach 58 mph.

In Oregon, south winds ripped away the stage and numerous tents for the Hood to Coast Run arrival at Seaside. Coastal gusts included Garibaldi 86 mph, Pacific City 68 mph, and Cannon Beach 60 mph. In Astoria, a 62 mph gust broke the record of 49 mph.

Locally, gusts hit 41 mph in Felida, 37 mph at Pearson Field, 36 mph in Battle Ground, 35 mph in Ridgefield and 31 mph in Hazel Dell.

East of the mountains, dust flew as winds of 40-50 mph fanned the wildfires. Very little rain fell.

High-wind warnings were issued along the coast as the barometer fell to 29.46 inches. This would have been a huge storm even in the winter.

Early-morning thunderstorms Saturday woke many with constant lightning and thunder. Most of the rainfall as of 5 p.m. Saturday had come in those thundershowers. Amounts varied greatly, but many neighborhoods received 0.25 to 0.5 of an inch.

Showers and unsettled conditions are forecast through Thursday, but Labor Day weekend may be nice. Let’s hope.

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