ST. HELENS, OR — A tornado warning was issued Thursday for the St. Helens area in Columbia County as a storm system brought the risk of a tornado, pea-sized hail and damaging wind. The National Weather Service said the warning was in effect through 12:45 p.m. and covered areas near Deer Island and St. Helens.
Officials urged people in the warning area to take shelter. The same band of weather was also crossing Highway 30, raising the possibility of travel problems for drivers in the region.
Storm threat extends from Columbia County into southwest Washington
The weather system was moving east across the Columbia River toward the Kalama, Washington, area. In response, the National Weather Service office in Portland issued a Special Weather Statement for Kalama through 1 p.m. because of the potential for a landspout or hail in Cowlitz County.
The broader forecast called for thunderstorms across Western Oregon through the day, with the chance of strong wind and hail continuing in the region. That meant the threat was not limited to one community, even though the warning level and timing varied by location.
Why the warning stood out in Columbia County weather history
Records cited by weather officials say this was the first tornado warning ever issued for Columbia County. The National Centers for Environmental Information has five tornadoes on record there since 1965, showing how uncommon such alerts have been for the area.
The rarity of the warning added urgency for residents and travelers. Even a short-lived severe storm can create dangerous conditions when a tornado is possible and hail or strong winds are part of the same system.
The last confirmed Columbia County tornado struck St. Helens in 2020
Weather records also point to a confirmed tornado in St. Helens in 2020. The National Weather Service said that tornado touched down around 12:20 p.m. in northwest St. Helens near the intersection of Pittsburgh and Robnette Road.
It traveled southeast and ended near just east of McBride Elementary School. NWS Portland said the worst damage was concentrated near Barr Avenue and Pittsburgh Road, where trees, a camper, fences and power lines were damaged or snapped.
That 2020 storm was rated EF-0 after limited but real damage
The 2020 tornado was rated EF-0, the weakest category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Even so, it still caused visible damage in the neighborhood, including broken trees and downed utility lines.
That history helps explain why Thursday’s warning mattered so much to local residents. A storm does not need to be large to create safety problems, especially when it crosses roads, homes and wooded areas in a compact corridor like the one near St. Helens.
Officials asked residents to stay alert as updates continued
The National Weather Service described the situation as developing, with updates expected as more information became available. Residents were told to monitor conditions closely and be ready to move quickly if the storm changed or strengthened.
Photos and video from the area were being requested as the weather moved through, reflecting the fast-changing nature of the event. For people in the path of the storm, the immediate concern was shelter, while drivers on Highway 30 faced the added risk of reduced visibility and sudden wind or hail.
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