1962 — Oct 10-13, Pacific Coast wind/rain storms, no. CA/OR/WA/BC, esp. west OR–58-75
–58-75 Blanchard tabulation from State breakouts below. (Would be 51-68 not counting BC.)[1]
–18-19 California
–24-38 Oregon[2]
— 9-11 Washington
— 7 British Columbia, Canada
— >57 UPI. “U.S. Gives Priority to West Coast…” Pasadena Independent, CA. 10-16-1962, 9.
–48-54 Burt. “50th Anniversary of the Columbus Day Storm.” Weather Underground. 10-12-2012.
—>46 Oregon and Washington (fatalities due to Oct 12 windstorm).
–2-8 California (fatalities due to Oct 12 windstorm).
— 0 Does not indicate zero deaths — just does not include Canadian deaths.
— 48 Lucia. The Big Blow: The Story of…Pacific Northwest’s Columbus Day Storm. 1963, 64.
—>47 AP. “Coast Debris Heavy.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA, 10-15-1962, p. 1.
— 46 Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. No date, p. 164.
— 46 McNair-Huff. Washington Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. 2006, p. 140.[3]
— 46 Nat. Weather Svc., Portland OR WFO. Washington’s Top 10 Weather Events of 1900s.
— 46 Sorensen. “Columbus Day 1962: Memories of Storm…,” Seattle Times, Oct 6, 2002.
— 46 Tomlinson (OR/WA). “Columbus Day Storm still howls…” The Oregonian, 10-11-2012.
— 46 WA EMD. Dec 2006 Windstorm Response After Action Report. March 2007, p. 5.
— 46 Wikipedia. Columbus Day Storm of 1962.
–>45 UPI. “Storm Damage Roundup…” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, 1.[4]
— 42 OJP DOJ. Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual: 2nd Ed. (Appendix D).
—>33 UPI. “Killer Windstorm Moves North on Coast.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. 10-13-1962, 1.[5]
— 31 Lynott, Cramer. “Detailed Analysis of…1962 Columbus Day Windstorm [OR, WA] p.105
California (18-19)
— 19 UPI. “U.S. Gives Priority to West Coast…” Pasadena Independent, CA. 10-16-1962, p9.[6]
—>18 UPI. “Storm Damage Roundup…” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p. 1.[7]
— 18 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 17 AP. “Slides Create Havoc In Oakland….” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, 1.
— 14 UPI. “Killer Windstorm Moves North on Coast.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka CA. 10-13-1962, 1.
— 13 Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. No date, p. 164.
— 5 Oct 10-13. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 1962, p. 112.
Breakout of California storm-related deaths where noted:[8]
–1 Eureka, Oct 12. Commercial fisherman lost at sea; John Essex.[9]
–1 Franklin north area, Oct 12. Car “went out of control in the rain and hit a bridge abutment.”[10]
–1 Garberville, Oct 12. Tree falls onto pickup truck being driven by Edward Stephan, 53.[11]
–1 Hillsborough, Oct 13. Electrocution; plumber Robert Tyo, 34, working in flooded basement.
–1 Oakland, Oct 13. Earth-slide; Diane Dobson, 5.[12]
–1 Off northern CA coast, Oct 11. Man lost overboard from fishing boat Mary Elaine.[13]
–1 Orick area (hwy 101 north of Orick), Oct 13. Tree falls onto parked car. Nellie Cooper, 60.[14]
–1 Orinda, Oakland suburb, Oct 13. Earth-slide; William J. McCarthy, 10.[15]
–1 Placerville area, Oct 11. Passenger in car that skids off rain-slick Highway 50.[16]
–1 Pondosa, Oct 12. Tree falls on car causing it to catch fire and crash; driver burned to death.[17]
–1 Redding area, Oct 12. Tree falls on pickup truck; George Mayhorn, of Eureka; hunting trip.[18]
–2 Sacramento area, Hwy. 40, Oct 10. Auto slides across rain-slick highway.[19]
–1 Sacramento area, Hwy. 50, Oct. 10. Driver loses control of car on rain-slicked road.[20]
–1 San Francisco, Oct 12. Car “skidded into a truck during the rain.” (Melford Schmidt)[21]
–1 Smith River, Del Norte County, Oct 12. Tree falls on Mrs. Lloyd Bolen near her home.[22]
–2 Sonoma County, Oct 11. Wind, rain, excessive speed related auto accident.[23]
Oregon (24-38)[24]
–38 Dresbeck, Rachel. Oregon Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. 2006, p. 81.
–38 NWS/NOAA Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Oregon’s Top 10 Weather Events of 1900s.
–38 National Weather Service Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Some of the Area’s Windstorms.
–38 Sullivan, William L. Oregon’s Greatest Natural Disasters. Navillus Press, 2008, p. 162.
–24 Lucia. The Big Blow: The Story of the Pacific Northwest’s Columbus Day Storm. 1963, 64.
–24 Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 1962, p. 114.
–23 Taylor and Hatton. Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes. 1999, p. 139.
–21? Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below. (One “crushing” is a presumed fatality.)
–21 UPI. “U.S. Gives Priority to West Coast…” Pasadena Independent, CA. 10-16-1962, p. 9.
–20 UPI. “Storm Damage Roundup…” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p. 1.[25]
–15 Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. No date, p. 164.
Breakout of Oregon wind-related deaths where noted:
–1 Agness. Unidentified woman “was killed near Agness 30 miles up the Rogue River…”[26]
–1 Beaverton (presumably), Oct 12. Lucia notes flying debris broke back of Beaverton man.[27]
–3 Clark County, Oct 12. Lucia. The Big Blow, 1963, p. 27.
–1 Mrs. Mae Ann Kimbrow, 66; heart attack when trailer home knocked off its blocks.
–1 Tree falls on home, killing Wade C. Goheen, 77.
–1 Falling tree kills Fae Pinkham, 33, while clearing limbs off a car.
–1 Eugene, Oct 12. Grad student repairing broken apt. window killed by blowing debris.[28]
–1 Eugene, Oct 12. Wall collapses on man visiting wife in nursing home.[29]
–3 Eugene. (Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 14.) Notes five died in Eugene, naming two.
–1 Gold Beach, north of, Oct 13. Tree falls onto car; Mrs. George Standage, about 40.[30]
–1 Ophir south area, Oct 12. Tree falls onto car; Mrs. George Standage of Nesika Beach.[31]
–1 Portland, Oct 12. Falling tree kills boy, 2, outside his home. Lucia. Big Blow, 1963, 21-22.[32]
–1 Portland, Oct 12. Elderly male pedestrian blown under car; died from injuries. Lucia, p. 22.
–1 Portland, Oct 12. Man falls down stairs in the dark and dies. Lucia. Big Blow, 1963, p. 22.
–1 Portland, Oct 12. Flying debris from roof of Pacific International building kills man.[33]
–1 Portland, Lloyd Center shopping center garage. Man falls to death in dark; looking for car.[34]
–1 Portland, Totem Pole Marina, Oct 12. Male, 52, heart attack trying to batten down hatches.[35]
–1 Salem, Oct 12. Tree falls onto boy, 12, near his home. Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 16.[36]
–1 Salem, Oregon State Hospital. Patient dies from heart attack during storm.[37]
–1? Salem, OR State Hosp. “One patient was crushed as he was leaving the dining room…”[38]
Washington (9-11)
–11 Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. No date, p. 164.
–10 Associated Press. “Disaster Area Declared,” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-15-1962.
–10 UPI. “U.S. Gives Priority to West Coast…” Pasadena Independent, CA. 10-16-1962, p. 9.
—>9 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
— 9 McNair-Huff. Washington Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. 2006, p. 140.[39]
— 9 Sorensen. “Columbus Day 1962: Memories of Storm…,” Seattle Times, Oct 6, 2002.
— 8 AP. “Screaming Winds Last Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, 1.[40]
— 7 WA EMD. Dec 2006 Windstorm Response After Action Report. March 2007, p. 5.
— 7 Oct 12. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 10, Oct 1962, p. 115.
— 4 UPI. “Storm Damage Roundup…” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p. 1.[41]
Breakout of Washington storm-related deaths by locality where noted:
— 1 Milton. Man electrocuted. (Franklin. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. p. 143.)
— 1 North Bend, Oct 11. Wind blows tree onto truck, Puget Sound Power & Light Co. worker.[42]
— 1 Sand Point Naval Air Station (presumably), Oct 15. Lawrence Parrie, 21, U.S. Navy.[43]
— 1 Snoqualmie, Oct 11. Wind blows tree onto man.[44]
— 1 Sultan River Dam, Snohomish County. Tree falls onto worker.[45]
— 1 Willapa Bay, Oct 12. Presumed drowning during storm while crossing Bay in small boat.[46]
— 2 Yelm, Thurston County, Oct 12. Tree blown onto car.[47]
—>1 Electrocution. McNair-Huff note that “Others were killed by contact with power lines.”[48]
British Columbia (7)
–7 Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. No date, p. 164.
–7 UPI. “Storm Damage Roundup…” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p. 1.[49]
–5 AP. “Screaming Winds Last Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, 1.[50]
–4 UPI. “Killer Windstorm Moves North on Coast.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. 10-13-1962, p.1.
–1 Vancouver, Oct 11. Workman killed by a downed power line.[51]
–2 Vancouver area, Oct 12. Struck by falling trees.[52]
–1 Stanley Park. Woman in car killed by falling tree. (Franklin, Columbus Day, 163.)
–2 Vancouver area, Oct 12. Heart attacks.[53]
Narrative Information
Lucia: “On Columbus Day — October 12, 1962 — Nature went on the rampage as the most devastating wind storm ever to hit the Pacific Northwest rolled through northern California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. It created the greatest single natural disaster to strike the West Coast in more than half a century since the destructive 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.” [p. 6] (Lucia, Ellis. The Big Blow: The Story of the Pacific Northwest’s Columbus Day Storm. Forest Grove, OR: News-Times Publishing Co., 1963.)
California
Eureka Humboldt Standard, CA: “Columbus Day 1963 is a far cry from Columbus Day 1962, when Humboldt and Del Norte county residents fearfully watched creaking roofs and stayed away from plate glass windows in one of the biggest windstorms in recent years. Winds were ranging from gale force to near hurricane range and roofs, drive-in theater screens, windows, trailers, cars, schools and redwood trees were all victims.
“Falling trees caused four deaths and three were of motorists as they were crushed and trapped in their cars when the highways closed with debris. Freak accidents were the rule of the day, and forests are still littered with the ‘windfall’ trees of a year ago.” (Eureka Humboldt Standard, CA. “Columbus Day Windstorm of 1962…” 10-12-1963, p. 1.)
Weather Bureau on Oct 10-13, Northern California: “Heavy rains and strong winds caused heavy damage over the State from Monterey Bay northward. Extensive damage resulted to utility lines and construction jobs. Homes and business establishments were floded. Highways were washed out. Crops were damaged and orchard trees were blown over. Many boats were wrecked or sunk. Two children were killed by mud slides; two adults were killed by falling trees; one seaman was washed overboard and lost.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, 4/10, Oct 1962, p. 112.)
Oregon
National Weather Service: “Columbus Day Windstorm of October 1962. A generation of Oregonians received searing memories that day. This quintessential windstorm became the standard against which all other statewide disasters are now measured. The storm killed 38 people and injured many more and did 170-200 million dollars in damage (over 800 million in today’s dollars). Wind gusts reached 116 mph in downtown Portland. Cities lost power for 2 to 3 weeks and over 50,000 dwellings were damaged. Agriculture took a devastating blow as an entire fruit and nut orchards were destroyed. Scores of livestock were killed as barns collapsed or trees were blown over on the animals. In fact, the amount of trees blown down during the Columbus Day storm was nearly 15 times that blown down by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.” (NWS Forecast Office, Portland. Oregon’s Top 10 Weather Events of 1900s.)
Weather Bureau on Oct 12 OR Wind Storm: “Oregon. Entire State west of the Cascade Mountains and scattered areas immediately east of them. [Oct] 12, 1:00 pm to 9:00….Winds of hurricane force extended over practically all of Oregon west of Cascades; speeds observed were unprecedented during periods of record in inland western valleys. According to official records of American Red Cross 84 [unclear] homes were totally destroyed, 5,262 suffered major damage and 46,672 were damaged to a lesser degree. In some counties as much as 90-95% of farm buildings were damaged. From 25% to 50% of the walnut, filbert and prune orchards were uprooted. Many millions dollars damage caused utilities. At time of maximum service outages between 90,000 and 100,000 telephones were out of operation and over 400,000 power customers were without service. Thousands of public and industrial buildings were damaged. Preliminary estimates by the U.S. Forest Service indicates that blow down of Oregon timber will exceed 1½ billion board feet. Because winds in earlier stages had destroyed power lines few, if any, records of top wind speeds were obtained. From available records it is known that gusts in excess of 100 m.p.h. occurred at many points.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 10, Oct 1962, p. 113.)
Washington
Weather Bureau: “Washington. West of the Cascade Mountains. [Oct] 12…Wind Storm. The most damaging storm in recent years struck the Pacific Northwest coast on October 12. This storm probably caused more damage to property, timber, communication and power lines than any single storm on record in the area west of the Cascade Mountains. The center of this storm gradually approached the coast as it traveled northward along Oregon and Washington before moving inland over Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The storm struck the southern section of the State between 1700 and 1800 PST; the Puget Sound area between 2200 and 2300 PST. As the storm reached each locality west of the Cascades, light easterly or southeasterly winds shifted abruptly to the south or south-southwest and increased in velocity to between 40 and 55 MPH with gusts ranging from 60 to 90 MPH or higher. Precipitation was light for a major storm at this season of the year. In all areas of western Washington, trees were blown down, residences, business and farm buildings damaged, highways and railroads blocked by falling trees and telephone and power lines were down. The greatest amount of damage occurred in counties along the Columbia River and northward from Portland to Puget Sound. An estimated 39,000 telephones were out of service and the number of customers without electrical power for periods varying from a few minutes to one week ranged from 20% in localities receiving the smallest damage to 75% in the hardest hit sections. A preliminary survey indicated 7 homes destroyed, 93 with major damage and 415 with minor damage in 4 hardest hit counties. Many barns and other farm buildings were destroyed. The total number of buildings with damage ranging from minor to a complete loss is expected to reach several thousand….An estimated 1.15 billion board feet of timber was blown down in the State. The storm caused extensive damage to property, timber, power and communication facilities in southern British Columbia. The intense storm on the 12th followed very closely in the path of a smaller weather disturbance approximately 24 hours earlier. Winds from the first storm reached 25 to 40 MPH with gusts in excess of 60 MPH. Other than in some coastal areas, damage from the first storm was confined mostly to power lines.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 10, Oct 1962, pp. 115-116.)
Oct 15: “Western Washington’s badly battered storm areas were declared disaster areas Monday [Oct 15] as the state faced a monumental cleanup job from two storms that killed nine persons and caused an untold amount of damage. The Small Business Administration designated as disaster areas all those sections of Washington, Oregon and California that suffered damage from the hurricane winds in the two days. ‘President Kennedy has asked the SMA to give all possible assistance to victims of the storm as quickly as possible,’ said John E. Horne, SBA administrator in Washington. An immediate survey of storm damage was ordered….
“The storm’s death toll in Washington rose to 10 with the death Monday of Lawrence Parrie, 21 a Navy man stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station.” (Associated Press. “Disaster Area Declared,” Daily Chronicle (Centralia WA), 15 Oct 1962, p. 1)
WA EMD: “On October 12, 1962, the Pacific Northwest experienced the most significant nontropical wind-storm ever recorded in the continental United States. Winds gusted from 100 miles an hour in Renton [King County] to 150 miles an hour in Naselle [Pacific County]. This storm is described by the National Weather Service as “the mother of all wind storms this [20th] century, the wind
storm all others are compared to” and was rated as the top weather event for Washington State in the 20 th Century (National Weather Service, n.d.b). The storm caused 46 deaths in the Northwest including seven deaths within Washington. Over 2.5 residents were without power, and 50,000 homes suffered more than $235 million in total damages.” (WA EMD. Dec 2006 Windstorm Response After Action Report. March 2007, 5.)
Oregon and Washington
Lynott: “The windstorm of October 12, 1962, caused more destruction in the Pacific Northwest than any other windstorm in recorded history. In Oregon and Washington, 31 persons were killed, and property damage was estimated conservatively at $225 million to $260 million….
“The blowdown of timber in western Oregon and western Washington amounted to more than 11 billion bd. ft., approximately equal to the annual cut in the two States. Nearly 98 percent of the blowdown was on the west side of the Cascade Range. Wind damage to forests is a serious problem in this area where the forest industry is foremost in the economy. In addition to the immediate destruction of timber, there are associated longer term problems of increased fire danger and bark beetle epidemics.” (Lynott, Cramer. “Detailed Analysis of…1962 Columbus Day Windstorm [OR, WA] p.105.)
Sorenson: “The Oct. 12, 1962, Columbus Day storm, the worst tempest in the region’s history, was… an attack so unexpected and so bizarre that those who lived through it remember its every blow. Almost 40 years ago, hurricane-force winds bullied their way from Eureka, Calif., to British Columbia. Forty-six people were killed in Washington and Oregon by falling trees, downed power lines or heart attacks. A million homes lost power. More than 50,000 homes were damaged. Fifteen billion board feet of timber, enough wood to replace every home in the state, were knocked down.
“The winds were astounding: 113 mph in Bellingham, 83 mph at Seattle’s West Point, 100 mph in Renton. The coastal radar facility on Naselle Ridge in Pacific County took a gust of 160 mph.
“The total blow-down of trees was more than three times greater than in the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The pressure to move the downed wood was so great that new markets were opened in Japan.
“Barometers plummeted below their 9 o’clock position, the point where experienced sailors turn ashen, and didn’t bottom out until 28.2 inches. At work was our own “Perfect Storm,” which developed with explosive speed and followed just the right track along the coast to set the winds to screaming. “The bottom line is the Columbus Day storm was the greatest windstorm in the Northwest since the arrival of the white man,” said Cliff Mass, a University of Washington meteorologist.
“Weather forecasting has advanced so much in recent decades that it is unlikely we would be caught so off-guard again. But the region has grown so much, and windstorms so common, that the area is vulnerable in a big blow.
“The 1962 storm began building a week earlier on the other side of the international date line in the tropical Pacific Ocean. There the typhoon Frieda built for several days as moisture from the ocean rose and condensed. This released latent heat that would draw even more moisture from the ocean, helping rev up the weather system. As the storm moved into the cooler mid-latitudes, it converted into a hybrid weather system that derived most of its energy from the large horizontal temperature differences between Frieda and cold air in the Gulf of Alaska. It developed so quickly that some weather experts called it a meteorological bomb.
“On the morning of Oct. 12, the storm was 300 miles southwest of Brookings, Ore. Word began drifting across the region that a storm was on its way, but there was little to indicate how serious it was. The science of computer-generated forecast, only a dozen years old at the time, was incapable of modeling on as small a scale as this storm — even though it was large. And without today’s high-resolution satellite images and remote sensing, meteorologists lacked the data to get a computer model started. “We hardly knew what was out there,” said Mass. As the storm clobbered community after community on its way up the coast, power and phones were knocked out, so people couldn’t send word north of what was coming….
To get an idea of how rough it was, bear in mind that standing and walking become difficult when the wind reaches 30 mph or so. The laws of physics hold that doubling the speed of the wind quadruples its power, which is how a 60 mph gale can uproot trees. A Vancouver, Wash., man watched the home he had built over the previous year and a half blow away. “It just seemed to blow up,” Allan Marshall said afterward. “Whoosh. It was gone.”
“Seven-foot waves broke on the Hood Canal Floating Bridge. Plate-glass windows shattered at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Chief Kivina, a 10-car ferry, sank at its Lummi Island pier. A float plane was lifted on to its prop against the Puget Sound Flying Service on Lake Union.
“Trees toppled everywhere, killing two people in Vancouver. Seven Washington residents died. Fatalities and damage were worse in Oregon.
“With trees toppling, down came utility lines. At one point, figured Bob Evans, then head of Puget Sound Power and Light’s Pierce County headquarters, 85 to 90 percent of his area was in the dark. Even then, he held back crews for fear they would be hurt by falling timbers. Some areas would not see all their power restored for a week….” (Sorensen. “Columbus Day 1962: Memories of Storm…,” Seattle Times, Oct 6, 2002.)
Wolf: “The mother of all wind storms this century, the wind storm all others are compared to
- Strongest widespread non-hurricane wind storm to strike the continental U.S. this century
- Struck from northern California to British Columbia
- Claimed 46 lives, blew down 15 billion, yes, 15 billion board feet of timber ($750 million worth – 1962)
- Total property damage in the region $235 million
- Recorded wind speeds (before power went out)
- Naselle – Gust to 150 MPH Bellingham and Vancouver – Gust 92 MPH
- Renton – Gust 100 MPH Morrison St Bridge – Gust 116 MPH
- Tacoma – Gust 88 MPH Troutdale – Gust to 106 MPH
- Mt Hebo – Gust to 131 MPH” (Portland OR WFO, WA Top 10 Weather)
“With little fear of exaggeration, it can be stated that the Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was the most powerful windstorm to strike the Pacific Northwest in the 20th century. Certainly no windstorm since has generated as much widespread devastation as the Big Blow, not even close. Comparisons of peak gusts, where they can be had, tend to put the Big Blow at the top, but such figures are abstract, and often don’t reveal the very reasons why those who lived through the Columbus Day Storm remember it so vividly. The sudden violence of the wind compelled many people to take cover in their homes or basements, a lasting memory, and the sheer magnitude of destruction, in literally all categories of accounting, puts this storm far above any other. For example, the northwest Oregon town of Lake Oswego had about 4,000 houses within its borders in 1962–the Columbus Day Storm damaged 70% of these structures.[54] A more typical windstorm might not even harm this many houses within the entire range of its influence. Indeed throughout the Willamette Valley, undamaged homes were the exception, not the rule.
“In 1962 dollars, the Columbus Day Storm caused an estimated $230-280 million in damage to property in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia combined, with $170-200 million happening in Oregon alone.[55] This damage figure is comparable to eastern hurricanes that made landfall in the 1957-1961 time period: Audrey, 1957, $150M, Donna, 1960, $387M, and Carla, 1961, $408M.[56]
“The “Big Blow” was declared the worst natural disaster of 1962 by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In terms of timber loss, about 11.2 billion board feet was felled by the Big Blow in Oregon and Washington combined. In sheer gustiness of wind, as indicated by the ratio of maximum gust speed to sustained wind speed, called the gust factor, the Columbus Day Storm behaved more like a hurricane than a typical midlatitude cyclone.[57] The large number of 1,000-year-old plus trees blown down suggests that the Columbus Day Storm may have been the event of the millennium,[58] though such inferences are speculative at best.
“The Columbus Day Storm was born explosively when the highly degraded extratropical remains of typhoon Freda drifted into a powerful storm formation zone off of northern California and regenerated the ailing cyclone [6]. The extratropical cyclone origin gives the event a unique place among Northwest windstorms, for, as far as is known, this has not happened at any other time in the period of climatological record. Certainly the remains of dead typhoons have arrived on the Pacific Coast on many occasions since 1950, but few have come ashore as strong storms, and none but the ghostly remains of Freda in 1962 have been spun into a terrific wave cyclone. The abundant energy that arrived with the tropical system may partly explain the level of violence achieved during the Big Blow. And this tropical influence suggests that the storm of 1962 be placed in its own category. A lone, dark overachiever whose closest cousins may be those powerful extratropical storms experienced on the East Coast, such as post-landfall hurricane Hazel of 1954. There are other reasons for a unique place in Pacific Northwest climatology, such as pressure tendencies that mirrored fast-moving landfalling systems while the center of the Columbus Day cyclone stayed offshore, as will be discussed in detail in the storm data section, and simply the storm’s incredible peak wind velocities…..
Many eyewitness accounts suggested that the Columbus Day Storm was like a hurricane. These comments were sometimes made by people who had experienced hurricanes beforehand.” (Wolf Read, “The ‘Big Blow’ of Columbus Day 1962,” no date)
Newspapers at the Time
Oct 11: “Gale warnings were hoisted today for winds to 45 miles an hour as the first major storm of the season howled through Northern California.. And another storm is bearing down right behind it. The rain has already been blamed for three traffic deaths, a Pittsburg power failure and the shorting out of a thousand telephones in the Hayward area….The new storm was 1,500 miles west of the Oregon Coast and moving rapidly toward the Bay Area. It will probably hit here tomorrow, according to the Weather Bureau.
“Rain-slick highways caused these deaths near Sacramento yesterday:
“Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Sturgeon, of Kansas, killed when their auto crossed over a centerline on Highway 40 and into the path of another car.
“Mrs. Lillian M. Louis, 60, of Sacramento, killed when her husband lost control of their automobile and it overturned on Highway 50….
“About 1,500 telephones went out in the Hayward area.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “New Storm Heads for Bay Area.” 10-11-1962, p. 1.)
Oct 13: “San Francisco (UPI) — A huge killer storm moved northward with agonizing slowness today, battering the Pacific Coast with wind and rain for the third consecutive day and causing a ‘major catastrophe’ in Western Oregon.
“At least 33 Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia residents were killed in storm-connected accidents, and six others died of heart attacks possibly related to the storm.
“Millions of dollars worth of property lay in ruins along a 1,000-mile stretch of coast from Central California to the southern part of British Columbia.
“At San Francisco, Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick postponed the sixth fame of the World Series for the second straight day. Candlestick Park, where the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants were to play, was like a swamp after three days of drenching rain. At Seattle, the storm closed the World’s Fair.
“Hardest hit was Oregon, where Gov. Mark Hatfield declared a state of emergency, called out National Guard units in Portland to prevent looting and telegraphed President Kennedy that he might need help.
“The latest casualty breakdown was Oregon 9 deaths, Washington 6, British Columbia 4 and California 14. In addition, 4 persons died of heart attacks in Oregon and 2 in Washington.
“Rainfall during the storm measured up to nearly 11 inches within 24 hours, the highest amount being recorded Friday [Oct 12] and early today at the California community of Blue Canyon in the High Sierra. Wind speed frequently exceeded the hurricane-force limit of 75 miles per hour, and at one spot in California gusts were clocked at 133 miles per hour. Gale-force winds of 40 to 75 miles per hour were common along the coast….
“The storm area extended far to sea, the weathr bureau said, and consisted of a vast system containing intense wind and rain areas. Rainfall was expected to diminish in Northern and Central California by nightfall, but the weather bureau said scattered rain would continue Sunday….” (UPI. “Killer Windstorm Moves North on Coast.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. 10-13-1962, p. 1.)
Oct 13: “Two persons were killed in Humboldt County by falling trees yesterday, a Eureka man was killed by a tree in Shasta county, at least five persons were injured in traffic accidents directly attributed to the storm, and a local commercial fisherman is feared lost with his boat at sea.
“Dead:
Edward Stephan, 53, Garberville [CA].
Nellie Cooper, 63, Roseburg [OR].
George Mayhorn, age unknown, Eureka.
Mrs. Lloyd Bolen, Del Norte.
“….Mayhorn was killed when a tree crushed the pickup truck in which he was sitting while an unidentified companion cleared debris….” (Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. “Four Dead, 1 Missing, Five Hurt.” 10-13-1962, p. 1.)
Oct 14: “By The Associated Press. Earth slides killed two children, wrecked hillside homes, and blocked main highways temporarily in the Oakland area Saturday in the wake of the heavies rain in the San Francisco Bay Area in half a century.
“Diane Dobson, 5, was killed by a slide that destroyed her family’s home in Oakland….
“William J. McCarthy, 10, was killed by a slide that buried him in the backyard of his home in Orinda, an Oakland suburb….
“Their deaths, and that of Robert Tye, 34, Belmont plumber killed by electric shock while working in a flooded Hillsborough basement, raised the two-day storm toll in California to 17.
Sources
Associated Press. “Coast Debris Heavy.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA, 10-15-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-daily-chronicle-oct-15-1962-p-1/
Associated Press. “Disaster Area Declared,” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-15-1962, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=68572478
Associated Press. “New Storm Near Coast.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA, 10-12-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-daily-chronicle-oct-12-1962-p-1/
Associated Press. “Screaming Winds Lash Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-daily-chronicle-oct-13-1962-p-1/
Associated Press. “Slides Create Havoc In Oakland; 2 Killed.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-11-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-times-oct-14-1962-p-2/
Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-11-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-times-oct-14-1962-p-2/
Burt, Christopher C. “50th Anniversary of the Columbus Day Storm.” Weather Underground. 10-12-2012. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/50th-anniversary-of-the-columbus-day-storm.html
Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA. “Bay Victim is Sought.” 10-16-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-daily-chronicle-oct-16-1962-p-1/
Dresbeck, Rachel. Oregon Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Guildford, CT: Insiders’ Guide, an imprint of the Globe Pequot Press, 2006.
Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster: Columbus Day 1962. Gann Publishing Co., no date.
Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. “Columbus Day Windstorm of 1962 Recalled,” 10-12-1963, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=54472035
Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. “Four Dead, 1 Missing, Five Hurt.” 10-13-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-11-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-standard-oct-13-1962-p-1/
Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA. “Curry County Mop-Up Worth $4,000,000 after Weekend Storm.” 10-16-1962, p. 11. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-times-oct-16-1962-p-21/
Lucia, Ellis. The Big Blow: The Story of the Pacific Northwest’s Columbus Day Storm. Forest Grove, OR: News-Times Publishing Co., 1963.
Lynott, R.E. and O.P. Cramer (Portland, OR: Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service). “Detailed Analysis of the 1962 Columbus Day Windstorm in Oregon and Washington.” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 94, No. 2, February 1966, pp. 105-117. Accessed 12-11-2017 at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.395.1937&rep=rep1&type=pdf
McNair-Huff, Rob and Natalie. Washington Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot, 2006.
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Oregon’s Top 10 Weather Events of 1900s. Accessed 11-12-2009 at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/paststorms/index.php
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Some of the Area’s Windstorms. Accessed 11-12-2009 at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/paststorms/wind.php
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Portland, OR. Washington’s Top 10 Weather Events of 1900’s. NWS, NOAA. Accessed 12-22-2008 at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/paststorms/washington10.php
Oakland Tribune, CA. “New Storm Heads for Bay Area.” 10-11-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-oct-11-1962-p-1/
Office of Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice. Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual: Second Edition (Appendix D: Catastrophes Used as Reference Points in Training Curricula). Washington, DC: OJP, U.S. Department of Justice. Accessed at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/crt/pdftxt/appendd.txt
Read, Wolf. “The ‘Big Blow’ of Columbus Day 1962, A Perspective by Wolf Read.” Accessed 12-22-2008 at: http://www.climate.washington.edu/stormking/October1962.html
Sorensen, Eric. “Columbus Day 1962: Memories of Storm that Roared Still Vivid,” Seattle Times, 10-6-2002. Accessed at: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20021006&slug=columbus06m0
Sullivan, William L. Oregon’s Greatest Natural Disasters. Eugene, OR: Navillus Press, 2008.
Taylor, George H. and Raymond R. Hatton. Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes. Corvallis: Oregon Sate University Press, 1999.
Tomlinson, Stuart. “Columbus Day Storm still howls through Portland history, 50 years later.” The Oregonian, 10-11-2012. Accessed 12-13-2017 at: http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2012/10/columbus_day_storm_still_howls.html
United Press International. “19 Traffic Deaths in North Area.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-standard-oct-15-1962-p-1/
United Press International. “Heavy rain storm strikes Northern California, 8 dead.” Redlands Daily Facts, CA, 10-12-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/redlands-daily-facts-oct-12-1962-p-1/
United Press International. “Killer Windstorm Moves North on Coast.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. 10-13-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-11-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-standard-oct-13-1962-p-1/
United Press International. “Storm Damage Roundup. Federal Disaster Team Moves into Hard Hit Western Oregon.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/eureka-humboldt-standard-oct-15-1962-p-1/
United Press International. “U.S. Gives Priority to West Coast in Wake of Three-Day Killer Storm.” Pasadena Independent, CA. 10-16-1962, p. 9. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pasadena-independent-oct-16-1962-p-9/
Washington State Military Department. December 2006 Windstorm Response After Action Report – A Statewide Report to the Governor. WA EMD, March 2007, 82 pages. Accessed at: http://www.emd.wa.gov/publications/documents/FINAL_AAR_040407.pdf
Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 4, No. 10, October 1962. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1962. Accessed 12-12-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-1FCB70AB-907D-4E51-BF59-1DF32FEDB58D.pdf
Wikipedia. “Columbus Day Storm of 1962.” 12-6-2017 edit. Accessed 12-11-2017 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day_Storm_of_1962
[1] Part of the explanation for this range of fatalities is that some of the sources we use are referring only to the October 12 wind storm. Some others apparently do so, but since specific information is not provided nor a direct citation which one could follow, one is left to speculate. Even considering the broader storm period, which we do, not all sources, in our opinion, include the same types of deaths in their figures. Some might include fatal vehicular accidents on rain-slick roads during a storm in northern California and some may not. Some might include heart attacks during the hurricane-like wind storm and some might not. Without detail, one does not know.
[2] As I note below in Oregon section, I suspect that the figure of 38 fatalities in sources devoted to Oregon story, might well include deaths from northern California and Washington, and perhaps British Columbia, without indicating such or providing references one could use to unpack the figure of 38 fatalities. Must point out however, that several sources note 46 deaths and Tomlinson specifically indicates this is for Oregon and Washington. In that we show 9-11 for WA this would make OR 37-39. Thus 38 lives might have been lost in Oregon alone.
[3] “Forty-six people were killed in Washington, Oregon, and northern California.”
[4] Twenty in OR, at least 18 in Northern CA, 4 in WA, and 7 in British Columbia. (which adds to 49).
[5] “At least 33 Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia residents were killed in storm-connected accidents, and six others died of heart attacks possibly related to the storm.”
[6] “The casualty count up the coast included 19 persons dead in northern California…”
[7] “At least 18 persons were killed in Northern California as the center of the storm swept northward across Western Washington and British Columbia before blowing itself out at sea.
[8] The six yellow-highlighted deaths are those we believe are related to the Oct 12 “Columbus Day” wind storm.
[9] Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA. “Four Dead, 1 Missing, Five Hurt.” 10-13-1962, p. 1. Later report notes death.
[10] United Press International. “19 Traffic Deaths in North Area.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p.1.
[11] Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1; also, Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, noting death of Mr. Stephan on Oct 12.
[12] Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1.
[13] UPI. “Heavy rain storm strikes Northern California, 8 dead.” Redlands Daily Facts, CA, 10-12-1962, p. 1.
[14] Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1. Notes she was from Roseburg, OR. Orick is in northern CA near the OR border.
[15] Associated Press. “Slides Create Havoc In Oakland; 2 Killed.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1.
[16] UPI. “Heavy rain storm strikes Northern California, 8 dead.” Redlands Daily Facts, CA, 10-12-1962, p. 1.
[17] United Press International. “19 Traffic Deaths in North Area.” Humboldt Standard, Eureka, CA, 10-15-1962, p.1.
[18] Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1.
[19] Oakland Tribune, CA. “New Storm Heads for Bay Area.” 10-11-1962, p. 1. Killed were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Sturgeon, of Kansas, whose car slid into path of another car.
[20] Oakland Tribune, CA. “New Storm Heads for Bay Area.” 10-11-1962, p. 1. Mrs. Lilian M. Louis, 60 was killed when her husband lost control of their car.
[21] UPI. “Heavy rain storm strikes Northern California, 8 dead.” Redlands Daily Facts, CA, 10-12-1962, p. 1.
[22] Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1.
[23] UPI. “Heavy rain storm strikes Northern California, 8 dead.” Redlands Daily Facts, CA, 10-12-1962, p. 1. Victims identified as Donald L. Blanchard, 33, and his wife Helen, 25, of Petaluma, CA.
[24] We use a range of 24-38 in that we harbor suspicion that the sources noting 38 deaths may be including deaths from CA and WA, particularly since we have only been able to identify 20-21 specific deaths.
[25] “The storm claimed 20 victims in Oregon. Fourteen met violent deaths and six others died of heart attacks.”
[26] Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA. “Curry County Mop-Up Worth $4,000,000 after Weekend Storm.” 10-16-1962, 11.
[27] Lucia 1963, p. 22. Lucia does not state that the death was in Beaverton, just that a Beaverton man was killed.
[28] Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 14. Writes: “In Eugene, a graduate student, Larry Johnson, 22, was fitting a piece of cardboard over a broken window of his apartment when roofing blew off a nearby school A piece of flying debris pierced Johnson’s heart.”
[29] Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 14. Writes: “Curtis Ray, 85, was visiting his wife at a rest home when a section of wall collapsed, crushing him fatally.”
[30] Associated Press. “Storm Took 5 Lives on North Coast.” Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA, 10-14-1962, p. 1.
[31] Humboldt Times, Eureka, CA. “Curry County Mop-Up Worth $4,000,000 after Weekend Storm.” 10-16-1962, 11.
[32] Dresbeck identifies the boy as Michael Gensel.
[33] Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 22. Identifies victim as Leo J. Buyseries.
[34] Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 22. Identifies victim as Harold, E. Morrison, 37.
[35] Lucia. The Big Blow. 1963, p. 22. Identifies victim as John Lenz. Lucia notes seventeen boats were destroyed.
[36] Identified the victim as Curtis Michael Brice.
[37] Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. Gann Publishing Co., no date, p. 66.
[38] Franklin, Dorothy. West Coast Disaster, Columbus Day 1962. Gann Publishing Co., no date, p. 66. While we presume that if the patient was crushed, this would be fatal, but have not seen confirmation, thus question mark.
[39] “Forty-six people were killed in Washington, Oregon, and northern California.”
[40] Notes seven killed Oct 12 and that one other person had been killed earlier.
[41] “Four persons were killed and heavy damage was reported in Washington, where the World’s Fair at Seattle was closed Friday night in the face of winds which gusted to 90 miles an hour.”
[42] UPI. “Heavy rain storm strikes Northern California, 8 dead.” Redlands Daily Facts, CA, 10-12-1962, p. 1. Employee identified as Roger Whitman.
[43] Associated Press. “Disaster Area Declared,” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-15-1962, p. 1. Notes: “The storm’s death toll in Washington rose to 10 with the death Monday [15th] of Lawrence Parrie, 21, a Navy man stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station.”
[44] Associated Press. “New Storm Near Coast.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA, 10-12-1962, p. 1.
[45] Associated Press. “Screaming Winds Lash Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, p. 1.
[46] Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA. “Bay Victim is Sought.” 10-16-1962, p. 1. Notes: “Patrol Sergt. Harold Cusic said Tuesday [Oct 16] a Seattle man, Edward Wolf, 50, probably drowned Friday night in the storm while crossing Willapa Bay in a small boat. Patrolmen of the Lewis-Pacific district searched by plane Monday, spotting Wolf’s overturned boat, oars, gas tank and bow and arrows. Sergt. Cusic said Wolf left the Willapa game preserve at 6 p.m., bound for Long Island, restricted to bow and arrow hunting….In Seattle, Mrs. Wolf said her husband had intended to hunt deer on the island where he had often gone before….”
[47] Associated Press. “Screaming Winds Lash Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, p. 1.
[48] We presume that “others” means at least two (p. 140). We note one electrocution death above — a Milton man.
[49] “In British Columbia, Vancouver and Victoria were the hardest hit. Seven persons were killed and scores injured by flying glass, shingles, and other objects ripped loose by high winds.”
[50] Notes four people killed on Oct 12 with another fatality in earlier storm.
[51] Associated Press. “New Storm Near Coast.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalis, WA, 10-12-1962, p. 1.
[52] Associated Press. “Screaming Winds Lash Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, p. 1.
[53] Associated Press. “Screaming Winds Lash Coast Area.” Daily Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 10-13-1962, p. 1.
[54] Cites: Franklin, Dorothy. “West Coast Disaster.” Gann Publishing Co. 1963? 180 pages.
[55] Cites: Lucia, Ellis. “The Big Blow.” News-Times Publishing Co. 1963. 64 pages.
[56] Cites: Taylor and Hatton. “The Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes.” Oregon State University. 1999.
[57] Cites: Lynott, Robert E., Cramer Owen P. “Detailed analysis of the 1962 Columbus Day windstorm in Oregon and Washington.” Monthly Weather Review. February 1966. Pages 105-117.
[58] Cites: Phillips, Earl L. “Columbus Day Storm in Washington October 12, 1962.” Weather Bureau State Climatologist Office.[No date.]