The East Oregonian, established in 1883 and still publishing today, has been a staple of Eastern Oregon for over a century. Since its inception, the paper has been telling the stories of the region—from documenting local history to providing an outlet for commentary on current events. In honor of its 140th anniversary, we are taking a look back at Jan. 5, 2023 in East Oregonian Days Gone By. Read on to learn more about what was happening 140 years ago while also reflecting on how far the region has come since then.
Jan. 5, 1923 – A cold and windy day
Jan. 5, 1923 was a cold and windy day in East Oregon. The temperature dropped to -13 degrees Fahrenheit at the Pendleton Airport and the wind chill made it feel even colder. The coldest temperature recorded in Oregon that day was -42 degrees Fahrenheit in Seneca.
Jan. 5, 1953 – A day of heavy snowfall
Jan. 5, 1953, was a day of heavy snowfall in East Oregon. The region was blanketed with several inches of snow, and travel was difficult. Schools were closed, and many people stayed home from work. The snowfall was a welcome sight for skiers and snowboarders, who took advantage of the fresh powder. For others, the snow meant shoveling sidewalks and driveways and dealing with icy roads.
Jan. 5, 1973 – A day of record high temperatures
Jan. 5, 1973, was a day of record high temperatures in the East Oregonian region. The highs were as follows:
Pendleton – 58
Hermiston – 60
Burns – 61
John Day – 62
Paisley – 63
La Grande – 64
Jan. 5, 1993 – A day of severe weather
Jan. 5, 1993 was a day of severe weather in Oregon. A strong cold front produced high winds and heavy snow in the mountains, and thunderstorms and heavy rain in the valleys. The storms caused power outages and flooding, and resulted in several traffic accidents.
Jan. 5, 2013 – A day of heavy rain and flooding
Jan. 5, 2013 was a day of heavy rain and flooding in East Oregon. The rain caused flooding in many areas, including the city of Pendleton. The Pendleton Fire Department responded to several calls for help, and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the area. Many roads were closed due to flooding, and some homes were evacuated. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities.
Jan. 5, 2023 – A day of widespread power outages
January 5, 2023 was a day of widespread power outages across the state of Oregon. More than half a million customers were without power at the height of the outage, which lasted for several hours. The outages were caused by a severe winter storm that swept through the region, bringing high winds and heavy snow. Crews worked throughout the day to restore power to affected areas, but many customers were without power for several hours.
