The weather machine is officially in fall mode, if you haven’t noticed. Bouts of rain, a few dry days and crisp overnight temperatures. The leaves are certainly turning colors quickly now, and many are beginning to swirl through the air earthbound. Hence the leaf rake standing at attention in my backyard. A daily sweep will be in the offing at least through Halloween, I believe. Of course a couple of good windstorms would hasten the task.
Speaking of windstorms, today in 1962, the Columbus Day windstorm moved through our region with winds over 100 mph. The storm was declared the nation’s worst natural disaster of 1962 by several insurance companies. The lowest barometer reading was 28.41 inches and winds were clocked at 170 mph at Mt. Hebo, 125 mph at Corvallis, Ore., and 116 mph at Portland. Electrical power was out almost everywhere and remained out for a week or more in most communities.
The massive storm took only about two hours to pass through but killed 48 people, 24 in Oregon alone. You can do a Web search to read detailed information about this windstorm. I remember the day began with a brilliant red sky and it was very mild. Little rain accompanied the windstorm.
A storm of this magnitude comes inland only about once or twice each century, according to past records. With the very strong La Nina upon us, just about any type of weather can occur. This current La Nina pattern is the strongest in many decades. Other strong years include 1950, 1955-56, and 1973-74. Forecasters will definitely be keeping a weather eye on the horizon this fall and winter, for sure.
