How to Research a Storm Date of Loss in Oregon
By StormAuditor Editorial Team · Published 2026-09-24 · Updated 2026-09-24
Based on public NOAA and National Weather Service records, published under StormAuditor's methodology and data-source standards. Radar-derived hail sizes are estimates unless attributed to a ground report.
Damage-threshold ranges in this article are general guidance synthesized from industry and federal research — IBHS building-performance research, NWS severe criteria, and product standards such as UL 2218 (hail impact resistance) and ASTM D3161/D7158 (shingle wind ratings). Actual performance depends on product rating, age, installation quality, exposure, and impact characteristics — thresholds describe when damage becomes possible, not when it occurs.
Oregon logged 924 storm events across 36 counties in the 12 months through August 25, 2026, led by winter wind and late-spring hail. Here is how to match a claim date to the public weather record.
A 99 mph Gust Anchors the Oregon Record
On December 18, 2025, Oregon's peak wind estimate reached 99 mph. The day before was even busier. December 17 produced 117 separate flood and wind events, the state's largest single storm day of the year. Across the 12 months through August 25, 2026, Oregon logged 924 storm events spread over its 36 counties.
That total is modest compared with hail-alley states. It is also the reason date-of-loss research works differently here. Fewer storm days means each one stands out. If your roof leak, fence failure, or siding damage traces back to a real Oregon storm, the date is usually findable.
Why Date-of-Loss Research Is Easier in a Low-Storm State
In the Plains, dozens of storm days blur together each spring. Oregon's record is cleaner. Wind dominates the file: 610 of the year's 924 events were wind events. Hail accounted for 234, flood for 126, and tornado for just 1.
Most of the loud dates cluster in two seasons. Winter windstorms drove the December 2025 stretch. Estimated gusts hit 88 mph on December 17, then 99 mph on December 18 and 84 mph on December 19. Late spring brought the hail. May 28, 2026 produced 101 hail and wind events in one day, including radar-estimated hail to 3.05 inches.
Geography matters too. Eastern counties led the event counts: Malheur logged 83 events and Harney 81. Umatilla followed with 59. On the west side, Clackamas recorded 52 and coastal Tillamook 42. A date-of-loss search should always pair the date with the county. The same storm day can look very different on each side of the Cascades.
For a homeowner or adjuster, the practical takeaway is simple. Start with the date on the claim. Pull the weather record for that date and address. Then check whether the estimates near the property crossed meaningful thresholds. StormAuditor's screening thresholds are wind of 45 mph or more and hail of 0.75 inches or more. The National Weather Service defines severe as gusts of 58 mph or more, or hail of 1.00 inch or more.
How StormAuditor Estimates It
StormAuditor builds address-level estimates of the public weather record using its SAWE-2 wind engine and SAHE-2 hail engine. Wind values blend station observations, storm reports, and model analyses. Hail sizes come from MRMS MESH radar data and are radar estimates, not measurements. The full approach is documented on the wind methodology and hail methodology pages.
A Research Workflow That Holds Up
Adjusters and contractors reviewing an Oregon claim can follow four steps.
First, confirm the claimed date against the statewide record. A claimed date of loss near December 17–19, 2025 lines up with the year's strongest windstorm. A hail claim dated late May 2026 lines up with the season's biggest hail days.
Second, run an address lookup rather than relying on county-level summaries. Estimated values can change block by block, especially with hail.
Third, note the estimate type. A 99 mph figure is an estimate of peak wind, not a certainty of damage at any one roof. Treat it as a starting point for inspection, not a conclusion.
Fourth, document what the public record shows for nearby dates. If the record shows nothing near the claimed date, that is worth knowing early — before an inspection, not after.
Notable Oregon Storm Days
- October 25, 2025 — statewide — 67 hail and wind events
- November 5, 2025 — statewide — 33 hail and wind events
- December 17, 2025 — statewide — 117 flood and wind events; estimated gusts to 88 mph
- December 18, 2025 — statewide — estimated gusts to 99 mph
- March 12, 2026 — statewide — estimated gusts to 85 mph
- May 28, 2026 — statewide — 101 hail and wind events; radar-estimated hail to 3.05 in
- July 23, 2026 — statewide — radar-estimated hail to 2.07 in
- August 15, 2026 — statewide — radar-estimated hail to 1.96 in
Limitations
Every figure above is an estimate of the public weather record, not a measurement at any specific property. Radar-estimated hail sizes from MRMS MESH can differ from what actually fell, and Oregon's mountainous terrain complicates radar coverage in places. Wind estimates describe conditions in an area, not the load on one structure. None of this predicts or establishes an insurance outcome. Read the full limitations page before relying on any single number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the strongest wind in Oregon from August 2025 to August 2026?
The highest single-day estimate in the record was 99 mph on December 18, 2025. December 17 reached an estimated 88 mph, and March 12, 2026 reached 85 mph.
Was there hail in Oregon in May 2026?
Yes. May 28, 2026 was the state's biggest hail day, with 101 hail and wind events and radar-estimated hail to 3.05 inches. May 27 added another 43 hail and wind events.
How do I look up the weather for my date of loss in Oregon?
Start with the date and the property address. StormAuditor's date-of-loss research pulls estimated wind and hail values for that address and date. The result shows whether a real storm lines up with the claim.
Which Oregon counties recorded the most storm events?
Malheur led with 83 events over 12 months, followed by Harney with 81 and Umatilla with 59. West of the Cascades, Clackamas recorded 52 and Tillamook 42.
Does Oregon get tornadoes?
Rarely. The 12-month record shows a single tornado event, against 610 wind events and 234 hail events.
Is a radar-estimated hail size the same as measured hail?
No. Radar-estimated sizes come from MRMS MESH and describe what the radar signature suggests aloft. Ground sizes can differ, which is why estimates should guide an inspection rather than replace one.