Windstorm Brewing

Just in case you don't hear from me over the next few days, this would be why.

Don't worry too much. I have plenty of clothes to layer myself in, blankets, some canned food, water, candles, and I picked up some fresh batteries at Radio Shack for my lantern type flashlight on my way to the office today.

As I type this, the lights at the office are flickering something fierce. And the worst of it has not even hit us.

Good times peeps. Good times.

Updated Thursday 1:35 p.m. (Updated with some wind gusts.)
SEATTLE - The storm continues to roll into the area, and wind speeds are picking up as a result:

Here's some of the early peak wind gusts as the storm approaches the coast:
Newport, Ore: 60 mph
Astoria, Ore.: 60 mph
Tatoosh Island: 59 mph
Ocean Shores: 56 mph (unofficial)
Hoquiam: 49 mph
Tacoma (Fort Lewis): 49 mph
Tacoma (McChord AFB): 46 mph
Olympia: 46 mph
Kelso: 43 mph
Oak Harbor: 39 mph


This storm isn't behaving quite as we anticipated --- it has become incredibly complex and looks like it's coming in farther south than we thought earlier. In fact, the center of the storm might now come right over northwestern Washington, and that will have some localized effects as the winds mix with the terrain, but we're still running with the same wind forecasts.

(Some of those localized effects? Some downsloping winds off the mountains, which cause drying. With strong southwest winds aloft, the Olympic Ran Shadow came out in full force around noon, opening up sunny skies in Sequim and the northeast Olympic Peninsula. A second rain shadow came off the Willipa Hills, allowing the sun to break through in south-central Washington.

Meanwhile along the coast, the temperature went up 9 degrees in 17 minutes at Hoquiam when the wind shifted.)

Meanwhile, some south winds are already picking up in the South Sound, but that's due to other factors besides the passing of the storm center. Those winds are still not expected until later this evening.


So the meteorological 'how' of this storm is changing, but the 'what' is still about the same, and we're sticking with the same wind speed forecasts.

A HIGH WIND WARNING remains in effect for the Washington Coast, Willipa Hills, and the Northwest Interior (This is the area in a box from Everett west to Port Townsend, and then north to the Canadian Border. That includes Whidbey, Camano and San Juan Islands.) That means high winds are imminent -- although there is some possibility now that the far northern areas could be let off the hook if the storm goes in to your south. But still prepare for strong winds just in case.


A WIND ADVISORY remains in effect for the rest of Western Washington. What's the difference you ask? A Wind Advisory is sort of like a High Wind Warning lite. A High Wind Warning means wind gusts of 58 mph or faster. A Wind Advisory is issued when peak forecasted wind gusts fall in the range between 45-57 mph. The Puget Sound area is more in that 40-45 mph range.

What's The Timing?
The timing of the storm is still about the same as we've been advertising:


Cascade Foothills: The east wind is abating and this is becoming a non-factor.

Washington Coast: Now through 8 p.m.. The coast not only gets the strongest winds, but gets stuck with them the longest as they don't have the terrain to the south or west to block the winds as the low passes by. Winds will begin from the east, then gradually shift to the southeast, south, then southwest as the day progresses. Wind speeds are expected to be between 30-40 mph, with gusts as high as 55-60 mph.


Northwest Interior: Now. - 8 p.m.. This is the area in a box from Everett west to Port Townsend, and then north to the Canadian Border. That includes Whidbey, Camano and San Juan Islands. We'll keep the wind speed estimates of southeast winds of 30-40 mph gusting as high as 50-55 mph, but there is now at least a chance the far northern areas in this box could end up with much less wind.

Puget Sound Area/Southwestern Washington: Now to 8 p.m.. Some south winds are already forming in the South Sound area at 1:30, but this is not the main event. That is still expected to be sometime late in the evening around 5-7 p.m. or so.


North Central Olympic Peninsula / Along Strait of Juan de Fuca: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is for west wind that will chase after the storm as it passes inland. These would be around 25-35 mph, gusting to 45 mph.

Things To Think About
One thing to note with this storm is that while its strength shouldn't be as strong as the December storm that's still fresh in everyone's mind, it is expected to strike during the afternoon instead of overnight. That means we'll have a lot more people out in the storm than we did last December, and if you assume a traditional commuting pattern will be taking place, could cause some traffic problems.


So here's a few items to think about today to come up with some contingency plans if the peak winds are during the afternoon commute:

* If winds are sustained over 40 mph for a while over Lake Washington, the DOT will close the 520 Bridge. So plan on perhaps not having that bridge available to get across the lake Thursday afternoon and/or evening. If the bridge does remain open, beware of spray blowing over the roadway.


* Power outages mean dark intersections with non-functioning traffic lights. Treat those intersections as 4-way stops and plan for big backups.

* Trees could be down and blocking your primary route home, especially if you live in more of the outside suburbs. Figure a few alternate routes home.


* It's possible some schools could close early depending on how the storm shakes out. Might have some child care contingency plans just in case.

* Remember the biggest killer in December's windstorm wasn't the storm itself, but the aftermath where people were succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning trying to heat their home or cook dinner. The weather now isn't as cold as last December, but still, make sure you do NOT use any kind of heat or cooking source indoors that would put out carbon monoxide.

Here's a link to King County's site on carbon monoxide poisoning -- www.metrokc.gov. This site also has warning labels printed in several different languages.


* And some of the basics: fresh batteries in the flashlights and a full tank of gas are good ideas as well. Perhaps think back to last December if you were here and without power for a while: "What did I wish I would have thought of then?" You've got another day to rattle your brain.

Oh, and by the way, it'll be quite rainy through the day as well with maybe 1/2" of rain or so in the Puget Sound area.


The wind should begin to die down Thursday late evening and continue to fade through the night. Looks like another wet and breezy day Friday, but winds will stay in the 25-35 mph gust range -- just enough to knock off some of those really stubborn leaves that might have managed to hang on through Thursday.