Great cali storm - LiveATC - KPDX

[TazzyTazzy]

Fun listening to all the heavy's doing go arounds and then diverting to Seattle.

33g58kts a little bit ago.

Approach: "Several go arounds in last 20 minutes, you sure you still want Portland?"

Airplane: "Uhhh. hang on..."

 

[Pilawt]

KPDX 120053Z 20031G51KT 10SM SCT065 BKN240 14/06 A2926 RMK AO2 PK WND 19054/0015 SLP909 T01440056

KPDX 120147Z 1202/1224 19030G55KT P6SM -SHRA SCT030 BKN070 WS020/19060KT
FM120300 16017KT P6SM BKN050
FM120700 15007KT P6SM BKN040
FM121600 VRB03KT 6SM BR SCT025 OVC050

 

[frfly172]

What's the pucker factor with those winds?

 

[Unit74]

Uh....yea. That would be some Shiitey shear on final.... Drop that sucka like a hot rock.

 

[mrkbbd]

too much for me...that is almost cessna 172 hover speed...

 

[kayoh190]

What's the pucker factor with those winds?

Way too high for me! It'd be a no-go even for work.

 

[ARFlyer]

To add to their workload a green laser is being pointed at the aircraft on short final.

 

[Pilawt]

In these conditions KPDX uses runway 21. The final for the LOC-DME Rwy 21 approach crosses right over my house on the Washington side of the Columbia River, less than 1.5 nm from the runway end.

On the approach you fly over terrain that gradually slopes down to the north bank of the river -- mostly residential, but with some very tall fir trees. Then you cross the Columbia River. On the south side of the river, between the riverbank and the runway end, is a high berm. That creates some wild turbulence on short final.

We've watched heavies bob and weave down in that area, with many opting to go around. On one night like this I had the VHF radio on and heard Portland Ground ask an arriving crew for a ride report on final. There was a long pause, then the answer: " ... You had to be there."

This from the Oregonian:

Thursday's high winds gusted to 67 miles per hour at Portland International Airport. The gust at 5:23 p.m. was the strongest since March 26, 1971, when winds hit 71 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

 

[DaveA]

5:23pm eh? A good friend was flight planned in there an hour later in a GLEX he was bringing home from SJC. I guess it all went ok. Barometric was rising and the wind was 200@24kts a little after that. At least it was down the runway, huh?

 

[kgruber]

Runway 21's final approach path takes you right over the north bank of the Columbia River. It is a steep wall of about 300 feet. I used to live right at the top of that bank.

Strong south winds (re:Columbus Day storm 1963) produce spectacular updrafts right there. As a kid, I'd follow airliners and F-89s from the Air Guard with 10X80 Flak binoculars from my back yard.