Great Gale of 1880
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 1880 |
| Dissipated | After January 19, 1880 |
| Extratropical cyclone | |
| Lowest pressure | 955 hPa (mbar); 28.20 inHg |
| Winter storm | |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Unknown |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | >=5 |
| Damage | At least several million dollars (1880 USD) |
| Areas affected | British Columbia, Pacific Northwest |
The Great Gale of 1880 was an intense extratropical cyclone (possibly deeper than 955 millibars or 28.20 inHg) that impacted the Northwest United States on January 9, 1880.
The greatest snowstorm, and perhaps overall worst storm in SW Washington and NW Oregon history, was that dubbed the ‘Storm King’ event of January 9, 1880.... Little data is available for the so-called ‘Storm King’ of January 1880, but it appears the storm center came ashore just south of Astoria, Oregon, on January 9th when a barometric pressure of 28.45” was registered in the town. Portland bottomed out at 28.56.
Winds gusted over 70 miles per hour (61 kn) in Portland, probably exceeding 100 miles per hour (87 kn) along the Pacific coast and causing extensive damage and several deaths. Enormous damage was done to the forests of both Oregon and Washington (where a few days earlier over five feet of snow had fallen in Seattle). Great tree losses were reported; outside of Portland, 500 to 600 trees were blown down over just 10 miles of railroad tracks.
Gusts of an estimated 138 miles per hour (222 km/h) destroyed buildings, barns, and fences. The storm blew a three-masted schooner onto the beach at Coos Bay where it broke in two.