• Pacific County Historical Society and Museum
• Columbia River Chronology Photo Log

1480
ca. 1480-1600 -- pumice, pyroclastic flows, lava and mudflows, Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13; Harris p. 108)

1579
1579 -- Sir Francis Drake may have cruised near N.W. coast

1600
1600-1700 -- voluminous flows of lava, mudflows, pyroclastic flows, Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13; Harris p. 108)

1700
Jan. 26, 1700 -- giant Cascadia earthquake (Satake p. 246)

1707
1707 -- disappearance (shipwreck) of Spanish galleon San Francisco Xavier, probably near Nehalem Bay area (Witty p. 7; Suttles, History of Research, in Handbook of North American Indians, p. 70)

1760
ca. 1760-1810 -- eruption, Mt. Hood (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 5; Harris, p. 114)

1770
1770's, 1780's -- smallpox epidemics on coast (Capoeman, p. 46)

1774
1774 --Juan Perez, Captain of Spanish vessel Santiago, surveyed coastal areas of Oregon, Washington and B.C. in first Bucareli expedition (Witty p. 7; Capoeman, p. 83)

1775
March 1775 -- 2nd Bucareli expedition leaves Mexico; Santiago under command of Bruno de Hezeta; schooner Sonora under command of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra; 3rd vessel was the San Carlos (Witty p. 7; Capoeman, p. 83)

July 14, 1775 -- Bruno de Hezeta lands at Pt. Grenville; violent incident with Indians (Scheffer p. 373; Witty p. 7 quotes diary)

Aug. 17, 1775 -- Bruno de Hezeta -- discovered mouth of Columbia River and names it Rio de San Roque, names mouth Bahia de la Assuncion (J. Neilson Barry, Who discovered the Columbia River, p. 155; T.C. Elliott, Log of Chatham, p. 233; Kytr and Jackson, p. 9; Hazeltine, Discovery, p. 251; Witty p. 8; Capoeman, quotes Hezeta's log, p. 93)

1776

July 4, 1776 -- Declaration of Independence approved by Congress

1778
March 1778 -- Capt. James Cook passes Oregon (T.C. Elliott, Capt. Cook p. 265)

1779
1779 -- Third Bucareli expedition (Witty p. 8)

1786
1786 -- De la Perouse maps coast from Alaska to California

1788
July 5, 1788 -- Capt. John Meares discovers Cape Shoalwater (J. Neilson Barry, Who discovered the Columbia River, p. 156; T.C. Elliott, Log of Chatham, pp. 234-5; Hazeltine, Cartographical, p. 252; also in John Meares' Journal; T.C. Elliott, John Meares' Approach to Oregon, p. 278)

July 6, 1788 -- John Meares arrives off mouth of Columbia River, names Cape Disappointment, and calls the river's estuary Deception Bay

1792
April 27, 1792 -- Capt. George Vancouver bypasses Columbia River (T.C. Elliott, Oregon Coast as seen by Vancouver, pp. 41-42; Vancouver, A Voyage of Discovery, p. 9). Vancouver's sketch of mouth of Columbia located in History of Columbia River Jetties, R. E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, p. 284; earliest known chart of entrance to Columbia River)

April 28, 1792 -- Capt. George Vancouver names Point Grenville (Workman, p. 13)

May 7, 1792 -- Capt. Robert Gray discovers Grays Harbor (Hazeltine, Cartographical, p. 254; Capoeman, p. 51 and on p. 93, quotes Boit's diary)

May 11, 1792 -- Capt. Robert Gray enters Columbia River (J. Neilson Barry, Broughton on the Columbia, p. 397; J. Neilson Barry, Columbia River Exploration, pt. 1, p. 34, n. 7; Boit's log, as quoted in Capoeman, p. 93, uses date of May 12, 1792)

Oct. 1792 -- Master Joseph Whidbey explored Grays Harbor in Daedalus, as part of Vancouver's voyage (Capoeman, p. 52, quotes Whidbey's diary as quoted by Vancouver)

Oct. 20, 1792 -- Brig "Chatham" anchors east of Cape Disappointment to begin reconnaissance of Columbia River by Lieut. William Robert Broughton (J. Neilson Barry, Broughton on the Columbia, p. 397; Larry Workman, p. 13)

1800
1800-1802 -- explosive volcanic event, dacite pumice deposit, Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13; Harris p. 108)

1803
April 30, 1803 -- Louisiana Purchase from France by U.S. of lands west of Mississippi River to Rocky Mountains (Encyc. Americana; Workman, p. 16)

1805
Nov. 7, 1805 -- Lewis and Clark Expedition arrives near mouth of Columbia River (Moulton, Journals contain numerous references to storms and high winds for winter 1805-06)

Dec. 4, 1805 -- Clark notes "a Spring tide which rose 2 feet higher than Common flud [flood] tides" (Moulton, Journals, p. 107)

Dec. 5, 1805 -- Clark notes "this tide [at high water] is 2 Ins. higher than that of yesterday" (Moulton, Journals, p. 108)

Dec. 6, 1805 -- Clark notes "high water...13 Inches higher than yesterday. we were obliged to move our Camp out of the Water on high grown [ground] (Moulton, Journals p. 109)

1806
Jan. 1806 -- William Clark travels from Fort Clatsop to Tillamook Head and beyond, along beach (Moulton, Journals)

Mar. 23, 1806 -- Lewis and Clark leave Ft. Clatsop for home (Moulton, Journals)

1808
May 1-8 -- William Shaler waits to cross Columbia River Bar for eight days due to "tempestuous" weather, finally leaves (Shaler, p. 138)

1810
1810 -- "great freshet of 1810" (J. Neilson Barry, Broughton on the Columbia, p. 404)

1811
1811 -- John Jacob Astor established fur trading post at Astoria (Lander, p. 13)

1813
1813 -- Astor's Company, the Pacific Fur Company, sold to the Northwest Company (Encyc. Americana)

Dec. 1813 -- Britain takes possession of Astoria and renames it Fort George (Workman, p. 19)

1816
Summer 1816 -- "the year of no summer, attributed to volcanic eruptions in Indonesia" (Workman, p. 19)

1818
Aug. 18, 1818 -- Capt. James Biddle claimed Cape Disappointment for U.S. (Markham, p. 2)

Oct. 1818 -- Br. Frigate "Blossom" claimed Cape Disappointment for Great Britain (Markham p. 2)

1818 -- Great Britain and U.S. agree to joint occupation of Oregon country (Encyc. Americana)

1820
1820 -- Japanese Junk comes ashore at Clatsop Beach (James Gibbs, Pacific Graveyard; Workman, p. 22)

1821
1821 -- The Northwest Company merged with the Hudson's Bay Co. (Encyc. Americana; Workman, p. 20)

1824
Nov. 1824 -- John Work expedition in Shoalwater Bay and Grays Harbor (Jacobsen, p. 2; Hazeltine, Discovery, p. 259; Workman, p. 20)

1825
Ap. 7, 1825 -- David Douglas arrives on Columbia River to do botanical work (David Lavender, Oregon Journals of David Douglas; Workman, p. 21).

July 1825 -- David Douglas sights pelicans near Pacific Beach (David Lavender, Oregon Journals of David Douglas; Workman, p. 21)

1829
Mar. 10, 1829 -- Wreck of William and Ann on Columbia River bar (Burt Barker, Letters of John McLoughlin, p. 6; Howay, Brig Owhyee, p. 11)

1830
May 3, 1830 -- Wreck of Isabella at Columbia River mouth (Burt Barker, Letters of John McLoughlin, pp. 134-137; also Gilmore, Ship located near Ilwaco, p. 4)

Oct. 11, 1830 -- Intermittent fever appeared around this time, first time since Hudson's Bay Co. in area (Burt Barker, Letters of John McLoughlin, pp. 139-140, 183; also recorded by David Douglas in his journal, Oct. 11, 1830))

1831
1831 -- steam and ash eruption, Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13)

1833
1833 -- Chinese [or Japanese] junk wrecked at Pt. Grenville (Swan p. 206, quoting Wilkes; Wilkes, pp. 315-316)

1835
1835 -- first lumbering operation in Columbia Basin by Hudson's Bay Co, who shipped sawed lumber and spars to Hawaiian Island (Craig and Hacker, p. 191; Mackie, p. 157, uses Jan. 1829 date)

1835 -- steam and ash eruption, Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13)

1839
1839 -- Sir Edward Belcher(Great Britain) -- survey and chart of Columbia River mouth (Borgild par. 28); indicates two channels, both a north and a south channel (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2278)

1840
early 1840's -- early settlement of Clatsop Plains (Dicken, p. 15; Stevens p. 81)

early 1840's -- no rainfall in Feb., March and little in January (Leslie Scott, p. 159)

1841
1841 -- North channel gradually closing due to migrating sands (Borgild, par. 29; confirmed in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2279-2280)

1841 -- Wilkes expedition -- explores Columbia River, Willapa, Grays Harbor; did charts

May 29, 1941 -- "On this night, the waters of the Columbia took a rise of 18 inches in ten hours...." (Wilkes, vol. 4, p. 359)

July 18, 1841 -- Wreck of Peacock on Columbia River bar (J. Neilson Barry, Who discovered the Columbia River, p. 154; Bordwell, Constance, Delay and Wreck, p. 159; Wilkes, p. 524)

August 1841 -- Wilkes Expedition surveys Grays Harbor

Dec. 2, 1841 -- earthquake near Ft. Vancouver, Wa. (Wong and Bott, p. 128)

1842
1842 -- Introduction of Scotch Broom in Clatsop County area (Niemi, p. 25)

1842--1844 -- period of volcanic activity, Mt. St. Helens, including mudflows, pumice and lava flows (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13)

Dec. 1842 -- Jan. 1843 -- period of unceasing southwest gales, preventing exit over Columbia River bar (Hines, pp. 197-201)

1844
May 1844 -- major freshet and flooding on Columbia River (Skamokawa Eagle, letter from William Higgins detailing events of that period, June 21, 1894 p. 1; also Oregonian, June 12, 1894, p. 4, letter from John Minto, Oregonian June 13, 1894, p. 4, letter from Mrs. Lovejoy; Oregonian, June 15, 1894, p. 4, letter from W.L. Higgins)

Nov. 4, 1844 -- flooding of Willamette River (Leslie Scott, p. 134; George Miller, p. 185, mentions that H.B. Co. employee Thomas Lowe recorded flooding on Columbia and Willamette Rivers in Nov. 1844)

1846
1846 -- Vessel Shark surveyed and buoyed Columbia River Channel (Burr Osborn)

Sept. 10, 1846 -- Wreck of Shark (J. Neilson Barry, Who discovered the Columbia River, p. 154; Burr Osborn; Report of Lieut. Neil M. Howison))

1846 -- Oregon belongs to U.S. by treaty with Britain (Encyc. Americana)

Dec. 1846-Jan. 1847 -- Coldest winter ever experienced by oldest settlers -- Columbia River froze at Ft. Vancouver (Paul Kane, Wanderings of an Artist, p. 132)

1846-47 -- Fr. DeSmet begins irrigation activities in Columbia Basin (Craig and Hacker, p. 194; irrigation began in Columbia River basin ca 1849, Sherwood p. 314)

1847
1847--1854 -- intermittent steam and ash eruptions from Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13)

Mar. 26, 1847 -- Paul Kane describes eruption of Mt. St. Helens 3 years previously i.e. 1844 (Paul Kane, Wanderings of an artist, p. 131)

Mar. 30, 1847 -- Paul Kane describes smoke coming from Mt. St. Helens (Kane, Wanderings of an Artist, p. 140)

1848
1848 -- William O'Leary is first white settler on Gray's Harbor (Workman, p. 25)

Aug. 14, 1848 -- Oregon Territory created (Encyc. Americana)

1849
late Feb. 1849 -- river frozen at Vancouver (Peter Crawford journal #19)

Feb. 27, 1849 -- snowstorm on lower Columbia River (Peter Crawford journal, #19)

Summer 1849 -- fires in August and Sept. Cowlitz River low up until November. (Peter Crawford journal, #21)

1849 -- Warre and Vavasour map mouth of Columbia (Markham p. 2; Henry Warre, Overland to Oregon reproduction of map)

Nov. or Dec. 1849 -- Columbia River frozen and flooded (Norton p. 256)

Dec. 13, 1849 -- storm off Columbia River mouth delays arrival of vessel John W. Cater (Oregon Spectator, Dec. 13, 1849, p. 2; Jan. 24, 1850, p. 2)

1849 -- Elijah White founded Pacific City west of present Ilwaco (Davis, They Remembered vol. 1, p. 33)

1850
1850 -- moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1850 -- hydrographic survey of entrance to Columbia River to San Diego in U.S. Coast Survey schooner Ewing (Lewis, Oscar, p. 11; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2278)

1851
1851 -- Davidson surveying coast to mouth of Columbia (Lewis, Oscar, p. 15)

1852
1852 -- Samual Woodard is first settler to take donation land claim on Willapa (Workman, p. 26)

Jan. 1-7, 1852 -- southerly gales and rain all week in Grays Harbor (Henry Coonse diary)

Jan. 28, 1852 -- storm off mouth of Columbia River, in which steamer "General Warren, sank (Quarterdeck Review, Summer 1996, p. 9; Jan. 30, 1852 -- wreck of "General Warren" Lockley p. 9; confirmed in Lewis and Dryden, p. 40)

Feb. 5, 1852. Henry Coonse diary reports "The natives pick up a number of things on shore [Grays Harbor]. It has come from the wrecked vessel."

Feb. 8, 1852 -- Henry Coonse diary reports southwest wind in morning, rain all previous night, hard wind all day [Grays Harbor]

Feb. 27, 1852 -- Henry Coonse diary reports wind from southwest to southeast in evening, stormy with rain and snow, quite cold [Grays Harbor]

Feb. 28, 1852 -- Hard wind, rain and hail, southwest wind [Grays Harbor] (Coonse diary)

Mar. 2, 1852 -- west wind with hail, snow on ground and ice [Grays Harbor] (Coonse diary)

Mar. 4, 1852 -- wind from east, snow 2 inches deep [Grays Harbor] (Coonse diary)

Mar. 14, 1852 -- wind from west blowing a hard gale [Grays Harbor] (Coonse diary)

Mar. 15, 1852 -- Very cold and icy [Grays Harbor] Coonse Diary

Apr. 12, 1852 -- wind blew hard from southwest, cold [Grays Harbor] (Coonse diary)

1852 -- Lieut. James Alden reconnaissance of Shoalwater Bay in U.S surveying steamer "Active" (Hazeltine, Discovery, p. 260)

Nov. 25, 1852 -- terrible gale raged for several days after this date, at which time it is surmised the Machigone sank after leaving the Columbia River (Lewis and Dryden, p. 42)

Nov. 25, 1852. FLotsam observed 30 miles from coast near Willapa/Columbia River by James Swan (Swan, Northwest Coast, pp. 18-19

Dec. 1852 -- 2 feet of snow on lower Cowlitz (Peter Crawford Journal #45; cold winter listed in Oregonian Index, p. 315, Oregon Spectator, Sept. 16, 1853, p. 1 prints letter from Methodist pastor dated Mar. 1, 1853, who also discusses snow at Oak Point area on lower Columbia during December and freshet during early 1853).

1853
Jan. 12, 1853 -- wreck of Mindora on Middle Sands, Columbia River. Had stood off river since Dec. 30th due to heavy weather, came in and wrecked on Jan. 12, and a southeast gale that day destroyed vessel (Lewis and Dryden, p. 49)

Mar. 2, 1853 -- Washington Territory created (Encyc. Americana)

1853 -- smallpox epidemic on Washington coast (Capoeman, p. 46, quotes Gibbs)

1853-1861 -- Northern Pacific Railroad Survey (Cooper, Nat. History)

1854
1854 -- first tide recording gauge installed at Astoria (Lander, p. 13)

1854 -- Weak/moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1854 -- Oysterville platted (Tompkins p. 160)

1854 -- Oyster Schooner "Empire" wrecked on Willapa (Jacobsen n.p.)

1854 -- South channel on Columbia River now main channel (Borgeld, par. 30)

1854 -- Sand Island began to separate from Middle Sands (Borgeld, par. 30)

1854 -- U.S. Govt. established military reservation at North Cove (McCausland, North Cove p.t 1, p. 3)

April 1854 -- Chehalis County formed, later to become Grays Harbor County

Dec. 23, 1854 -- tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander, p. 121)

Dec. 24, 1854 -- tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander, p. 121)

1855
ca. Jan. 17, 1855 -- rough, squally weather on Grays Harbor, very cold, wind blowing a gale from the northwest (several days of this kind of weather are recounted in the Michael Luark diary)

1856
1856 -- first pioneer settlers in Westport (Chehalis Point) (Wheeler p. 16)

Jan. 6, 1856 -- records ten days of very cold weather beginning before Dec. 25, 1855 and ending on Jan. 1, 1856; Columbia River frozen (Stevens, p. 171, 172)

Oct. 15, 1856 -- lighthouse at Cape Disappointment begins to operate (Markham p. 3; Coast Pilot, 1869, p. 146)

1857
1857 -- last 19th century eruption of Mt. St. Helens (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 13)

1857-58 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1858
1858 -- first local sawmill opened on Mill Creek, on Willapa River (Eward Wolf, p. 23)

May 9, 1858 -- mild winter and cold late spring reported (Stevens p. 186)

1858 -- George Davidson's Directory of the Pacific Coast appeared in the Coast Survey Report for 1858 (Lewis, Oscar, p. 50) [ultimately became the Coast Pilot]

1858 -- North Cove Lighthouse established (Jacobsen p. 2; McCausland, North Cove pt. 1, p. 3; Webber p. 104; Dorpat, p. 19)

1859
1859 -- first pioneer settlers in Hoquiam (Wheeler p. 20)

1859 -- eruption of Mt. Hood (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 5; Harris, p. 115)

Jan. 18, 1859 -- hard storm in Grays Harbor (P. Luark n.p.)

Oct. 24, 1859 -- "Storm raged all day [Grays Harbor] (P. Luark n.p.)

1860
1860 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn); winter of early 1860 reported as mild (George Miller, p. 186)

ca 1860 -- first irrigated apple orchard in Okanogan area (Dorpat, p. 226)

Jan. 5, 1860 -- high tide -- damage at Shoalwater and Astoria (Luark n.p.)
 

1861

ca 1861 -- due to C.R. channel changing, erosion about 1/2 mile west of present Fort Stevens on Clatsop Spit washed out Indian graveyard. (P.W. Gillette, p. 261)

Feb. 1861 -- terrible storm, accompanied by heavy rains, at full moon, very high tide (P.W. Gillette diary)

Mar. 1861 -- Violent storm, very cold (P.W. Gillette Diary)

April 1861 -- very late frost (P.W. Gillette diary)

May 19, 1861 -- reports "one of the worst springs that I ever knew in any country, it has stormed two thirds of the time up to the first of this month...winter was fine" (Stevens letter, p. 328)

Summer 1861 -- very dry, continuing into fall (George Miller, p. 186)

Dec. 11, 1861 -- heavy rainfall, snowpack melted, causing severe flooding (Rue, Weather of the Pacific Coast, p. 176; McCausland, Willlapa Weather, p. 19; Leslie Scott, p. 134; Cathlamet on the Columbia, p. 95; Crawford, #45; See George Miller, The Great Willamette River Flood of 1861)

Dec. 1861-62 -- very cold winter; Chehalis River iced in (Van Syckle, p. 135; flooding on Columbia River and snow at Christmas, diary of P.W. Gillette)

1862
Jan. 1, 1862 -- snow storm, with snow lasting 60 days (Oregonian article Jan. 10, 1909, quoted in Leslie Scott, p. 129; pp. 131-2; P.W. Gillette diary also mentions snow and frozen river; Crawford #45)

Feb. 6, 1862 -- Fort Canby Military Reservation established (Williams p. 49)

1862 -- Henry Blodgett settles in Pacific Beach (Grays Harbor/North Beaches Shore Party Program; Kirk and Alexander; photo and caption in undated clipping from Aberdeen Daily World)

Aug. 1, 1862 -- U.S. Survey vessel Fontleroy reports fourteen feet of water on Grays Harbor bar (Workman, p. 30)

late Dec. 1862 -- hardest wind storm in 10 years (P.W. Gillette diary)

1863
Fall 1863 -- very dry (Oregonian, Oct. 13, 1908, quote in Leslie Scott, p. 158)

Winter 1863 -- major freeze that killed "nearly every oyster" in Willapa Bay (Reminiscence of Capt. J. Winant, South Bend Journal, Aug. 7, 1891)

1864
1864 -- strong El Nino

April 9 -- May 22, 1864 -- drought at Grays Harbor (Van Syckle, p. 135; drought from April 2 into June, according to P.W. Gillette diary)

1865
1865-66 -- eruption, Mt. Hood (Foxworthy and Hill, p. 5; Harris, p. 115)

Feb.-Mar. 1865 -- return of smelt after 17 years absence (Crawford #40)

April 1865 -- completion of Ft. Stevens

Nov. 25, 1865 -- "Furious storm" (P. Luark n.p.)

Dec. 17, 1865 -- wreck of the Decatur (P. Luark n.p.; Workman, p. 32)

1866
1866 -- moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1866 -- dredging and snagging operations conducted by Corps of Engineers on Willamette River near Portland (Willingham, History of Seattle Dist., p 20)

Jan. 18, 1866 -- big snowstorm on lower Cowlitz (Crawford #45)

1866 -- hurricane (Nelson Interview pp. 17-18)

May, June, part of July 1866 -- Columbia River freshet remains stable at 18 inches above medium rise during entire time (Crawford #46)

July 2, 1866 -- Ocean Park patented (George Johnson, p. 345)

Sept. 22, 1866 -- Executive Order creating Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation signed by President Andrew Johnson

Dec. 20, 1866 -- highest tide since white settlement at Grays Harbor; 15 houses destroyed at Oysterville (P. Luark, n.p.; Van Syckle, pp. 135-6; McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 20; Lander, p. 45, notes that it was not a tsunami but storm waves generated by two days of heavy storm activity; Stevens letter, p. 337)

1867
Mar. 1867 -- snow, cold, freezing (Crawford, #46)

June 1867 -- five channel buoys placed on Grays Harbor Channel (Workman, p. 32)

Spring/Summer, 1867 -- 5 week freshet on Columbia River swept away Monticello (Longview) (Dorpat p. 253)

Summer/Fall 1867 -- heavy forest fires and smoke (Stevens letters, pp. 338-9)

Dec. 12-15, 1867 -- heavy rains. On Dec. 17, the swollen Cowlitz swept away Monticello (Crawford #47)

1868
1868 -- first pioneer settlers in Aberdeen (Wheeler, p. 23)

Jan. 22, 1868 -- river frozen near Portland (Oregonian, Jan. 22, 1868, as quoted by Leslie Scott, p. 125); river frozen at Cowlitz from Jan. 1 to end of Feb. according to Crawford #47

April 3, 1868 -- tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander p. 122)

June 28 --Oct. 21, 1868 -- No rain, Grays Harbor (Van Syckle, p. 135; also mentioned in Oregonian Index p. 316)

Aug. 14, 1868 -- tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander, p. 123)

End of August, 1868 -- Cleveland Rockwell notes smoke from forest fires was so thick it obscured the sun, hindered navigation at sea, and prevented surveying work on the north side of the Columbia above Cape Disappointment (Stenzel, p. 26; corroborated in Leslie Scott, p. 158)

1868 -- survey of Columbia River mouth shows "south channel in its best condition" (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2279)

1869

August 1869 -- Rockwell notes smoke from forest fires while surveying in Cape Disappointment area (Stenzel, p. 27)

1870
April 15, 1870 -- wreck of schooner Champion on Columbia River Bar, storm came up night of Ap. 15 (Lewis and Dryden, p. 188)

April, 1870 -- Schooner Ellen lost off Shoalwater (Jacobsen n.p.; Lewis and Dryden, p. 188)

1871
1871 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1871 -- Corps of Engineers establishes an Engineer Office at Portland (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 21; Dorpat p. 24)

Dec. 19, 1871 -- Vessel U.S. Grant sinks at Ft. Canby in storm (Gibbs, Pacific Graveyard; Lewis and Dryden, p. 199)

1872
Aug. 23, 1872 -- teletsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander, p. 24, 47)

1873
1873 -- townsite of Unity platted (Davis, They Remembered, vol. 1, p. 34; South Bend Journal, Pacific County Edition, 1900, p. 17)

Dec. 13, 1873 -- high winds cause much damage in Astoria area (Triweekly Astorian, p. 3)

Dec. 17, 1873 -- letter from Willapa mentions ten or twelve sunny days with frosty nights, plus a snow fall during the month (Tri Weekly Astorian Dec. 23, 1873 p. 1)

Dec. 30, 1873 -- ice in Columbia near Portland that prevented shipping reported to be breaking up (Tri Weekly Astorian Dec. 30, 1873 p. 1)

1874
1874 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 20, 1874 -- snowfall of three inches on ground at Astoria (Tri Weekly Astorian Jan. 20, 1874 p. 1)

1875
1875 -- Lewis and Dryden claim major marine losses this year and mention several Pacific gales around mid-November (Lewis and Dryden, pp. 223-230)

Jan. 10-Feb. 10, 1875 -- cold snap with snow and ice on Columbia River as quoted by Leslie Scott, p. 132, from Oregonian; Daily Astorian Jan. 28, 1875 also confirms this; winter of 1875 was so cold that oysters froze in Willapa Bay, Hunter, Louise, p. 6)

Nov. 1875 -- big windstorm according to R.D. Rhodes (Van Syckle, p. 136; WPA, Told by the Pioneers, p. 107)

1876
Feb. 1876 -- terrible freeze on Willapa Bay -- (Nelson Interview, p. 17; Oregonian Index mentions cold winter, Feb. 1876)

June 1876 -- Columbia River flood (WPA, Told by the Pioneers, p. 107; Oregonian Index p. 79)

Nov. 1876 -- terrible windstorm in Willapa (Washington Pioneer Project, Lilly interview p. 7)

1876 -- Vessel Sunshine wrecked on Long Beach in a storm (Lucile Mcdonald, Graveyard, p. 2)

1876-77 -- first shad appear in the Columbia River, as a result of plantings made in Sacramento in 1871 (Craig and Hacker)

1877
1877 -- first salmon hatchery built on tributary of Columbia River, on Clackamas River (Courtland Smith, p. 74)

1877 -- U.S. Govt. establishes Fort Canby Lifesaving Station (Markham p. 4)

1877 -- approval granted for establishment of 20 foot Columbia River channel by means of dams, dikes and revetments (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 23; Willingham, Army Engineers and the Development of Oregon, p. 24)

Oct. 12, 1877 -- earthquake tremors felt in Astoria, oscillating from east to west (Daily Astorian, Oct. 13, 1877, p. 1)

1877-78 -- Very Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1878
1878 -- Clatsop Spit extended half the distance across river mouth; Middle Sands and Sand Island now separated (Borgild, par. 31)

1878 -- Shoalwater Lifesaving Station activated (Jacobsen, p. 3; McCausland, North Cove pt. 1, p. 5)

1878 -- terrible freeze on Willapa Bay (Nelson Interview p. 17)

1879
1879 -- first commercial fish trap in Baker's Bay (Courtland Smith, p. 30)

Jan. 3, 1879 -- Portland shut in by ice for first time in 4 years, (from article in Oregonian, quoted in Leslie Scott, p. 126)

April 19, 1879 -- wreck of Great Republic on Sand Island, followed by southeast gale that destroyed vessel (Lewis and Dryden, p. 266)

1880
1880 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 9, 1880 -- great storm in Portland (Leslie Scott, p. 148, quoted from Oregonian article of Jan. 10, 1880; Daily Astorian Jan. 10, 1880 p. 3 says "The blow lasted furiously for about 2 hours and a half. It came from the northwest and spent its fury by half past three o'clock." Barometer reading was 28.45 at noon; Daily Astorian, Jan. 13, 1880, p. 3 gives more damage reports from storm on Jan. 9)

May 3, 1880 -- May "squall" or storm; many boats lost (Davis, They remembered, vol. 1, p. 121; typhoon caused death of between 250 and 500 fishermen (Washington Pioneer Project, Morehouse Family History, p. 11; "terrible typhoon" 250 to 500 lives lost (Washington Pioneer Project, Mosland Interview, p. 11; Daily Astorian, May 3, 1880, p. 1, indicates that many fishermen were lost, but not necessarily dead; they were simply unaccounted for. Succeeding newspapers mention fishermen gradually returning over the course of the next several days)

1880's -- Corps of Engineers carried out snag removal in lower Chehalis River, throughout decade (Willingham, History of Seattle Dist., p. 29)

August 1880 -- water still much above normal in C.R. -- had swept away Cleveland Rockwell's triangulation points (Stenzel, p. 37; Daily Astorian Aug. 11, 1880, p. 3 "The water has so far receded in Portland as to allow all the lower docks in the city to be occupied.")

Dec. 12, 1880 -- 2 earthquake shocks felt (Daily Astorian 14, 1880, p. 3; Algermissen and Harding)

1880-1881 -- Middle Sands on Columbia River broke in two, with eastern part, Sand Island, moving toward Washington shore (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mouth of the C.R. p. 3; "Middle Sands had almost disappeared," U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2279))

1881
1881 -- North Cove established (Jacobsen)

1881 -- Long Beach platted (McDonald, p. 112)

1881 -- Corps of Engineers study of Grays Harbor (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 42)

Jan. 19, 1881 -- great flood on Columbia River (Leslie Scott, pp. 138-140, from Oregonian article; Daily Astorian Jan. 19, 1881, p. 3 mentions flood, and comments on how muddy the Columbia is)

May 4, 1881 -- wall of water [tsunami?] (Davis, They remembered, vol. 3, p. 93; could not verify in Astoria papers)

1882
April 30, 1882, -- severe tremors (Daily Astorian May 2, 1882, p. 3; Daily Astorian May 3, 1882, p. 3 mentions that earthquake was felt in Westport and Ft. Canby about 10:30 p.m. April 30; Daily Astorian May 4, 1882, p. 3 tells that 3 shocks vibrated from SW to NE on April 30)

1882 -- Congress authorized South Jetty of Columbia River (Borgeld par. 32)

1882-1890 -- snagging operations conducted on lower Chehalis River (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 42)

1883
1883 -- first splash dam built on upper Willapa River (Edward Fox, p. 26)

August 1883 -- drought continues (Workman, p. 37)

1883 -- Ocean Park platted (McDonald, p. 114)

1884
1884 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1884 -- construction of Columbia River South Jetty began (Borgeld par. 33; Gilmore, Columbia River Jetties, p. 4; R.E. Hickson & F.W. Rodolf, p. 289; Willingham, Historical Overview of Lower Columbia, p. 20; date 1885 is given in 1903 Report of the Chief of Engineers and also in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mouth of the C.R. p. 6)

Feb. 1884 -- Town of North Cove platted (McCausland, North Cove pt. 1, p. 3)

Feb. 16, 1884 -- plat for Aberdeen filed (Workman, p. 38)

Mar. 27, 1884 -- earthquake felt in Hoquiam (Workman, p. 38)

Dec. 1884 -- snow and ice in Grays Harbor region (Workman, p. 38)

1885
Jan. 1885 -- Cold snap (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 7, 1984, pp. C10-11; confirmed in Workman, p. 39)

Jan. 12, 1885 -- "most vigorous freshet known in Chehalis Valley since its settlement by whites. A. J. Smith said it was high in 1868." (Workman, p. 39)

Feb. 21, 1885 -- "another week of stormy weather" (Workman, p. 39)

1885 -- North Channel in Columbia River had "practically disappeared by this date" (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2280)

1885 -- Dam at Willamette Falls put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1885 -- early hydroelectric development at Spokane Falls (Craig and Hacker, p. 193)

1885 -- first plantings of shad in Columbia River (Craig and Hacker, p. 202)

Nov. 26, 1885 -- "highest tide of the season last Tuesday overflowed lands here-to-fore considered above the high water mark" in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 40)

1886
1886 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1887
Mar. 5, 1887 -- 17 1/2 inches snow fell during month in Astoria; winter of 1886-87 very wet (Weekly Astorian, p. 3; also in Workman, p. 42)

April 30, 1887 -- "high tide put 6" of water over the wharf in Aberdeen" (Workman, p. 42)

May 1, 1887 to May 11, 1887. Storm lasted ten days on Grays Harbor, according to Surveyor J.F. Pratt's Report.

Nov. 13, 1887 -- "the stormiest day in the last four years" [Grays Harbor] (Workman, p. 43)

Dec. 6, 1887 -- storm in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 43)

Dec. 8, 1887 -- "heaviest blow of the season [Grays Harbor] (Workman, p. 43)

1887-1889 -- Weak/moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1888
1888 -- very cold weather, ice on Columbia (article in Oregonian Jan. 16, 1888, quoted in Leslie Scott, p. 130; also in Weekly Astorian, Jan. 21, 1888, p. 3)

Jan. 16 , 1888 -- Chehalis River freezes over (Workman, p. 43)

Feb. 12, 1888 -- heaviest wind storm of season (Workman, p. 43)

July 4, 1888 --mentions constant rains of past few weeks in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 44)

1888 -- Ocean Park established

1888 -- Aberdeen incorporated

1889
1889 -- hydroelectric development at Willamette Falls (Craig and Hacker, p. 193)

1889 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

May 6, 1889 -- "one of the most severe wind storms passes over the Northwest Coast" (Workman, p. 45)

Nov. 11, 1889 -- Washington achieves statehood (Encyc. Americana)

1889 -- Coast Steamer Gadney spent 3 months doing soundations on Shoalwater Bay -- afterwards became known as Willapa Bay (Jacobsen p. 3)

1890
1890 -- founding of South Bend, incorporated in 1891 (South Bend Journal, Pacific County Ed., 1900, p.5; Workman says it was incorporated in 1890, p. 47)

Jan. 1890 -- several items on cold weather in Grays Harbor area (Workman, p. 46)

Feb. 1890 -- severe flooding on Willamette and Columbia Rivers (Leslie Scott, pp. 134-5 from Oregonian of Feb. 19, 1890; Oregonian Index, p. 80)

Dec. 25, 1890 -- gale in Hoquiam blew down large trees (John Porter, n.p.; Workman dates a severe wind and rainstorm to Dec. 20)

1891
1891 -- Very Strong El Nino (Quinn)

June 1891 -- rained for 20 days in Portland area, slowing Cleveland Rockwell's survey (Stenzel, Rockwell, p. 53)

Summer, 1891 -- very hot, many forest fires (Alcorn, Higley Family)

Nov. 3, 1891 -- wreck of Strathblane in heavy gale at North Beach, about 9 miles north of Cape Disappointment (Skamokawa Eagle, Nov. 5, 1891, p. 1; Wells, p. 103; Lewis and Dryden, p. 394)

Nov. 30, 1891 -- slight earthquake on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 49)

Dec. 7, 1891 -- exceptionally stormy weather (Workman, p. 49)

Dec. 22, 1891 -- big blow delays trains and boats on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 49)

Dec. 28, 1891 -- "The severest wind in many years does great damage to cities on the Harbor" (Workman, p. 49)

1892
Jan. 29, 1892 -- wreck of Ferndale about 15 miles north of entrance to Grays Harbor, in severe gale (Lewarne p. 6; Lewis and Dryden, p. 404)

Feb. 3, 1892 -- earthquake in Astoria (Bott and Wong, p. 118)

Feb. 9, 1892 -- record snowfall of 40 inches during this period at Copalis (John Porter, Letter to his father)

Summer 1892 -- unprecedented drought (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 8, 1987, p. A8)

Nov. 17, 1892 -- very heavy rainstorm caused major flooding in lower Columbia River region (Skamokawa Eagle, Nov. 24, 1892, p. 4; "the weather has been beastly this week" Workman, p. 50)

Nov. 25, 1892 -- "Stormy weather. Over eleven inches of rain fell in Aberdeen between Nov. 13th and 18th." (Workman, p. 50)

Thanksgiving, 1892 -- foot of snow at Copalis (John Porter n.p.)

Dec. 22, 1892 -- Blizzard in Grays Harbor area, with 14 inches of snow (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 8, 1987, p. A8; Workman reports snow during this period, p. 50)

1892 -- approval granted for increase in depth of Columbia River shipping channel to 25 feet at low water (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 23)

1893
Jan. 26, 1893 -- 26 inches of snow fell in Grays Harbor area (Aberdeen Daily World Feb. 8, 1987, p. A8; confirmed in Higley article by Alcorn; Workman, p. 50)

Feb. 1-2, 1893 -- 45 inches of snow fell in Grays Harbor area (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 8, 1987, p. A8; Workman, p. 50)

Feb. 2, 1893 -- drifting ice in lower Columbia River (Skamokawa Eagle, Feb. 2, 1893, p. 4)

Feb. 17, 1893 -- schooner J.C. Ford driven on South Spit, Grays Harbor, in squall (Lewis and Dryden, p. 413)

April 13, 1893 --  Heavy seas and squalls on Willapa cause mail boat to capsize April 13 (April 21, 1893, unidentified newspaper clipping)

April 1893 -- construction of pile dikes in Grays Harbor to cause a stronger flow in north channel to scour out shoals (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 42-43; Workman, p. 50)

April 21, 1893 -- completion of 20 months of dredging and filling of 25 acres of tidal flats in front of South Bend (South Bend Journal, Ap. 21, 1893)

May 4, 1893 -- letter from pioneer J.T. Lutes stating he has never seen such a late, cold, wet spring in forty years residence on Pacific Coast (Skamokawa Eagle, May 4, 1893, p. 1; May 11, 1893, p. 1)

May 18, 1893 -- very high freshet in Columbia River (Skamokawa Eagle, May 18, 1893, p. 4)

May 1893 -- completion of closure of Mail Boat Slough near South Bend to reduce shoaling (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 51)

Sept. 8, 1893 -- "immense quantity of sardines now on Harbor [Grays Harbor] (Workman, p. 52)

Dec. 6, 1893 -- "very high tide" on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 52)

Dec. 12, 1893 -- "heavy storms this week" (Workman, p. 52)

1894
1894 -- introduction of Eastern oysters into Willapa Bay (Edward Wolf, p. 21)

1894 -- introduction of spartina grass into Willapa Bay area (Edward Wolf, p. 34)

1894 -- closing sloughs along Chehalis River in order to deepen north channel of Grays Harbor complete (Dorpat, p. 21)

Jan. 12, 1894 -- storm hits Astoria and vicinity and causes great damage (Astoria Daily Budget, Jan. 13, 1894, p. 4)

Mar. 2, 1894 -- "The ocean beach from Moclips River to Boone Creek (six miles) has been taken up as placer mines. The gold is there, but the machine to separate it from the sand has not been invented." (Workman, p. 53)

June 1, 1894 -- high water mark reached in Portland, due to big freshet (Daily Astorian, p. 1; major flooding reported for this period by Skamokawa Eagle, June 7, 1894, p. 1; June flood largest on Columbia since records first kept in 1858, reached 34 feet at Vancouver, 18 feet above the banks, Dorpat, p. 253; Oregonian reports major flooding June 8, 1894, p. 8)

June 14, 1894 -- big new moon tides aggravate flood conditions on Columbia River (Skamokawa Eagle, June 14, 1894, p. 4)

Oct. 2, 1894 -- "severe windstorm" (Workman, p. 53)

Oct. 16, 1894 -- Vessel Norah Hawkins went aground in thick fog and high wind at Peterson's Point across from Ocosta in the South Bay, Grays Harbor (Wells, p. 80)

Nov. 30, 1894 -- "heavy rains and high water [Grays Harbor] (Workman, p. 53)

Dec. 9, 1894 -- major storm blew down trees and did considerable damage to buildings (Skamokawa Eagle, Dec. 13, 1894, p. 4; southwest wind, highest tide for many years, Astoria Daily Budget Dec. 10, 1894, p. 1)
1895
Jan. 13, 1895 -- high winds hit Astoria, between 102 and 132 mph, highest tides in history; Seaside Cannery blown off pilings (Daily Morning Astorian, Jan. 13, 1895, p. 1)

Feb. 26, 1895 -- earthquake hits Astoria (Daily Morning Astorian, p. 4)

June 1895 -- Corps of Engineers completed dredging shoals in Grays Harbor and closed off sloughs by dikes to improve channel on lower Chehalis (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 44)

Dec. 22, 23, 1895 -- gale. (Daily Morning Astorian, Dec. 24, 1895, p. 1; Workman, p. 54, mentions stormy weather)

1895 -- Columbia River South Jetty complete (Borgeld par. 33; R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, p. 289; Willingham, Hist. Overview of Lower Columbia, p. 21)

1896
1896 -- construction began on south jetty, Grays Harbor (Dorpat, p. 21)

Feb. 28, 1896 -- wreck of Point Loma on Long Beach in heavy seas (Skamokawa Eagle, Mar. 5, 1896, p. 1; Gibbs, Shipwrecks)

Mar. 6, 1896 -- "snow falls six inches deep on the beach (Workman, p. 54)

April 1896 -- creation of Seattle District Corps of Engineers out of the Washington portion of 2 Portland offices (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist. p. 33)

Oct. 16, 1896 -- "The beach was lined for miles one day last week with a row of smelt about four feet wide and three to four inches deep that had been driven in by the storm" (Workman, p. 55)

Oct. 30, 1896 -- Storm hits Astoria area, 2 1/2 inches rain (Daily Morning Astorian, Oct. 31, 1896, p. 4)

Nov. 9, 1896 -- wreck of Zinita on Damon's beach, 5 miles north of Grays Harbor, in heavy southwest gale (Skamokawa Eagle, Nov. 12, 1896, p. 4)

Nov. 12, 1896 -- 60 mph gale, gales have continued 2-3 days (Daily Morning Astorian, Nov. 13, 1896, p. 4)

Nov. 19, 1896 -- heavy storms and rain for past week have caused flooding and damage on Columbia River (Skamokawa Eagle, Nov. 19, 1896 p. 1; also on Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 55)

Dec. 3, 1896 -- subfreezing temperatures reported for Columbia river area for past week, an "unprecedented" event for November; floating ice on river (Skamokawa Eagle, Dec. 3, 1896, pp. 1,4; "steamer Thistle was unable to get to wihin a mile of the wharf at Oyehut owing to the ice," Workman, p. 55)

1896-97 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1897
1897 -- Grays Harbor Coast Guard Station established (Van Syckle p. 389)

Mar. 25, 1897 -- wind 75-80 mph, damage at Astoria, Ilwaco (Daily Morning Astorian, Mar. 26, 1897, p. 1)

Nov. 17, 18, 1897 --  Big storm hits, much damage (Daily Morning Astorian, Nov. 19, 1897, p. 4; Workman, p. 56)

Dec. 10, 1897 -- tidal wave hits Seaside (Daily Morning Astorian, p. 4; Workman records it as "storms and high water", p. 56)

1898
1898 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Feb. 1898 -- big snow for 2 weeks in Grays Harbor (Van Syckle, p. 135)

Mar. 1898 -- construction began on South Jetty at Grays Harbor, (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 45-46)

June 30, 1898 -- Grays Harbor light commissioned (Van Syckle p. 389)

1899

1899 -- first salmon hatchery opens on Willapa River (Edward Wolf, p. 28)

Mar. 7, 1899 -- high southeast winds at 50 mph (Astoria Daily Budget Mar. 7, 1899, p. 4)

Aug. 6, 1899 -- earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Daily Budget, Aug. 8, 1899, p. 4)

Nov. 20, 1899 -- tidal wave at Shoalwater Bay (Astoria Daily Budget, Nov. 20, 1899, p. 4)

Nov. 28, 1899 -- Severe storm hits, heavy rain and wind; Columbia River lightship washed upon shore near McKenzie Head, Nov. 29 (Daily Morning Astorian, Dec. 1, 1899, p. 4; McCurdy, p. 51; Workman, p. 57 "heavy winds build seas to highest ever seen")

1899-1900 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1900
late May, 1900 -- severe windstorm hampers jetty construction at Grays Harbor (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 1)

Dec. 20, 1900 -- wind storm with 2 1/2 inches rain near Astoria (Astoria Daily Budget, p. 4; Workman, p. 59)

1902
1902 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1902 -- Splash Dam built across Wishkah River, G.H. (Capoeman, p. 156)

1902 -- founding of Raymond (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 51)

fall, 1902 -- Construction completed on South Jetty, Grays Harbor (Phipps, p. 17; Willingham p. 46)

Sept. 11, 1902 -- bad forest fire on coast (Washington Pioneer Project, Lilly interview, p. 7; confirmed in Workman, p. 61)

Sept. 13, 1902 -- Forest fires raging in Grays Harbor County sent up enough smoke to obscure sun, and keep area in darkness (Aberdeen Sun, Sept. 13, 1902; Confirmed in Alcorn, Higley family article)

Sept. 25, 1902 -- Moclips platted (Program for Grays Harbor-North Beaches shore party)

1903
1903 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1903 -- Corps plants "Ammophila arenaria" on Clatsop Spit to prevent drifting sand and reclaim area (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1903, p. 2272)

1903 -- extension of South Jetty of Columbia River begun (R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, p. 290; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mouth of the Columbia River, p. 7)

1903 -- dredging of Cow Point and below Hoquiam (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 47)

Mar. 1903 -- several items regarding storms on North Beach area during March (Workman, p. 62)

June 1903 -- 15 sacks of eastern oysters planted at Westport (Workman, p. 62)

Sept. 12, 1903 -- quake hits city (Astoria Daily Budget, p. 4)

1904
1904 -- El Nino (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Feb. 10, 1904 -- Electrical storm at Astoria, followed by heavy rain and high wind (Oregonian, Feb. 11, 1904, p. 4)

March, 1904 -- period of severe storms (Lander, p. 59; confirmed by checking issues of Astoria Daily Budget for this time period)

Mar. 16, 1904 -- earthquake felt along Washington Coast and in Aberdeen, Hoquiam (Lander, p. 59, 127; not mentioned in Astoria newspapers)

Mar. 30, 1904 -- possible tsunami off Washington Coast caused flooding, caused by meteorological conditions, validity 0 (Lander, p. 19; not mentioned in Astoria newspapers)

April 15, 1904 -- plat filed for new townsite on North Beach; Pacific Beach (Workman, p. 63)

July 17, 1904 -- Wreck of Zampa at Leadbetter Pt. (Edwards, Wreck of Zampa, p. 43)

1904-1920 -- drainage of lakes near North Cove (Jacobsen p. 3)

1905
Jan. 12, 1905 -- "ice thick enough on tidelands [Grays Harbor] to support a good sized boy (Workman, p. 65)

Jan. 13, 1905 -- heavy snowfall at Aberdeen (Workman, p. 65)

Sept. 22, 1905 -- The Arago goes ashore at Clatsop spit in gale (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Sept. 22, 1905, p. 1)

Dec. 26, 1905 -- lightning strikes North Head weather station (Lucile McDonald, p. 134)

1905 -- weak/moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1906
Mar 1. 1906 -- "cold snap a surprise to Harbor" (Workman, p. 66)

April 18, 1906 -- great San Francisco earthquake

May 15, 1906 -- Rainstorm general all over Northwest (Oregonian, May 14, 1906, p. 1)

Oct. 25, 1906 -- wreck of Peter Iredale, Clatsop Spit (Anon., The Wreck of the Peter Iredale, p. 4; Gibbs, Disaster Log; McCurdy, p. 126)

Nov. 6, 1906 -- very stormy weather reported for offshore area near Columbia River mouth (Lander, p. 61)

Nov. 13, 1906 -- wreck of Galena on Clatsop Beach (Gilmore, Wreck of the Galena, p. 2; Gibbs, Disaster Log)

Nov. 15, 1906 -- violent storm damages flume at Hoquiam (Workman, p. 66)

Nov.17, 1906 -- mentions heavy rain and wind in past week, including wreck of Galena (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 17, 1906, p. 1)

Nov. 19, 1906 -- item mentions storm raging on Nov. 19th (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 23, 1906, pp. 2,3)

Dec. 1906  -- heavy storm that damaged oysters by blowing sand or mud on them and smothering them (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Feb. 1, 1907, p. 1)

ca. Dec.6-7, 1906 -- Melenope caught in storm off Columbia River, ballast shifted (unidentified news clipping in Shipwreck album at Washington State Historical Society Library; McCurdy, p. 127)

Dec. 7, 1906 -- "much havoc from storm" (Workman, p. 66)

1906 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1907
1907 -- moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 18, 1907 -- Lowest tide of year coupled with cold weather froze oysters in Grays Harbor. Willapa oysters not damaged (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 18, 1907, p. 1; Workman mentions three inches of snow on this date in the Harbor, p. 67)

Feb. 5, 1907. Vessel Solano stranded on North Beach Peninsula 4 miles north of Ocean Park in stiff gale. (Wells, p. 96)

Oct. 1907 -- work began on North Jetty, Grays Harbor (Dorpat, p. 21)

Dec. 24, 1907 -- storm on Christmas Eve (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Dec. 27, 1907, p. 1; Workman, p. 67 mentions "strong southwesterly" on Dec. 23)

1908
1908 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 5, 1908 -- "high wind causes highest flood tide in years" (Workman, p. 67)

Jan. 10, 1908 -- "small tidal wave occurred on the ocean beach [Long Beach] Wednesday at about 3 p.m. The water washed clear up over the railroad track at Oceanside..." (Unidentified newspaper clipping)

1908 -- dredging of channel from Aberdeen to west of Hoquiam to 18 foot level complete (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 47)

1908 -- dredging of 12 foot channel between South Bend and Raymond complete (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist. p. 51; Dorpat p. 20)

May 1908 -- construction begins on N. Jetty, Grays Harbor (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 48)

Aug. 7, 1908 -- several days of stormy weather on Willapa (South Bend Journal, Aug  7, 1908)

Dec. 12, 1908 -- "severe gale rages on Harbor; steamers are bar-bound" (Workman, p. 68)

Dec. 27, 1908 -- Storm batters Moclips village (Oregonian, Dec. 27, 1908, p. 6; Workman, p. 68)
 

1909
Jan. 7, 1909 -- snow and cold weather in Portland area, from article in Oregonian, quoted in Leslie Scott, p. 131; Jan. 13, 1909, Columbia frozen over according to editor of Skamokawa Eagle, Jan. 13, 1909; Jan 8, cold and snow force loggers to quite, according to Workman, p. 68)

Jan. 11, 1909 -- Grays Harbor earthquake (Workman, p. 68)

Jan. 15, 1909 -- Vessel Alice went ashore at Long Beach in a gale (Gibbs, Disaster Log; McCurdy, p. 167)

Jan. 19, 1909 -- Raymond flooded on Jan. 19th, due to extra high tide, heavy rain and big freshet in Willapa and South Fork Rivers. "More water along railroad track than ever known before" Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 22, 1909, p. 1; Workman, p. 68)

Mar. 31, 1909 -- Charles E. Falk wrecked due to gale and heavy sea, 2 miles north of Copalis. (Wells, p. 60; McCurdy, p. 165)

Nov. 17, 1909 -- Heavy wind storm on Nov. 17 (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 19, 1909, p. 1; "storm isolates Harbor from the world and effects heavy damage" Workman, p. 69)

Nov. 26, 1909 --  Heavy rain makes freshet. Story mentions 3 big freshets in November (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 26, 1909, p. 8)

Nov. 29, 1909 -- "Storm sets records; maroons Harbor (Workman, p. 69)

Dec. 7, 1909 -- "snow covers Harbor with 8" white blanket" (Workman, p. 69)

Dec. 11, 1909 -- "Southwest gale again sweeps Harbor" (Workman, p. 67)

1910
1910 -- Clackamas River dams put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

Jan. 7, 1910 -- current cold weather, snow (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 7, 1910, p. 1)

Feb. 28, 1910 -- "storm covers Harbor area" (Workman, p. 69)

Mar. 3, 1910 -- "Harbor District is isolated by washouts from storms" (Workman, p. 69)

Mar. 4, 1910 --  "Worst Storm in Twenty Years" mentions flooding, slides, heavy rains and winds during the week (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Mar. 4, 1910, p. 1)

June 24, 1910 -- Grays Harbor Channel 22 feet at low water (Workman, p. 70)

July 15, 1910 --  Reports forest fires, very warm weather, and school of about 100 sharks in Willapa Bay. "Never, in the memory of the oldest settlers, has so large a number been seen in the Bay before" (Willapa Harbor Pilot, July 15, 1910, p. 1; forest fires in Grays Harbor region, Workman, p. 70)

Oct. 3, 1910 -- "heavy storm along coast (Workman, p. 70)

Oct. 16, 1910 -- North Jetty, Grays Harbor, nearing completion (Sunday Oregonian, Oct. 16, 1910, p. 4; original plans completed in 1910, with extension beginning almost immediately, Willingham, Northwest Passages, p. 49)

Nov. 10, 1910 -- "gale sweeps Harbor" (Workman, p. 70)

Nov. 17, 1910 -- Grays Harbor bar now stands 27 feet at low water (Workman, p. 70)

Nov. 18, 1910 --  Under Long Beach local news, "Storm, storm, rain and wind has been the feature here since last Friday," i.e. since Nov. 18 (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 25, 1910, p. 8; Workman, p. 70, also mentions storm on Nov. 22)

1911
Jan. 13, 1911 -- cold snap in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 70)

Feb. 12, 13, 1911 -- huge storm destroys Moclips Beach Hotel and other buildings on beach at Moclips (Grays Harbor Post, Feb. 18, 1911, p. 1; Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 13, 1911, p. 1; Workman, p. 70)

Feb. 13, 1911 -- wreck of Oshkosh at Columbia River bar, in heavy seas (McCurdy, p. 194)

Mar. 23, 1911 -- "Heavy rain and wind storm sweeps Harbor" (Workman, p. 70)

May 19, 1911 -- "50 mph late season storm" (Workman, p. 71)

July 13, 1911 -- "heat wave sets records on the Harbor" (Workman, p. 71)

Sept. 15, 1911 --  1st 14 days of Sept. show 2.42 inches of rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Sept. 15, 1911, p. 1)

Nov. 11, 1911 -- the vessel Washington disabled on Columbia River bar, rescued by tug, despite heavy weather (McCurdy, p. 198)

Dec. 22, 1911 -- jetty deepens water on Grays Harbor bar to thirty feet (Workman, p. 71)

1911 -1912 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1912
Jan. 13, 1912 -- wreck of Admiral on South Jetty of Columbia River in a gale (Gibbs, Pacific Graveyard; McCurdy, p. 211)

Feb. 8, 1912 -- heavy storm on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 71)

Oct. 19, 1912 -- storm cripples phone service on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 72)

Nov. 12, 1912 -- "worst storm of the year visits Harbor" (Workman, p. 72)

Dec. 28, 1912 -- severe southwest gale drove Torrisdale ashore at Grays Harbor (Gibbs, Shipwrecks; McCurdy, p. 211)

1912 -- approval given for increase in depth of Columbia River shipping channel to 30 feet (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 23)

1912 -- Bull Run and Marmot Dams (Sandy River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1913
1913 -- El Nino (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1913 -- completion of extension of South Jetty on Columbia River (R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, p. 290)

Jan. 1913 -- completion of dredging of 18 foot channel from Raymond to deep water in Willapa Bay (Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 51; Dorpat, p. 20)

Jan 7, 1913 -- wreck of Rosecranz (Astoria Daily Budget, Jan. 13, 1913, p. 6; McCurdy, p. 228)

Jan. 14, 1913 -- heaviest blow on coast -- anemometer at North Head registered 125 m.p.h. before it blew down (WPA, Told by the Pioneers, p. 103; a month of storms as reported in Astoria Daily Budget; several accounts in newspaper of ice and snow and cold weather during this time.)

Sept. 1913 -- construction begun on North Jetty, Columbia River (R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, p. 293; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mouth of the Columbia River p. 8)

Oct. 12, 1913 -- gales reach 90 mph velocity on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 73)

Nov. 29, 1913 -- "Winter's worst storm brings floods; Moclips Pavilion in ruins" (Workman, p. 73)

Dec. 6, 1913 -- Construction completed on North Jetty, Grays Harbor (Phipps, p. 19) but reconstruction began immediately due to settling of structure (Van Syckle, p. 162)

1913 -- extension to Columbia River South Jetty completed (Kytr, Daniel Kern, p. 4; R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, p. 290; Willingham, Hist. Overview of Lower Columbia, p. 21)

1914
Jan. 1914 -- "storms of hurricane force swept the Pacific Coast" during this month, tore Columbia River lightship from its moorings (McCurdy, p. 248; Workman p. 73 also reports storms in this period)

1914 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

May, 1914 -- "driest May in 22 years, 2.15" of rain" (Workman, p. 74)

Nov. 12, 1914 -- "winter gale of great severity sweeps Harbor (Workman, p. 74)

Dec. 21, 1914 -- "Harbor records of 14 years broken by cold; 14 degrees F. Longest cold/dry December ever (Workman, p. 74)

1914-1917 -- Puget Island is diked on Columbia River (Irene Martin, Beach of Heaven, p. 128)

1915

Mar. 1915 -- Chehalis County renamed Grays Harbor County (Workman, p. 74)

November 23, 1915 -- "biggest storm of the year" [Grays Harbor] (Workman, p. 75)

Nov. 24, 1915 -- 70 mph blow sweeps Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 75)

1916
1916 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 3, 1916 -- 3 inches of snow at Aberdeen (Workman, p. 75)

Jan. 24, 1916 -- Reconstruction on North Jetty, Grays Harbor, complete (Van Syckle, p. 162; Willingham, Hist. of Seattle Dist., p. 49)

Jan. 29, 1916 -- several reports during month of cold weather and snow, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 75)

Nov. 27,1916 -- "southwester lashes Harbor" (Workman, p. 75)

Dec. 4, 1916 -- "fierce gale ravages Harbor" (Workman, p. 75)

1917
1917 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

Feb. 1, 1917 -- Major snowstorm in Grays Harbor County (Aberdeen World, Feb. 1, 1917, p. 5)

Mar. 23, 1917 -- "raging storm" (Workman, p. 76)

May 1917 -- North Jetty of Columbia River completed (Gilmore, Columbia River jetties, p. 5; R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf p. 293; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mouth of the Columbia River, p. 8; Willingham, Hist. Overview of Lower Columbia, p. 22)

1918
Sept. 1918 -- 28 days had no rain this month in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 77)

Dec. 28, 1918 -- "Harbor swept by heavy gale" (Workman, p. 77)

1918-1919 -- Weak/moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1919
Jan. 16, 1919 -- "fierce gale sweeps Harbor" (Workman, p. 77)

Jan. 23, 1919 -- Vessel "Janet Carruthers" went ashore on North Beach 4 miles north of Westport in a great storm (unidentified news clippings in Shipwreck album in Washington State Historical Society Library; McCurdy, p. 311)

Sept. 9, 1919 -- "salmon trollers get big blue shark off Harbor" (Workman, p. 78)

Dec. 12, 1919 -- continued cold spell, which began before Thanksgiving, on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 78)

1919 -- epidemic shellfish disease, "aided by unusual weather," decimated Eastern oysters in Willapa (Edward Wolf, p. 23)

1920
1920 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Oct. 4, 1920 -- 6 inches of rain in three days at Aberdeen (Workman, p. 79)

Nov. 9, 1920 -- earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Budget, p. 1)

Nov. 26, 1920 -- "Highest tide on record hits Willapa Harbor, endangering property and local shipping." -- high wind blowing from southwest; combination of wind and tide measured 12'4" at South Bend City Dock (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 26, 1920, p. 1)

Nov. 29, 1920 -- slight earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Budget, p. 1)

Dec. 10, 1920 -- 60 mile gale blowing today at North Head. "The Redonda and Grays Harbor, lumber carriers, were forced to put back into the local harbor after attempting to make the open sea. A high tide, almost equal to the one two weeks ago, was running, but little or no damage was expected" (Willapa Harbor Pilot , Dec. 10, 1920, p. 1)

Dec. 13, 1920 -- "Harbor shaken by severe storm" (Workman, p. 79)

Dec. 24, 1920 -- "a small tidal wave sweeps beaches, washes 12 Sunset Beach cottages from their foundations (Workman, p. 79)

Dec. 31, 1920 -- "A terrific gale is blowing off the local coast tending to tie up the local fleet of lumber carriers, that are docked here rather than attempt to make to sea in the face of the winds. Christmas Day saw the record tide of the year, although in the absence of winds the water did not reach the previous record made three weeks before" (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Dec. 31, 1920, p. 1)

1920 -- 97.82" rain in South Bend in 1920 (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 14, 1921, p.1)

1921
1921 -- completion of recreation pier from foot of Broadway, out into breakers (Anon., Seaside, Oregon's ideal resort, p. 34)

Jan. 1, 1921 -- great wind storm (WPA, Told by the Pioneers, p. 103; reported in Astoria Daily Budget Jan. 3, 1921, p. 1)

Jan. 4, 1921 -- bad wind storm, winds to 60 m.p.h. (Astoria Budget, Jan. 4, 1921, p. 1)

Jan. 29, 1921 -- "Terrific Storm Sweeps County." 100 mph gale occurred Jan. 29, 1921, downed trees and buildings. Oysterville reported winds over 100 mph, which wrecked the Methodist Church. Winds up to 160 mph at North Head. Roofs of buildings at North Head blown away, mature trees destroyed. (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Feb. 4, 1921, pp. 1, 8; Story confirmed in Seattle P.I. and other local newspapers of period; Workman, p. 79)

Aug. 1, 1921 -- "Canadian Exporter" went aground on North Spit (Jacobsen; personal communication, Weilepp)

Aug. 6, 1921 -- breakwater/promenade at Seaside completed and dedicated (Anon. Seaside, Oregon's ideal resort, p. 33)

Sep. 24, 1921 -- storm on Sept. 24 mentioned in article on wreck of vessel Exporter (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Sept.30, 1921, p. 1)

Nov. 20, 1921 -- "Pacific County deluged by rain." Torrential rains, snow in high country, and wind up to 85 mph at North Head. Warmer weather bringing rising flood waters (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Nov. 25, 1921, p. 1; Workman, p. 80)

Nov. 30, 1921 -- Storm raging locally on Nov. 30, along with high tide. "Residents who have lived here for more than a quarter of a century declare the present storm is the worst and most continuous they can recall during any November in that length of time. For the past two weeks this district has been in the grip of a continuous rainstorm, accompanied by high winds outside" (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Dec. 2, 1921; Workman, p. 80)

1922
August 8, 1922 -- "Harbor drought worst since 1910; 1/2 inch in 76 days (Workman, p. 80)

Dec. 4, 1922 --  10-12" snow in Pacific County. Began Dec. 4 (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Dec. 8, 1922, p. 1; also in Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 81)

Dec. 15, 1922 --  Still snowy, with cold east wind. Logging camps shut down (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Dec. 15, 1922, p. 1; Workman, p. 81)

1923
1923 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1923 -- "series of great storms in January and February lashed the Pacific Coast and did much damage to shipping" (McCurdy, p. 343; Workman, p. 81)

Feb. 14, 1923 -- "heaviest snowfall since 1893 on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 81)

1923 -- elimination of shoal off Cow Point, Grays Harbor, complete, creating 26 foot channel (Dorpat, p. 21)

Dec. 6, 1923 -- Major flooding in Aberdeen (As reported in historical article in Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 19, 1975; major storm Dec. 5, 1923, in Workman, p. 83)

Dec. 8, 1923 -- flooding at South Bend and Raymond, Wa., due to perigean spring tide coupled with strong persistent onshore wind (Wood, Perigean Spring Tides, p. 19; several accounts of strong wind on coast in Astoria Budget )

Dec. 24, 1923 -- Christmas Eve gale of 80 mph with heavy wind on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 82)

1924
1924 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1924 -- dredging of 24 foot channel between Raymond and South Bend complete (Dorpat, p. 20)

Jan. 4, 1924 -- Cold snowy weather reported. Snow started falling Dec. 30, 1923, kept up for several days. 4 or 5 inches in lowlands, a foot in the timber (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 4, 1924, p. 1)

Sept. 19, 1924 -- forest fires in Pacific County due to dry weather (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Sept. 19, 1924, p. 1; fires reported by Workman, p. 83, in Grays Harbor region)

Oct. 25, 1924 -- wind reaches 78 mph at mouth of Columbia (Oregonian, Oct. 25, 1924, p. 2; "great gale hits Harbor," Workman, p. 83)

Oct. 30-31 1924 -- "Worst storm of Year with high tides hits Harbor." Wind and rain storm for past two days, high wind raised ten foot tide to 13 or 14 feet. Wind damaged fish traps on Bakers Bay near Ilwaco and Chinook. Raymond and South Bend flooded (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Oct. 31, 1924 p. 1; also in Oregonian, Oct. 31, 1924)

Nov. 8, 1924 -- High wind in Northwest, 76 mph off North Head (Oregonian, Nov. 8, 1924, p. 1)

Dec. 16, 1924 -- Snowstorm hits Portland, Astoria and western Washington (Oregonian, Dec. 16, 1924, pp. 1,4)

Dec. 16, 1924 --  "Pacific County in Grip of Cold Snap since Tuesday [Dec. 16]. Ice, some snow that melted in lowlands (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Dec. 19, 1924, p. 1; also in Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 83)

1925
1925 -- Ocean City platted (Grays Harbor-North Beaches Shore Party Program)

Feb. 4-5 -- Vessel Caoba badly damaged in storm Feb. 4. Storm lasted 2 days (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Feb. 6, 1925, p. 1; Gibbs, Disaster Log dates wreck on Feb. 5, as does Wells, p. 94; and McCurdy, p. 267)

June 24, 1925 -- heat record for decade established with maximum temp. of 96 degrees at Astoria (Astoria Evening Budget, June 24, 1926, p. 1)

Nov. 30, 1925. Halco driven onto Grays Harbor north jetty by sudden heavy southwest squall (Wells, p. 70)

Dec. 19, 1925 --Steamer Esther Johnson struck by lightning in Grays Harbor, in storm (Oregonian, Dec. 19, 1925, p. 1)

Dec. 22, 1925 -- Storm in Pacific Northwest affects coast (Oregonian, Dec. 22, 1925, p. 1)

Dec. 22, 1925 -- Storm on Dec. 22 damages Clatsop County roads (Oregonian, Dec. 23, 1925, p. 1)

1925-26 -- Very Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1926
Jan. 16, 1926 -- 90 mph gale on coast (Workman, p. 84)

Jan 18, 1926 -- Storm hits Seaside (Oregonian, Jan. 18, 1926, p. 6)

Feb. 2, 1926 -- Barometer fell to 29.3 on Feb. 2, with gales of 50 mph recorded at North Head (Astoria Evening Budget, Feb. 3, 1926, p. 1)

Feb. 4, 1926 -- high winds, rain, southerly gale to 84 mph recorded at North Head (Astoria Evening Budget, Feb. 4, 1926, p. 1)

Feb. 28, 1926 -- very warm temp. of 61.5 degrees recorded at Astoria (Astoria Evening Budget, Mar. 1, 1926, p. 1)

Mar. 4, 1926 -- Horaisan Maru went aground at Grays Harbor and is breaking up in heavy seas (Astoria Evening Budget, Mar. 6, 1926, p. 1)

May 3, 1926 -- first rain in some time, which "will eliminate for the time being all danger of forest fire." (Astoria Evening Budget, May 4, 1926, p. 1)

May 21, 1926 -- "Big seas batter coast" (Workman, p. 84)

June 24, 1926 -- "All temperature records for the year in Astoria went by the board today when the mercury reached 90 degrees at noon (Astoria Evening Budget, June 24, 1926, p. 1)

June 30, 1926 -- "Present month is driest of any June since 1869" (Astoria Evening Budget, June 30, 1926, p. 1)

July 10, 1926, p. 1 -- heat wave in Portland of over 100 degrees; 79 degrees in Astoria (Astoria Evening Budget, July 10, 1926, p. 1)

July 15, 1926 -- forest fires developing in both Oregon and Washington in lower Columbia area (Astoria Evening Budget, July 15, 1926, p. 1)

July 26, 1926 -- heavy rain helps control forest fires (Astoria Evening Budget, July 26, 1926, p. 1; fires continued into August according to succeeding news stories)

Oct. 15, 1926 -- "southwester with strong winds and heavy rain" (Workman, p. 85)

Nov. 11, 1926 -- severe southeasterly gale with rain (Astoria Evening Budget, Nov. 11, 1926, p. 1; Workman, p. 85)

Nov. 15, 1926 -- heavy rain, wind from east (Astoria Evening Budget, Nov. 15, 1926, p. 1)

Nov. 20, 1926 -- Southeasterly wind to 30 mph and rain (Astoria Evening Budget, Nov. 20, 1926, p. 1)

Nov. 25, 1926 -- "Gale driven rain deluges state" southerly at 66 mph at North Head (Astoria Evening Budget, Nov. 15, 1926, p. 1; Astoria Evening Budget of Nov. 26, 1926, p. 1 reports gale reached 80 mph; Workman, p. 85)

Nov. 27, 1926 -- series of heavy southerly gales and precipitation this week (Astoria Evening Budget, Nov. 27, 1926 p. 1; Oregonian Nov. 27, 1927, p. 1 reports Chehalis River flooding)

Nov. 30, 1926 -- November rainfall heaviest of any month of year (Astoria Evening Budget, Nov. 30, 1926 p. 1)

Dec. 1, 1926 -- 95 mph wind recorded at North Head during evening storm (Astoria Evening Budget, Dec. 2, 1926 p. 1)

Dec. 2, 1926 -- Grays Harbor district flooded, after two weeks of rain (Oregonian, Dec. 2, 1926, p. 1)

Dec. 18, 1926 -- Man and fishing vessel missing near Raymond due to storm (Oregonian, Dec. 18, 1926, p. 1)

Dec. 30, 1926 -- Severe storm hits Aberdeen Dec. 29, with 85 mph winds (Oregonian, Dec. 31, 1926, p. 1; Workman, p. 85)

1927
Feb. 18, 1927 -- "60 mph winds lash Harbor" (Workman, p. 85)

Mar. 27, 1927 -- Willapa Harbor and North Beach shaken by earthquake, Sunday Mar. 27, just before midnight. Went from southwest to northeast. (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Mar. 30, 1927, p. 1; Oregonian, Mar. 29, 1927, p. 1).

Aug. 17, 1927 -- Heat and humidity causing forest fires (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Aug. 17, 1927, p. 1)

Oct. 5, 1927 -- Nearly five inches of rain falls on South Bend in 3 days, during period from Oct. 2-5. 70 mph gale (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Oct. 5, 1927, p.1)

Oct. 18, 1927 -- Heavy storm reported along Washington coast, 60 mph winds at mouth of Columbia River (Oregonian, Oct. 18, 1927, p. 4)

Nov. 16, 1927 -- wind and rain hit Oregon coast; winds to 42 mph at Astoria (Oregonian, Nov. 16, 1927, p. 1)

Nov. 19, 1927 -- 65 mph gale at Aberdeen, Columbia River bar dangerous (Oregonian, Nov. 20, 1927, p. 1; Workman, p. 87)

Nov. 24, 1927 -- Tempaisan Maru crashed ashore on sandspit fronting Copalis River outlet. Heavy southwest storm (Wells, p. 64; also Oregonian, Nov. 26, 1927, p. 1; McCurdy, p.389)

1927 -- Lewiston Dam (Clearwater River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

1928
1928 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1928 -- introduction of Pacific oysters from Japan into Willapa (Edward Wolf, p. 23)

Jan. 1, 1928 -- "Pacific County in Grip of Two Day Eastern Blizzard." Began Dec. 31, 1927, and lasted through Jan. 1, 1928 (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 4, 1928, p. 1; Also in Oregonian, Jan. 3, 1928, p. 6)

1929
Jan. 17, 1929 --  severe blow and light snowstorm (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 24, 1929, p. 3)

Jan. 25, 1929 -- "Coldest Weather and Greatest Fall of Snow in Many Years finds this Section of the Northwest Shivering." Snow began Jan. 25, with a total of 13 inches in South Bend. Lowest temp. was 19 degrees above zero (Willapa Harbor Pilot, Jan. 31, 1929, p. 1; Article mentions big snow of winter of 1915-16)

June 16, 1929 -- Wreck of S.S. Laurel on Peacock Spit in a gale (Gibbs, Pacific Graveyard; McCurdy, p. 403; gale on Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 88)

Dec. 13, 1929 -- "rain laden gale lashes coast" (Workman, p. 88)

1929 -- Leaburg Dam on McKenzie River put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1930
Jan. 14, 1930 -- "snow and cold cover [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 88)

Jan. 15, 1930 -- blizzard in Astoria (Astoria Budget, Jan. 16, 1930 p. 1)

Jan. 17, 1930 -- ice on Columbia River near Astoria, very cold, temp. 16 degrees above zero (Astoria Budget, Jan. 17, 1930, p. 1)

Jan. 16, 1930 -- lowest low water of record observed at Astoria within 2 days of Perigee-Syzygy (Wood, p. 34)

Jan. 18, 1930 -- silver thaw and ice at Astoria (Astoria Budget, Jan. 18, 1930, p. 1)

Jan. 20, 1930 -- new cold wave in Astoria and elsewhere (Astoria Budget, Jan. 20, 1930, p. 1)

Feb. 15, 1930 -- Admiral Benson stranded on Peacock Spit in fog, broke up in several days of increasing wind (McCurdy, p. 404)

April 28, 1930 -- "gale swamps three [Grays] Harbor fishing boats (Workman, p. 89)

Nov. 15, 1930 -- "winter storm attacks [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 89)

1930-31 -- Weak/moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1931
1931 -- La Nina (Mcmurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 6, 1931 -- flooding at Taholah and Quinault reservation due to occurrence of perigean spring tide coupled with strong persistent onshore winds (Wood, Perigean Spring Tides, p. 19; Astoria Budget, Jan. 6, 1931, pp. 1,5 article on winds on Oregon and Washington Coast)

Jan. 22, 1931 -- "rain laden gale smites [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 90)

June 25, 1931 -- "June rainfall on [Grays] Harbor nears records (Workman, p. 90)

Nov. 14, 1931 -- "gale and rain sweep whole of Pacific coast" (Workman, p. 91)

Dec. 17, 1931 -- "gale wreaks havoc on [Grays] Harbor with 70 mph wind" (Workman, p. 91)

Dec. 1931 -- severe winter storms cause damage at Seaside, Ore. (Inventory, Oregon Coastal Shoreline erosion, p. 45)

1931 -- Merwyn, Yale, Swift Dams (Lewis River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1931 -- Reconstruction of South Jetty of Columbia River begun (R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf, pp. 290-291)

1932
1932 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 11, 1932 -- "75 mph winds lash Harbor (Workman, p. 91)

July 2, 1932 -- "wintery storm hits [Grays] Harbor" (Workman, p. 91)

July, 1932 -- "rainy wet month" (Workman, p. 92)

Nov. 1, 1932 -- "southerly gale lashes [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 92)

Nov. 5, 1932 -- "Storm ravages coast" (Workman, p. 92)

Dec. 2, 1932 -- "Vast downpour deluges [Grays] Harbor" (Workman, p. 92)

Dec. 22, 1932 -- "most severe gale of winter" (Workman, p. 92)

1933
Feb. 24, 1933 -- wreck of Pescawha in southwest gale, driven onto North Jetty, Columbia River (McCurdy, p. 424)

April 6, 1933 -- sudden gale on Grays Harbor traps trollers, 19 feared lost (Workman, p. 92)

Ma 25, 1933 -- "Storm keeps Old Ironsides here [Grays Harbor] another day" (Workman, p. 93)

May 1933 -- Month of May a record-breaker, with nearly 6" of rain (Grays Harbor Post, June 3, 1933, p. 4)

June 8, 1933 -- "wintery shower deluges Harbor" (Workman, p. 93)

August 26, 1933 -- several stories during summer regarding forest fires in Grays Harbor area (Workman, p. 93)

Dec. 11, 1933 -- Combination of high tides, heavy rains and high winds caused major flooding in Grays Harbor. Tide rose 8" higher than great tide of 1909 (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 11, 1933, p. 1; Grays Harbor Post, Dec. 16, 1933, Dec.17, 1933, p. 4; Workman, p. 94)

Dec. 17, 1933 -- flooding at Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Cosmopolis and Montesano due to perigean spring tide coupled with strong persistent onshore winds (Wood, Perigean Spring Tides, p. 20; Astoria Budget, Dec. 18, 1933, p. 1 article on storm at Astoria with 90 mph winds, which also hit Grays Harbor area; Dec. 23, 1933, Western Washington flooded, Dorpat, p. 259; Workman, p. 94)

Dec. 1933 --  December precipitation 35.18 inches, annual precipitation 112.88 inches, breaking previous record by over two inches (Grays Harbor Post, Dec. 30, 1933, p. 1)

1933 -- Corps achieves 35 foot deep shipping channel on Columbia River (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 23)

1933 -- Corps dredge 2 channels, east and west of Sand Island, from Ilwaco to deep water in Columbia River (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 24)

1933 -- Rock Island Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1934
1934 -- commercial fish traps outlawed in Washington State (Courtland Smith, p. 30)

Jan. 13, 1934 -- 74 mph gale and heavy rain (Workman, p. 94)

April 1934 -- big storm on Grays Harbor drowned fishermen and wrecked boats (Alcorn, Westport Jetty)

April 30, 1934 -- "driest April on record; only 2.28 inches of rain in Aberdeen" (Workman, p. 94)

May 3, 1934 -- Childar went ashore on Peacock Spit in a southwest gale (Gibbs, Disaster Log; McCurdy, p. 431)

July 7, 1934 -- "large school of herring come ashore at North Cove when chased by a whale" (Workman, p. 94)

July 15, 1934 -- "Freak summer storm with heavy rains and 60 mph winds in evening" (Workman, p. 94)

Oct. 7, 1934 -- "southerly gale sweeps [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 95)

Oct. 21, 1934 -- big storm on Oregon Coast (Daily Astorian, p. 1; McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 22; Rue pp. 179-180; blew down Lone Tree at Ocean Shores, Aberdeen Daily World Mar. 28, 1971; Workman, p. 95)

Nov. 30, 1934 -- 50 mph gale on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 95)

Dec. 25, 1934 -- "Christmas Day gale sweeps harbor with 65 mph winds" (Workman, p. 95)

1935
1935 -- Clatsop Dunes stabilization project begun by Soil Conservation Service and  Civilian Conservation Corps (Warrenton Dune Soil and Conservation Service, 31 years of progress, p. 4; Rankin, p. 144)

Jan. 1935 -- major rains and flooding in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 95)

Mar. 25, 1934 -- cold winter gale at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 95)

Dec. 21, 1935 -- "heaviest surf in years batters beaches" (Workman, p. 96)

1936
Jan. 12, 1936. Wreck of Iowa in heavy southwest gale on Columbia River Bar. Winds up to 76 mph. (Wells, p. 112; South Bend Journal Mar. 20, 1936; McCurdy, p. 449)

Feb. 22, 1936 -- 50 mph Chinook wind ends cold spell on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 96)

Mar. 30, 1936 -- 3rd snow in 3 days, at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 96)

Oct. 1936 -- fire hazard in woods acute (Workman, p. 97)

Dec. 6, 1936 -- drought at an end with wind and rain storm on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 97)

1936 -- Reconstruction of South Jetty, Columbia River, complete (R.E. Hickson and F.W. Rodolf p. 291; Willingham, Hist. Overview of C.R., p. 22)

1937
ca. 1937 -- clearing of rocks off beach at Seaside began (anon. Seaside, Oregon's ideal resort, p. 33)

Jan. 22, 1937 -- Grays Harbor County has snow, ice, cold weather (Workman, p. 97)

Feb. 1, 1937 -- heavy snow in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 97)

Feb. 5, 1937 -- 60 mph gale in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 97)

April 11, 1937 -- gale in Grays Harbor region (Workman, p. 97)

May 1, 1937 -- wettest April on record (Workman, p. 97)

May 7, 1937 -- Heavy wind hit vessel Trinidad while crossing Willapa Bar. Struck on North Spit. (Wells, p. 86; Trinidad driven ashore in 60 mile gale at entrance to Willapa Bay, Gibbs, Disaster Log; winds 60 mph, giant seas off bar, McCurdy, p. 457)

Sept. 17, 1937 -- warm water cause of windfall tuna run (Workman, p. 98)

Oct. 16, 1937 -- "gale lashes [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 98)

Oct. 28, 1937 -- "terrific gale rakes [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 98)

Dec. 25, 1937 -- "first white Christmas in 15 years on the Harbor (Workman, p. 98)

1938
1938 -- first living populations of clam Corbicula fluminea found near mouth of Columbia River (Robert McMahon, p. 136)

1938 -- La Nina (Mcmurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1938 -- Bonneville Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60; Encyc. Americana)

Mar. 21, 1938 -- "snow blankets [Grays] Harbor on first day of spring (Workman, p. 99)

May 30, 1938 -- "clam diggers have best dig in 10 years" (Workman, p. 99)

July 9, 1938 -- 58th day of no rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 99)

July 23, 1938 -- earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Budget, p. 1)

Sept. 5, 1938 -- heavy rain ends Grays Harbor drought on 114th day (Workman, p. 99)

Dec. 2, 1938 -- "great storm lashes northwest coast" (Workman, p. 100)

Dec. 12, 1938 -- "cold snap grips Harbor" (Workman, p. 100)

1939
1939 -- Walterville Dam on McKenzie River put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1939 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

1939 -- dredging by Corps of Engineers from the Columbia to Warrenton (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 25)

Jan. 3-5, 1939 -- flooding on Washington and Oregon coasts due to Perigean spring tides combined with strong persistent onshore winds  (Wood, Perigean Spring Tides, p. 20; Astoria Budget, Jan. 3, 1939 p. 1 article re 4 days of wind, high bar conditions; Workman, p. 100)

Aug. 9, 1939 -- acute forest fire hazard, especially near Copalis (Workman, p. 100)

Oct. 29, 1939 -- storm on Grays Harbor damages construction on South Jetty (Alcorn, Westport Jetty, a Vanishing Giant)

Nov. 13, 1939 -- sharp earthquake hits area (Astoria Budget, Nov. 13, 1939, p. 1; Algermissen and Harding date it on Nov. 12, 1939 p. 5; little damage at Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 100)

Nov. 30, 1939 -- "stiff gale lashes [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 100)

Dec. 1939 -- construction complete on South Jetty, Grays Harbor (Alcorn, Westport Jetty, a Vanishing Giant)

Dec. 15, 1939 -- "terrific gale rakes [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 100)

1940
1940 -- Corps of Engineers dredged channel from head of Sand Island to Chinook (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 24)

1940 -- Roza and Prosser Dams (Yakima River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

July 15, 1940 -- big tuna strike off Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 101)

July 26, 1940 -- "downpour ends 40 day dry spell on Harbor (Workman, p. 101)

Dec. 25-28, 1940 -- flooding on Washington and Oregon Coasts due to Perigean spring tides coupled with strong persistent onshore winds (Wood, Perigean Spring Tides, p. 21; Workman, p. 102 mentions 85 mph gale at Grays Harbor on Dec. 23)

Dec. 26, 1940 -- North Cove Lighthouse washed away (Jacobsen p. 2; Webber p. 104, 105; Dorpat, p. 19, says Dec. 22, 1940)

1940-41 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1941
1941 -- Grand Coulee Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60; Encyc. Americana says it opened in 1942.)

Jan. 25, 1941 -- "storm hits coast" (Workman, p. 102)

April 3, 1941 -- Vaslav Vorovsky went ashore on Peacock Spit in a gale (Gibbs, Disaster Log; Wells, dates this to Ap. 1, 1941, and mentions a southerly gale)

June-August -- major forest fires in Grays Harbor region (Workman, p. 102)

Dec. 1941 -- 54 mph gale and rain on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 102)

1942
1942 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

April 16, 1942 -- "squall (Tornado?) hits Harbor shipyard (Workman, p. 103)

Aug. 22, 1942 -- 15 foot shark killed at Westport (Workman, p. 104)

1943
1943 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Dec. 3, 1943 -- "5 inches of rain in last 24 hours reduces Harbor forest fire danger" (Workman, p. 105)

1944
Sept. 1944 -- Hanford Plant begins operation to produce plutonium (Encyc. Americana)

1945
1945 -- channel from Grays Harbor bar to Aberdeen deepened to 30 feet (Dorpat, p. 21)

July 1945 -- forest fires in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 106)

July 29, 1945 -- big tuna and pilchard season (Workman, p. 106)

Nov. 26, 1945 -- 60 mph gale hits Astoria area, does damage (Astoria Budget, Nov. 26, 1945, p. 1; also Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 106)

1946
1946 -- dredging by Corps of Engineers in Youngs Bay area (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 24)

Feb. 15, 1946 -- Quake shakes Astoria and area (Astoria Budget, Feb. 15, 1946, p. 1; Algermissen and Harding date it on Feb. 14, 1946, p. 5; Workman, p. 106, dates it to Feb. 15)

Ap. 1, 1946 -- teletsunami hits Tahola, Seaside and coastal areas (Lander, p. 27, 69-71, 136; accounts in Astoria Budget for this period; Workman, p. 106)

June 23, 1946 -- earthquake hits Astoria and Northwest (Astoria Budget, June 24, 1946, p. 1; Workman, p. 106)

Dec. 9, 1946 -- "Big tide boosted by strong southwesterly laps at Harbor door step" (Workman, p. 107)

1947
Jan. 18, 1947 -- two barges under tow cut loose by tug Teton due to heavy seas, driven ashore on Peacock Spit (McCurdy, p. 548)

Jan. 25, 1947 -- 60 mph gale at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 107)

July 31, 1947 -- abundant tuna off Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 107)

Oct. 17, 1947 -- 56 mph winds at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 107)

Dec. 13, 1947 -- 65 mph gale in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 107)

Dec. 23, 1947 -- 70 mph gale at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 108)

1948
1948 -- commercial fish traps outlawed in Oregon

Jan. 1, 1948 -- gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 108)

Jan. 7, 1948 -- western Oregon rivers flooding (Astoria Budget, Jan. 7, 1948, p. 1; McCurdy, p. 555 mentions that "flood waters on the Columbia River early in the year caused a number of marine accidents")

Feb. 9, 1948 -- 6 days of storms at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 108)

Mar. 21, 1948 -- northwest gale (Workman, p. 108)

May 28, 1948 -- Grays Harbor records wettest May (Workman, p. 108)

May 31, 1948 -- Vanport flood due to freshet (Astoria Budget, May 31, 1948, p. 1; Rue, Weather of the Pacific Coast, pp. 177-179)

July 1, 1948 -- high winds (Workman, p. 108)

Nov. 3, 1948 -- "wind, rain, tide, buffet Harbor" (Workman, p. 108)

Dec. 10, 1948 -- Necanicum flooding (Astoria Budget, Dec. 10, 1948, p. 1)

1949
1949 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 1949 -- cold weather and snow, Grays Harbor, coldest January recorded in 56 years (Workman, p. 108, 109)

Feb. 2, 1949 -- foot of snow at Pacific Beach (Workman, p. 109, also reports more snow on ensuing days)

Feb. 10, 1949 -- sudden thaw (Workman, p. 109)

Feb. 12, 1949 -- Necanicum flood (Astoria Budget, Feb. 12, 1949, p. 1)

Feb. 18, 1949 -- 50 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 109)

April 13, 1949 -- major quake belts Northwest, shock worst in history, damage light (Astoria Budget, Ap. 13, 1949, p. 1; Algermissen and Harding p. 5; Aberdeen Daily World, Ap. 14, 1949, p. 1 -- earthquake in Grays Harbor; Workman, p. 109)

April 14, 1949 -- death toll stands at 7, damage hits $20 million in Northwest earthquake (Astoria Budget, April 14, 1949, p. 1)

Dec. 29, 1949 --  10 inches of rain in final week of 1949. High tides and heavy winds, but flooding not too bad (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 29, 1949, p. 1; Workman, p. 109)

1950
Jan. 1, 1950 -- Major snow in Grays Harbor, continued off and on until Jan. 13, when a blizzard struck. Periods of freezing and thawing followed, which tied a 1919 record. (As reported in Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 10, 1996, in historical article; also Workman, p. 109)

Jan. 13, 1950 -- Great blizzard, winds from 60 to 70 mph., which followed another storm of Jan. 12, where it also snowed. Heavy damage in Westport harbor. The storm climaxed several weeks of snowy, windy weather that began Dec. 29, 1949. Near hurricane hit Ore. and Wash. coasts on Jan. 10, but bypassed Grays Harbor. (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 13, 1951; Blizzard of Jan. 13, 1950, also recounted in retrospective article in Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 5, 1989, p. A5; also Workman, p. 109)

Mar. 23, 1940 -- gale winds on coast (Workman, p. 110)

Oct. 16, 1950 -- 40 mph winds on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 110)

Oct. 27, 1950 -- "Great gale lashes Pacific Coast (Workman, p. 110)

1951
1951 -- Weak/moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 2, 1951 -- high winds, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 111)

Jan. 29, 1951 -- Sub-freezing temps in Clatsop Co. and 45 mph east wind (Astoria Budget, Jan 29, 1951, p. 1)

Feb. 2, 1951 -- Cold snap over (Astoria Budget, Feb. 2, 1951, p. 1)

Feb. 8, 1951 -- Southwest storm warnings still flying; 2 days of heavy rain and winds (Astoria Budget, Feb. 8, 1951, p. 1; Workman, p. 111)

Feb. 10, 1951 -- Torrential rains cause flash floods in western Washington (Astoria Budget, Feb. 10, 1951, p. 1)

Feb. 19, 1951 -- 2.08" rain fell in Astoria between Feb. 8 and 9, (24 hours), winds 40-47 mph at Cape Disappointment (Astoria Budget, Feb. 9, 1951, p. 1)

Mar. 2, 1951 -- February marks Astoria's 5th consecutive month with excessive rainfall. 13.78", 4.74" above normal (Astoria Budget, Mar. 2, 1951, p. 1)

Mar. 5, 1951 -- Snowstorm in Astoria/Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, Mar. 5, 1951, p. 1; Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 111)

Mar. 6, 1951 -- Snow continues, 6" in Astoria (Astoria Budget, Mar. 6, 1951, p. 1)

Mar. 7, 1951 -- More snow in Astoria, Seaside, Ilwaco and Westport (Astoria Budget, Mar. 7, 1951, p. 1; Workman, p. 111)

Mar. 8, 1951 -- More snow in Astoria, Seaside, Ilwaco and Westport (Astoria Budget, March 8, 1951, p. 1)

Mar. 11, 1951 --  Rain began, snow melting (Astoria Budget, Mar. 12, 1951, p. 1)

Mar. 18, 1951 -- Warm day, 60 degrees (Astoria Budget, Mar. 18, 1951, p. 1)

Ap. 11, 1951 -- Forest fires in Clatsop Co., and southwest Washington, due to spell of warm dry weather (Astoria Budget, Ap. 11, 1951, p. 1)

Ap. 19, 1951 -- Longest spring dry spell in 23 years. No rain since Mar. 30 (Astoria Budget, Ap. 19, 1951, p. 1)

Ap. 27, 1951 -- Dry spell of 28 days without measurable precipitation in Astoria. Longest since 1936. Longest April dry spell since 1909. Aug. 1850 had no measurable rain (Astoria Budget, Ap. 27, 1951, p. 1)

Ap. 28, 1951 -- Storm with 40 mph winds on night of April 27 (Astoria Budget, April 28, 1951, p. 1)

June 29, 1951 -- Heat wave in Northwest continues (Astoria Budget, June 29, 1951, p. 1)

July 2, 1951 -- Only .47" rain in June, below normal (Astoria Budget, July 2, 1951, p. 1)

July 15, 1951 -- first tuna reported off Oregon coast (Astoria Budget, July 17, 1951 p. 1)

July 27, 1951 -- tuna 50-80 miles off Oregon coast (Astoria Budget, July 27, 1951, p. 1)

July 31, 1951 -- Astoria city water supply dropping due to lack of rain. 2 driest years in recent history (Astoria Budget, July 31, 1951, p. 1)

July 1944 -- driest July since 1944 (Workman, p. 111)

Aug. 17, 1951 -- Forest fire in southwest Washington (Astoria Budget, Aug. 17, 1951, p. 1)

Aug. 21, 1951 -- Forest fire near Grayland (Astoria Budget, Aug. 21, 1941, p. 1)

Sept. 7, 1951-- Inch of rain ends summer drought. Heaviest since Ap. 27 (Astoria Budget, Sept. 7, 1951, p. 1)

Sept. 21, 1951 -- Fire danger worst in 30 years in Willapa area (Astoria Budget, Sept. 21, 1951, p. 1)

Sept. 25, 1951 -- Rain last night and today ends fire danger (Astoria Budget, Sept. 25, 1951, p. 1)

Oct. 1, 1951 -- Sept. was 6th month with rainfall deficiency (Astoria Budget, Oct. 1, 1951, p. 1)

Oct. 2, 1951 -- rainfall in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 111)

Oct. 8, 1951 -- 81 degree temp. in Astoria ties all-time October record (Astoria Budget, Oct. 8, 1951, p. 1)

Oct. 19, 1951 -- Bad weather -- gale of 25-30 mph, gusts to 55 (Astoria Budget, Oct. 19, 1951, p. 1)

Oct. 23, 1951 -- Record rainfall in 24 hours -- 2.3" biggest in year (Astoria Budget, Oct. 23, 1951, p. 1)

Nov. 2, 1951 -- One of rainiest Octobers in history in Astoria, 11.77" (Astoria Budget, Nov. 2, 1951, p. 1)

Nov. 12, 1951 -- 3.91" rain falls in Astoria during 48 hour period (Astoria Budget, Nov. 12, 1951, p. 1)

Nov. 26, 1951 -- Southwest winds gust to 88 mph in Clatsop County Nov. 25 and 26 (Astoria Budget, Nov. 26, 1951, p. 1)

Nov. 27, 1951 -- High south winds (65 mph gusts) and tides (9.31 feet) (Astoria Budget, Nov. 27, 1951, p. 1)

Nov. 30, 1951 -- 65 mph gale in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 111)

Dec. 5, 1951 -- Coastal storm closes Columbia River bar Dec. 4, 5 (Astoria Budget, Dec. 5, 1951, p. 1; Workman, p. 111)

Dec. 18, 1951 -- Gales of 60 mph, gusts to 70, in Astoria during previous night (Astoria Budget, Dec. 18, 1951, p. 1)

1952
Jan. 1, 1952 -- moved North Cove light to temporary wooden structure 14 yards N.E. of charted position (Webber, p. 106)

Jan. 3, 1952 -- Astoria had 85.04" rain in 1951, 9.05" above normal. More rain in fewer days, more snow (Astoria Budget, Jan. 3, 1952, p. 1)

Jan. 3, 1952 -- 5" snow fell Jan. 3, but temperature rising (Astoria Budget, Jan. 4, 1952, p. 1; Workman, p. 112)

Jan. 21, 1952 -- 3" snow fell during previous night (Astoria Budget, Jan. 21, 1952, p. 1; Workman, p. 112)

Jan. 21, 1952 -- Vessel Susan driven ashore at Peacock Spit in blinding snowstorm (Gibbs, Disaster Log; McCurdy, p. 590)

Jan. 22, 1952 -- 3 more inches of snow (Astoria Budget, Jan. 22, 1952, p. 1)

Feb. 3, 1952 -- High winds and heavy rain. Winds 48 gusting to 65 at Cape Disappointment (Astoria Budget, Feb. 4, 1952, p. 1)

Feb. 15, 1952 -- North Cove light moved to new location on new steel tower, and light elevation increased to 148 feet above sea level (Webber, p. 106)

Feb. 21, 1952 -- 2" snow in Astoria last night (Astoria Budget, Feb. 21, 1952, p. 1)

Ap. 1, 1952 -- March weather cold and wet, late spring (Astoria Budget, Ap. 1, 1952, p. 1)

Ap. 30, 1952 -- 60 mph winds in Clatsop County, heavy rain (Astoria Budget, Ap. 30, 1952, p. 1; also Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 112)

June 14, 1952 -- Rare June snow in upland areas of Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, June 14, 1952, p. 1)

Nov. 4, 1952 -- tsunami recorded at Astoria and other parts of coast (Lander, p. 80, 138)

Nov. 14, 1952 -- electric storm, wind and hail at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 112)

Dec. 8, 1952 -- Yorkmar wrecked at Grays Harbor in bad weather (Gibbs, Disaster Log; McCurdy, p. 590)

Dec. 31, 1952 -- storm  with high seas and 50 mph hour winds west of Columbia River, hampered rescue of disabled vessel Venerator (McCurdy, p. 591; storm at Grays Harbor Dec. 30, Workman, p. 112)

1953
1953 -- McNary Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60; Encyc. Americana)

1953 -- Detroit, Big Cliff Dam (Willamette River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1953 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 1893 -- storm stranded yacht Periwinkle between Oyehut and Ocean City in early January (McCurdy, p. 591)

Jan. 8, 9, 1953 -- Astoria area cut off from rest of Oregon in storm. Wind gust 95 mph at Clatsop County airport, heavy rain (Astoria Budget, Jan. 9, 1953, p. 1)

Jan. 31, 1953 -- January rainfall in Grays Harbor beats 1914 record (Workman, p. 112)

Feb. 2, 1953 -- -- Seaside rainfall beats record for January, at 30.03 inches; Astoria 3rd wettest January at 26.35 inches (Astoria Budget, Feb. 2, 1953, p. 1)

Feb. 9, 1953 -- 32 day rain spell ends in Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, Feb. 9, 1953, p. 1)

Mar. 2, 1953 -- snowstorm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 112)

Sept. 28, 1953 -- gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 113)

Dec. 10, 1953 -- heavy rain, 55 mph gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 113)

Dec. 21, 1953 -- heavy rain, 60 mph gale (Workman, p. 113)

1954
1954 -- La Nina (Mcmurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 4, 1954 -- Two days of storms, winds to 60 mph (Astoria Budget, Jan. 4, 1954, p. 1)

Jan. 5, 1954 -- Heavy winds and rains during past several days (Astoria Budget, Jan. 5, 1954, p. 1)

Jan. 22, 1954 -- Gale winds (Astoria Budget, Jan. 22, 1954, p. 1)

Jan. 16, 1954 -- Continued snow, 2" already in Astoria (Astoria Budget, Jan. 16, 1954, p. 1)

Jan. 25, 1954 -- Strong winds expected, more snow fell in night (Astoria Budget, Jan. 25, 1954, p. 1; also see Workman, p. 113 for Grays Harbor snow)

Feb. 12, 1954 -- Gale winds to 50 mph overnight (Astoria Budget, Feb. 12, 1954, p. 1; Workman, p. 113)

Feb. 23, 1954 -- severe gale washed ashore two barges, the Intrepid and Nichols above Long Beach (Gibbs, Shipwrecks)

June 16, 1954 -- waterspout off Westport, violent electrical storm (Workman, p. 114)

August 17, 1954 -- crab and clam kill on Grays Harbor beaches, caused apparently by oxygen starvation (Workman, p. 114)

Nov. 16, 1954 -- Heavy southwest winds (Astoria Budget, Nov. 16, 1954, p. 1)

Nov. 18, 1954 -- Grays Harbor storm causes damage (Workman, p. 114)

1954 -- Dexter, Point Lookout Dam put in service (Willamette River) (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1955
1955 -- Chief Joseph Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

Feb. 7, 1955 -- Season's worst storm hits Lower Columbia on Feb. 7, gusts above 50 mph (Astoria Budget, Feb. 8, 1955, p. 1)

Feb. 28, 1955 -- storm with 70 mph gusts in Northwest (Workman, p. 114)

Oct. 8, 1955 -- coastal gale (Workman, p. 115)

Nov. 4, 1955 -- 36 hour storm subsides, 50 mph gusts and up (Astoria Budget, Nov. 4, 1955, p. 1; gale and high tide on Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 115)

Nov. 12--17, 1955 -- freezing weather, high winds (Workman, p. 115)

Nov. 24, 1955 -- Southeast storm overnight (Astoria Budget, Nov. 24, 1955, p. 1)

Dec. 22, 1955 -- winds and rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 115)

1956
Jan. 6, 1956 -- 3rd snowfall of winter season hits Astoria and vicinity. High winds, heavy rains melt snow (Astoria Budget, Jan. 6, 1956, p. 1)

Jan. 7, 1956 -- Chehalis reaches flood stage (Workman, p. 115)

Jan. 15, 1956 -- "Wind and rain blast [Grays] Harbor (Workman, p. 115)

Jan. 27, 1956 -- Snow, ice, cover Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, Jan. 27, 1956, p. 1)

Feb. 14, 1956 -- 2 inches snow in Aberdeen (Workman, p. 115)

Feb. 28, 1956 -- 54 mph gale in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 115)

Mar. 3, 1956 -- Rough Columbia River bar halts shipping. Southwest gale to 70 mph (Astoria Budget, Mar. 3, 1956, p. 1; Workman, p. 115, 65 mph gust in Grays Harbor)

Mar. 5, 1956 -- Snowstorm overnight in Astoria (Astoria Budget, Mar. 5, 1956, p. 1)

Mar. 7, 1956 -- Southwest wind gusting to 45 mph (Astoria Budget, Mar. 7, 1956, p. 1)

Mar, 1956 -- rain in Grays Harbor twice normal (Workman, p. 115)

April 1956 -- driest April in Grays Harbor in 56 years (Workman, p. 116)

Sept. 23, 1956 -- vessel Seagate wrecked south of Tahola in gale (Seattle Times, Sept. 23, 1956, p. 22; McCurdy p. 615)

Nov. 17, 1956 -- First major storm of season, winds to 43 mph on Nov. 16 (Astoria Budget, Nov. 17, 1956, p. 1)

Nov. 28, 1956 -- High east wind contributing to forest fire conditions in Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, Nov. 28, 1956, p. 1)

Nov. 30, 1956 -- "an unusually dry and warm month" (Workman, p. 116)

Dec. 5, 1956 -- Snow, ice, cold weather in Clatsop County (Astoria Budget, Dec. 5, 1956 p. 1; Workman, p. 116)

Dec. 7, 1956 -- Snow blankets Clatsop County (Astoria, Budget, Dec. 7, 1956, p. 1)

Dec. 10, 1956 -- Gale force winds previous 45 hours, heavy rains (Astoria Budget, Dec. 10, 1956, p. 1; Workman, p. 116)

1957

Jan. 8, 1957 -- Dusting of snow in Astoria (Astoria Budget, Jan. 8, 1957, p. 1; also Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 116)

Jan. 19, 1957 -- Snow and freezing rain, southeast wind (Astoria Budget, Jan. 19, 1957, p. 1)

Jan. 24, 1957 -- Arctic air mass over region, with low temperatures (Astoria Budget, Jan. 24, 1957, p. 1)

Jan. 29, 1957 -- Cold front over (Astoria Budget, Jan. 29, 1957, p. 1)

Feb. 23, 24, 1957 -- Major storm with gusts to 158 mph on Feb. 23 and 24 in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington (Astoria Budget, Feb. 25, 1957, p. 1; Workman, p. 116)

Mar. 9, 1957 -- tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander, p. 83, 139; not mentioned in Astoria Budget)

Sept. 14, 1956 -- "summer heat wave continues; fire hazard high" (Workman, p. 117)

Dec. 26, 1956 -- storms continuing in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 117)

1957 -- Dalles Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60; encyc. Americana

1957 -- Pelton and Round Butte Dams (Deschutes River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1957 -- Army Engineers complete 48 foot deep entrance channel to C.R. (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 23)

1957-58 -- Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1958
1958 -- Brownlee Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

Jan. 23, 1958 -- 60 mph gale and rain (Workman, p. 117)

Jan. 29, 1958 -- 71 mph storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 117)

April 4, 1958 -- "Heavy surf lashes Harbor; highest ever seen" (Workman, p. 117)

July, 1958 -- "driest July since 1922" (Workman, p. 117)

Sept. 10, 1958 -- 55 mph wind and rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 118)

Nov. 4, 1958 -- hurricane-force storm in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 118)

Dec. 2, 1958 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 118)

Dec. 25, 1958 -- heavy winds, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 118)

Dec. 18, 1958 -- temporarily moved North Cove light to new location about 15 yards northwest of charted position (Webber p. 106)

1958 -- Old Coast Guard buildings at North Cove washed away (Jacobsen; McCausland, Cape Shoalwater/Willapa Bay Lighthouse and Lifesaving Station, p. 8)

1959
1959 -- Priest Rapids Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

Jan. 2, 1959 -- snow, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 118)

Jan. 23, 1959 -- high winds, heavy rains, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 118)

Mar. 12, 1959 -- moved North Cove light to location about 1100 yards northwest from former charted position (Webber p. 106; Dorpat, p. 20)

Oct. 14, 1959 -- Grays Harbor lost 3600 acres of oyster beds in past five years due to South Jetty (Workman, p. 119)

Nov. 1959 -- "torrential rains flood rivers" (Workman, p. 119)

1960
1960 -- North Cove washed away (Jacobsen)

Jan. 29, 1960 -- sinking of fishboat Barbara Lee and capsizing of Coast Guard motor lifeboat Invincible on Grays Harbor Bar during heavy weather (McCurdy, p. 653; Workman, p. 119)

Mar. 29, 1960 -- wind, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 119)

April 14, 1960 -- spring storm on coast (Workman, p. 119)

April 16, 1960 -- Sand dune removed near Oyehut (Workman, p. 119)

May 22, 1960 -- teletsunami caused damage in Seaside (Lander, p. 27, 82-83 also lists other locations, including Tokeland, Ilwaco, Point Adams; South Bend Journal, May 26, 1960, p. 1; Workman, p. 119)

Nov. 17, 1960 -- high wind, heavy rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 120)

Dec. 19, 1960 -- heavy wind, rain, tides, in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 120)

1961
Jan. 14, 1961 -- sinking of Mermaid in high wind and heavy seas (Gibbs, Pacific Graveyard)

Feb., 1961 -- record February rainfall, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 120)

Nov. 10, 1961 -- 80 mph gust of wind in storm in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 121)

Dec. 4, 1961 -- 50 mph gale in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 121)

Dec. 18, 1961 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 121)

1961 -- Hills Dam (Willamette River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1961 -- Ice Harbor Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1961 -- Rocky Reach Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1961 -- OxBow Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

1962
Aug. 16, 1962 -- eleven foot white shark caught at Tokeland (Workman, p. 121)

Sept. 1962 -- pilot dory capsized at Columbia River bar, pilot and crewman drifted for 17 1/2 hours before being driven ashore at Westport (McCurdy, p. 665)

Oct. 11, 1962 -- Gale with gusts reaching 68 mph in Twin Harbors area. (Goodrich, p. 10.)

Oct. 12, 1962 -- Morning storm with winds in 30 mph range, gusting to 50 mph. in Twin Harbors area (Goodrich, p. 10)

Oct. 12, 1962 -- Columbus Day storm (McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 22; Shotwell, p. 73; Rue, pp. 180-181; Wood, p. 22; Workman, pp. 121-122)

Oct. 13, 1962 -- flooding along Oregon and Washington coast due to Perigean spring tide coupled with strong persistent onshore winds (Wood, Perigean Spring Tides, p. 22; Astoria Budget, Oct. 15, 1962, p. 1 article re storm and damage on coast; See also Goodrich)

Nov. 5, 1962 -- Portland earthquake, felt on both southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon coasts (Wong and Bott, pp. 132-33; Daily Astorian, Nov. 6, 1962 p. 1 article says quake felt in Astoria and rolled from NW to SE)

Nov. 25, 1962 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 122)

1963
1963 -- El Nino (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 1963 -- very cold weather, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 122)

May 20, 1963 -- 96 degrees at Aberdeen, all time high for May (Workman, p. 122)

Oct. 22, 1963 -- storm with 73 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 123)

Oct. 24, 1963 -- storm with 80 mph wind, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 123)

Nov. 4, 1963 -- large squid caught off Westport (Workman, p. 123)

1963 -- Priest Rapids Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1963 -- Mayfield and Mossyrock Dams (Cowlitz River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1964
1964 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

1964 -- Cougar Dam on McKenzie River put in service (Chaney and Perry p. 60)

Jan. 19, 1964 -- 75 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 123)

Mar. 27, 1964 -- tsunami hit coast as result of earthquake in Alaska (Gammon p. 280; Lander places it on Mar. 28, 1964 p. 27, describes major effects, pp. 91-98; according to news accounts in Astoria newspapers, it hit late Mar. 27 and early Mar. 28; Workman, p. 123)

Mar. 28, 1964 -- tsunami in Alaska affected Willapa Bay (Shotwell, pp. 73-74; Daily Astorian Mar. 30, 1964, pp. 1,5)

Nov. 23, 1964 -- 50 mph gale on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 124)

Dec. 19, 1964 -- cold weather, snow, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 124)

Dec. 1964 -- "Heavy floods on Northwest rivers resulted in considerable inconvenience and some damage to shipping" (McCurdy, p. 680)
 

1965
1965 -- moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 1, 1965 -- Violent southwest storm in Grays Harbor capsized vessel Catala and tore her from her moorings. (Wells, p. 82; confirmed in Shipwreck album, Washington State Historical Society; McCurdy, p. 690; Workman, p. 124, mentions storm)

Jan. 30, 1965 -- "Heavy rains the last four days" (Workman, p. 124)

Feb. 20, 1965 -- loss of Bear, a fishing vessel, beetween Tillamook and Ilwaco, in 50 mph winds and 35 foot seas (McCurdy, P. 690)

Feb. 27, 1965 -- barge Columbia foundered in storm off Long Beach (McCurdy, p. 690)

Mar. 12, 1965 -- 10th day of sunny, warm weather, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 124)

1965 -- Fall Creek Dam (Willamette River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

Ap. 25, 1965 -- earthquake, coastwide (Algermissen & Harding; nothing in Astoria newspapers; Workman dates it to April 29, 1965)

July 24, 1965 -- white shark attacks seal in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 125)

Nov. 19, 1965 -- 65 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 125)

Dec. 27, 1965 -- 100 mph gusts of wind, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 125)

1966
1966 -- Dams on Santiam River put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

Aug. 27, 1966 -- Astoria Bridge opened for 2 way traffic, (Gault, Then and Now, 7/24/82, p. 28).

Dec. 12, 1966 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 126)

1967
Jan. 2, 1966 -- 75 mph winds, mouth of Raft River (Workman, p. 125)

Oct. 22, 1967 -- storm wrecked Captayannis on Clatsop Spit (Gibbs, Disaster Log)

Nov. 9, 1967 -- wind, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 126)

Dec. 2, 3, 1967 -- Big storm hit Grays Harbor beaches, with winds from 35-50 mph, and high swells, accompanied by heavy rains. (Memo in Aberdeen Public Library file on Weather; Workman, p. 126)

1967 -- Wells Dam put in service  (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1967 -- Hells Canyon Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)
1968
Jan. 9, 1968 -- 55 mph storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 126)

Jan. 19, 1968 -- high wind, record rainfall, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 126)

Sept. 15, 1968 -- "Towering seas flip 50 foot pleasure craft off Grays Harbor bar. Three perish." (Workman, p. 127)

Dec. 3, 1968 -- heavy gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 128)

Dec. 28, 1968 -- snow, ice, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 128)

1968 -- John Day Dam put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60; Encyc. Americana)

1968 -- Blue River Dam on McKenzie River put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 60)

1969
1969 -- El Nino (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 1969 -- month of news stories re cold, snow and ice (Daily Astorian during Jan. 1969; Workman, p. 128)

Mar. 17, 1969 -- 60 mph wind, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 128)

July 31, 1969 -- sea otters released at Pt. Grenville (Workman, p. 128)

Aug. 12, 1969 -- 4000 pound great white shark caught in gillnet off Westport (Workman, p. 128)

Dec. 12, 1969 -- 70 mph wind, Grays Harbor, (Workman, p. 129)

1969 -- dams control Columbia River freshet flows (Rankin p. 147)

1969 -- Lower Monumental Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

1970
1970 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

April 9, 1970 -- 40 mph wind on coast (Workman, p. 129)

Dec. 2, 1970 -- ice, snow, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 129)

Dec. 7, 1970 -- wind, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 129)

Dec. 15, 16 -- storms, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 129)

1970 -- Little Goose Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

1971
Jan. 4-11, 1971 -- snow, cold, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 130)

Jan. 15, 1971 -- storm winds hit 80 mph (Daily Astorian, Jan. 15, 1971, p. 1; Workman, p. 130 ,says 100 mph, Grays Harbor)

Feb. 10, 1971 -- 58 mph gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 130)

Mar. 12, 1971 -- 50 mph wind, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 130)

April 29, 1971 -- oil spill, Long Beach (Workma, p. 130)

May 16, 1971 -- freak storm damages 50th St. pier in Astoria (Daily Astorian, May 17, 1971, p. 1; Workman, p. 130)

Oct. 19, 1971 -- 50 mph gale, coast (Workman, p. 130)

Nov. 1, 1971 -- 45 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 130)

Dec. 9, 1971 -- 52 mph winds and rain (Workman, p. 131)

1971 -- Dworshak Dam (Clearwater River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

1972
1972-73 --Strong El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 17, 1972 -- Gov. McCall declares Clatsop, Tillamook and Lincoln counties disaster areas [due to flooding] (Astoria Budget, Jan. 17, 1972, p. 1)

Jan. 20, 1972 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 131)

Feb. 1, 1972 -- snow, cold, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 131)

Feb. 28, 1972 -- 50 mph wind on coast (Workman, p. 131)

Feb. 29, 1972 -- winds on coast (Workman, p. 131)

April 5, 1972 -- winds on coast (Workman, p. 131)

Aug. 31, 1972 -- anchovy die-off in Copalis River, due to low oxygen (Workman, p. 131)

Nov. 20, 1972 -- flooding, coastal beaches, Oregon and Washington due to combination of Perigean spring tide coupled with strong persistent offshore winds (Wood, p. 32)

Dec. 5, 1972 -- snow, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 131)

Dec. 18, 1972 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 132)

Dec. 21, 1972 -- major storm (Astoria Budget, Dec. 21, 1972, p. 1)

Dec. 26, 1972 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 132)

1973
1973 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 19, 1973 -- storm, tides, damage North Jetty, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 132)

Jan. 24, 1973 -- wind, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 132)

Feb. 6, 1973 -- Ocean Shores bans sand dune driving (Workman, p. 132)

Nov. 9, 1973 -- storm flooded Tokeland (McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 22; Daily Astorian, Nov. 9, 1973 p. 1 reports storm and flooding in Clatsop County)

Dec. 3, 1973 -- lightning, rain, 55 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 132)

Dec. 11, 1973 -- flooding, Washington and Oregon coasts due to combination of Perigean spring tides and strong persistent offshore winds (Wood, p. 32; Daily Astorian Dec. 12, 1973 p. 1 mentions unusually high tides, strong winds and rains producing flooding; Workman, p. 132)

1974
Oct. 11, 1974 -- photo of anchovies washed up on beach in Grays Harbor region after storm and flooding (Washington State Historical Society Library Grays Harbor photo album)

Dec. 17, 1974 -- winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 133)

Dec. 21, 1974 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 133)

1975
1975 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey p. 119)

Jan. 8, 1975 -- 72 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 133)

Feb. 20, 1975 -- 50 mph gale, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 133)

Nov. 17, 1975 -- 50 mph winds, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 133)

Dec. 1, 1975 -- high tides, wind, rain, flooding (Workman, p. 133)

Dec. 16, 1975 -- 40 mph winds, plus stronger freak winds on coast do damage (Workman, p. 134)

1975 -- Lower Granite Dam (Snake River) put in service (Chaney and Perry, p. 61)

1976
1976 -- Corps completes 40 foot shipping channel from mouth of Columbia to Portland (Willingham, Historical Overview, p. 24)

1976 -- Moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 15, 1976 -- Heavy rains and winds overnight. Afraid of repeat of last month's flooding (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 15, 1976, p. 1)

Feb. 18, 1976 -- storm one of worst in years near Astoria (Daily Astorian, Feb. 18, 1976, p. 1; 60 mph winds, Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 134)

Mar. 24, 25, 1976 -- wind gusts, 53, 58 mph (Workman, p. 134)

Nov. 30, 1976 -- drought threatens lower Columbia area (Daily Astorian, Nov. 30, 1976, p. 1)

1977
Nov. 2, 1977 -- windy, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 136)

1978

Feb. 3, 1978 -- baby clams washed out to sea during recent storms (Workman, p. 136)

Nov. 3, 1978 -- rain and wind storm (Workman, p. 136)

1979
Feb. 13, 1979 -- high wind (McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 22; Daily Astorian, Feb. 13, 1979 p. 1 -- hurricane force winds in Clatsop County; Workman, p. 137)

Mar. 5, 1979 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 137)

1980
Jan 28, 1980 -- cold snap, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 137)

May 18, 1980 -- eruption of Mt. St. Helens (numerous news accounts)

May 25, 1980 -- ash from Mt. St. Helens at Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 138)

Aug. 8, 1980 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 138)

Sept. 9, 1980 -- thresher shark caught, mouth of Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 138)

Nov. 21, 1980 -- 9.9 foot tide and forty mile per hour winds -- loss of 13 1/2 feet of beach in four hours at North Cove, Washaway Beach (Webber, p. 107; storm, Grays Harbor, Workman, p. 138)

1981
Feb. 14, 1981 -- earthquake rattles Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 138)

July 10, 1981 -- temp. 105 degrees, all time Harbor high (Workman, p. 139)

Aug. 24, 1981 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 139)

Sept. 16, 1981 -- 93 degrees, hottest September record, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 139)

Nov. 11, 1981 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 139)

Nov. 14, 1981 -- high winds and high tides (McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 22; Daily Astorian Nov. 16, 1981, p. 1 reported high winds and high water occurring Nov. 14 and 15, flooding in Raymond area and Clatsop Co.; Workman, p. 139)

1982
Jan. 23, 1982 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 139)

June 18, 1982 -- Temperature hits 10 year high for June, up to 103 degrees (unofficial) in Aberdeen (Aberdeen Daily World, June 19, 1982, p. 1)

Oct. 6, 1982 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 140)

Dec. 3, 1982 -- storm, high tides (Workman, p. 141)

Dec. 16, 1982 -- storm (Workman, p. 141)

Dec. 22, 1982 -- storm (Workman, p. 141)

1982-83 -- Very Strong El Nino (Quinn)

1983
Jan. 28, 1983 -- Moclips hardest hit by high tides (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 28, 1983, p. 1)

Jan. 28, 1983 -- storm damage at Moclips and flooding in Grays Harbor area (Grays Harbor Herald, Jan. 28, 1983, p. 1; Workman, p. 141)

Feb. 6, 1983 -- Mild winter, early spring (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 6, 1983, p. 1)

July 1983 -- July rain fall short of July 1916 records by 1/4 inch (Workman, p. 141)

Nov. 10, 1983 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 142)

Nov. 24, 1983 -- 50 mph winds, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 142)

Nov. 1983 -- wet November, rain first 27 days (Workman, p. 142)

Dec. 10, 1983 -- Arctic weather in Grays Harbor region (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 10, 1983, p. 1)

Dec. 12, 1983 -- parasite found in razor clams in Washington, Oregon. Clams had been decimated by heavy beach erosion in past years (Daily Astorian Dec. 12, 1983, pp. 1,3; Daily Astorian Dec. 21, 1983, p. 1 identified clam killing organism as Nuclear Inclusion Unknown or NIX)

Dec. 22, 1983 -- Bitter cold temperatures continue (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 22, 1983, p. 1; Workman, p. 142)

1984
Jan. 6, 1984 -- Roads open again in Grays Harbor after a week of flooding and freezing (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 6, 1984, p. 1)

Mar. 20, 1984 -- oil tanker leaks on Columbia River (Workman, p. 142)

Mar. 28, 1984 -- oil washes ashore in Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 142)

June 21, 1984 -- "near record wet spring" (Workman, p. 143)

July 1, 1984 -- red tide affects oysters (Workman, p. 143)

July 1984 -- one of driest Julys in history of Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 143)

Nov. 1, 1984 -- autumn storm (Workman, p. 143)

1985
Jan. 1985 -- may be driest January ever on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 143)

Feb. 11, 1985 -- storm, gust to 51 mph (Workman, p. 144)

Mar. 14, 1985 -- offshore quake measures 6:1, not felt by local residents (Astorian, Mar. 14, 1985, p. 1)

April 1, 1985 -- last three months of rainfall lowest ever (Workman, p. 144)

June 6, 1984 -- record low rainfall in Northwest (Workman, p. 144)

July 2, 1984 -- first six mnths driest in 50 years (Workman, p. 144)

Dec. 2, 1985 -- ice storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 144)

Dec. 26, 1985 -- may be driest year of century (Workman, p. 144)

1986
1986 -- El Nino (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 5, 1986 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 14)

Jan. 16, 1986 -- storm, gust to 90 mph (Workman, p. 144)

Nov. 24, 1986 -- heavy rains, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 144)

1987
1987 -- moderate El Nino (Quinn)

Jan. 31, 1987 -- storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 145)

Ap. 1, 1987 -- On April 1, temperature of 80 degrees was all time record for that date at Aberdeen (Aberdeen Daily World, Ap. 2, 1987, p. 1)

Oct. 8, 1987 -- Timber companies close lands due to fire danger and lack of rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 8, 1987, p. 1)

Oct. 22, 1987 -- Extended dry spell halts logging in Grays Harbor area (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 22, 1987, p. 1)

Dec. 1, 1987 -- blustery storm on Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 146)

1988
1988 -- La Nina (McMurray and Bailey, p. 119)

Jan. 15, 1988 -- 84 mph wind, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 146)

Mar. 1, 1988 -- February driest in decades (Aberdeen Daily World, March 1, 1988, p. 1)

Mar. 26, 1988 -- 5th blustery storm this week (Workman, p. 146)

Nov. 8, 1988 -- blustery storms (Workman, p. 147)

1989
Feb. 5, 1989 -- Freezing weather has continued for several days (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 5, 1989, p. 1)

Mar. 1, 1989 -- Snowstorm (Aberdeen Daily World, Mar. 2, 1989, p. 1)

April 1989 -- second warmest April on record (Workman, p. 148)

Dec. 3, 1989 -- Nearly 4" of rain Dec. 3 (3.8" at Aberdeen) (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 4, 1989, p. 1)

Dec. 1989 -- sediment retaining dam on Toutle River complete (Dorpat)

1990
1990's -- El Nino blamed for erosion at Washaway Beach (McCausland, Willapa Weather, p. 20)

Jan. 6, 1990 -- Wind and rainstorm (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 7, 1990, p. 1)

Jan. 12, 1990 -- floodwaters spare Aberdeen (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 12, 1990, p. 1)

Jan. 14, 1990 -- torrential rains cause flooding in Chehalis Valley (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 14, 1990, p. B3)

Feb. 1, 1990 -- January wettest in last 26 years (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 1, 1990, p. A3)

Feb. 11, 1990 -- 5" of rain at Hoquiam in 36 hours (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 11, 1990)

Feb. 12, 1990 -- 7" precipitation at Aberdeen over weekend (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 12, 1990, p. 1)

May 12, 1990 -- significant levels of dioxin found in Columbia River (Workman, p. 148)

Oct. 2, 1990 -- Sept. driest on record with .01" rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 2, 1990)

Oct. 9, 1990 -- Aberdeen flooded due to wind-driven storm tide on Grays Harbor (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 9, 1990, p. 1)

Nov. 11, 1990 -- heavy rains, storms, near record flood levels over past days (Aberdeen Daily World, Nov. 11, 1990, p. 1)

Nov. 23, 1990 -- 70 mph gust and heavy rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 149)

Nov. 26, 1990 -- Freezing temperatures help slow runoff, after record deluge of rain Nov. 23, 24, of 7.02" in Aberdeen (Aberdeen Daily World, Nov. 26, 1990, p. 1)

Dec. 3, 1990 -- 30 mph winds, with gusts to 51 on Dec. 3, 1990. 24.02" of rain in Aberdeen in Nov., broke 1983 record of 23.8" (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 4, 1990, p. 1)

Dec. 21, 1990 -- Temp. 11 degrees at Aberdeen (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 21, 1990, p. 1)

Dec. 26, 1990 -- Weather warmer, another arctic freeze on way (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 26, 1990, p. 1)

1991
Feb. 4, 1991 -- strong winds, rain, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 150)

Oct. 11, 1991 -- 27th day of dry weather on Grays Harbor (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 11, 1991, p. 1)

Oct. 16, 1991 -- Overnight rain ends 33 day dry spell (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 16, 1991, p. 1)

Oct. 25, 1991 -- earthquake in Grays Harbor in morning, magnitude 3.5, Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 25, 1991, p. 1

Nov. 11, 1991 -- razor clam season closed on Long Beach peninsula, due to presence of domoic acid in toxic amount in clams, for the first time in this area (Daily Astorian, Nov. 11, 1991, p. 1; Daily Astorian Nov. 12, 1991, pp. 1,4 mentions that it first showed up on west coast at Santa Cruz Sept. 6, 1991)

Nov. 16, 17 --  Major storm. Ocean shores had winds to 100 mph, with heavy rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Nov. 18, 1991, p. 1)

1992
Jan. 31, 1992 -- winds, gusting to 92 mph, on coast (Workman, p. 151)

Mar. 1992 -- March one of driest on record (Workman, p. 151)

Sept. 7, 1992 -- first rainfall in four months occurs. Mentions that 1987 was dry year (Aberdeen Daily World, Sept. 8, 1992, p. 1)

Sept. 30, 1992 -- strong red tide on coast, postpones clam season (Workman, p. 152)

Dec. 10, 1992 -- Westport seawall battered by storm and seas (Workman, p. 153)

1993
Jan. 20, 1993 -- Inauguration Day storm (Daily Astorian, Jan. 20, 1993, p. 1 reported winds to 100 mph)

Feb. 24, 1993 -- smelt appear in Grays Harbor rivers (Workman, p. 153)

Mar. 4, 1993 -- blustery storm, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 153)

July 1993 -- one of the coldest, wettest Julys on record (Workman, p. 154)

Aug. 2, 1993 -- July temperatures below normal and rainfall above normal in 1993 (Aberdeen Daily World, Aug. 2, 1993)

Dec. 9, 10, 1993 -- Wind and rainstorm on Grays Harbor on night of Dec. 9 and 10, 5" of rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 10, 1993, p. 1)

Dec. 10, 1993 -- Major storm cuts new channel at Westport Jetty, major erosion at Westhaven Park (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 11, 1993, p. A1, 3)

1994
Mar. 21, 1994 -- 75 mph gust on coast (Workman, p. 155)

May 5, 1994 -- smallest smelt run ever on Cowlitz (Workman, p. 155)

Oct. 20, 1994 --  Windstorm with rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Oct. 31, 1994, p. 1)

Oct. 26, 1994 -- wind, rain (Workman, p. 156)

Nov. 30, 1994 -- windstorm on coast (Workman, p. 156)

Dec. 21, 1994 -- storm, high surf, Grays Harbor (Workman, p. 156)

1995
Aug. 6, 1995 -- In Ocean Shores, 24 hour rainfall on Aug. 6 was 3.71" (new record), winds up to 40 mph (Aberdeen Daily World, Aug. 7, 1995, p. 1)

Dec. 1, 1995 -- Aberdeen records 23.16" rain in November, worst in 30 years (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 1, 1995, p. 1)

Dec. 11, 1995 -- severe storm (Murray and Bailey, p. 130; Daily Astorian, Dec. 11, 1995, p. 1; Workman, p. 158)

Dec. 11, 1995 -- Savage storm at Grays Harbor on previous day, 97 mph gust recorded at Westport, winds 55-60 mph (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 12, 1995, p. 1)

1996
Feb. 1996 -- severe flooding on Columbia River

Feb. 10, 1996 --  Major flooding on Chehalis and elsewhere in Washington (Aberdeen Daily World, Feb. 10, 1996, p. 1)

May 2, 1996 -- Earthquake felt in Grays Harbor (Aberdeen Daily World, May 3, 1996, p. 1)

May 11, 1996 --  Major flooding on Chehalis and elsewhere in Washington (Aberdeen Daily World, May 11, 1996, p. 1)

Dec. 29, 1996 -- Flooding in Aberdeen Dec. 29, 1996, due to heavy rain (Aberdeen Daily World, Dec. 30, 1996, p. 1)

1997
Jan. 4, 1997 -- Powerful series of storms rips through Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties, beginning Dec. 26, 1996 and lasting about a week. Flattens much young growing timber (Aberdeen Daily World, Jan. 4, 1997, pp. 1, 2)

Mar. 30, 1997 --  Windstorm on Mar. 30 gusted to 71 mph at Westport (Aberdeen Daily World, Mar. 31, 1997)

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