Alert archive / Washington / Wind Advisories in 2008

Wind Advisory 21, NWS Seattle, WA

December 18, 2008San Juan County, Washington

NWS Seattle, WA issued this wind advisory at Dec 18, 2008, 12:23 AM PST for San Juan County, Washington. It was in force for 28 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 18, 2008, 12:23 AM PST (08:23 UTC)
Expired
Dec 19, 2008, 4:00 AM PST
In force
28 hr
Issued by
NWS Seattle, WA

County San Juan County, WA

The radar

The Seattle radar (KATX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:26 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Quillayute State, WA (KUIL), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 127 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Quillayute State, WA at 00:00Z on 2008-12-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Quillayute State, WA at 00:00Z on 2008-12-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 165 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1301 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
84 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
165 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
160 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS76 KSEW 180823
NPWSEW

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1223 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008

WAZ001-503-181900-
/O.UPG.KSEW.HW.A.0004.081218T1200Z-081219T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KSEW.WI.Y.0021.081218T0823Z-081219T1200Z/
SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-
1223 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY FOR WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

AREAS OF NORTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 50
MPH WILL AFFECT WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS
THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

ANOTHER STRONG SURFACE HIGH HAS FORMED OVER BRITISH COLUMBIA. THE
RESULTING LARGE PRESSURE DIFFERENCES OR GRADIENT BETWEEN CENTRAL
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND NORTHWEST WASHINGTON IS CAUSING ANOTHER
ROUND OF NORTHEAST OUTFLOW WINDS ACROSS THE FRASER RIVER VALLEY.
LATEST COMPUTER MODELS INDICATE THAT THE NORTHEAST GRADIENT WILL
NOT BE QUITE AS STRONG AS A FEW DAYS AGO...HENCE THE HIGH WIND
WATCH HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED.

IN ADDITION...THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG WINDS AND THE COLD
DRY AIR CAN PRODUCE VERY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES...POSSIBLY BELOW
ZERO FAHRENHEIT AT TIMES. FREEZING SPRAY MAY ALSO DEVELOP ALONG
SHORELINES AND AFFECT BOATERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR
GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP
SMALL TREE BRANCHES...TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES...AND
CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. 

&&

$$

KAM
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS76 KSEW 181907
NPWSEW

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1107 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008

WAZ001-503-190315-
/O.CON.KSEW.WI.Y.0021.000000T0000Z-081219T1200Z/
SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-
1107 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY. 

AREAS OF NORTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND
50 MPH WILL AFFECT WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE SAN JUAN
ISLANDS THROUGH TONIGHT.

ANOTHER STRONG SURFACE HIGH HAS FORMED OVER BRITISH COLUMBIA. THE
RESULTING LARGE PRESSURE DIFFERENCES OR GRADIENT BETWEEN CENTRAL
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND NORTHWEST WASHINGTON IS CAUSING ANOTHER
ROUND OF NORTHEAST OUTFLOW WINDS ACROSS THE FRASER RIVER VALLEY.

IN ADDITION...THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG WINDS AND THE COLD
DRY AIR CAN PRODUCE VERY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES...POSSIBLY BELOW
ZERO FAHRENHEIT AT TIMES. FREEZING SPRAY MAY ALSO DEVELOP ALONG
SHORELINES AND AFFECT BOATERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR
GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP
SMALL TREE BRANCHES...TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES...AND
CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES.

&&

$$

HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE
000 
WWUS76 KSEW 190020
NPWSEW

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
420 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

WAZ001-503-191200-
/O.CON.KSEW.WI.Y.0021.000000T0000Z-081219T1200Z/
SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-
420 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY. 

AREAS OF NORTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND
45 MPH WILL AFFECT WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE SAN JUAN
ISLANDS THROUGH TONIGHT.

IN ADDITION...THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG WINDS AND THE COLD
DRY AIR CAN PRODUCE VERY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES...POSSIBLY BELOW
ZERO FAHRENHEIT AT TIMES. FREEZING SPRAY MAY ALSO DEVELOP ALONG
SHORELINES AND AFFECT BOATERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR
GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP
SMALL TREE BRANCHES...TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES...AND
CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES.

&&

$$

WAZ505-518-519-191315-
/O.NEW.KSEW.HW.A.0005.081220T1500Z-081222T0000Z/
EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES-
WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES-
420 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON. 

A MAJOR AND POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE EAST WIND EVENT SHOULD DEVELOP
FROM THE CASCADES INTO THE FOOTHILLS AND THE EAST PUGET SOUND
LOWLANDS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THIS EVENT SHOULD THEN CONTIUE
THROUGH THE DAY ON SUNDAY. 

DURING THIS EVENT...SUSTAINED WINDS COULD REACH 50 TO 70 MPH
WITH PEAK GUSTS OF 70 TO 90 MPH. IN THE LOWLANDS...THE STRONGEST
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN KING COUNTY
SUCH HAS NORTH BEND...MAPLE VALLEY AND ENUMCLAW. HOWEVER...STRONG
WINDS WILL EXTEND ALL THE WAY WEST TO NEAR LAKE WASHINGTON AND
THE HIGHWAY 167 CORRIDOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE WIND
EVENT. TAKE THE TIME ON FRIDAY TO PREPARE FOR THE EVENTUALITY OF
FALLING TREES...WHICH COULD BLOCK HIGHWAYS...AND PROLONGED POWER
OUTAGES. BE SURE TO HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS IN YOUR CAR AND ENOUGH
FOOD ON HAND TO FEED YOUR HOUSEHOLD FOR SEVERAL DAYS. CONSIDER
SAFE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY WARM IF THE POWER GOES OUT WHILE
OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING. WIND CHILL VALUES
DURING THIS EVENT WILL BE NEAR ZERO IN THE LOWLANDS AND ABOUT 25
BELOW ZERO NEAR THE MAJOR MOUNTAIN PASSES.

&&

$$

HANER

WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE
000 
WWUS76 KSEW 190641
NPWSEW

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1041 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

WAZ001-503-191445-
/O.EXT.KSEW.WI.Y.0021.000000T0000Z-081220T0200Z/
SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-
1041 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR SAN JUAN AND WESTERN WHATCOM
COUNTIES UNTIL 6 PM PST FRIDAY...

THE WIND ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PST FRIDAY.
NORTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE LATER TONIGHT OR FRIDAY MORNING
ACROSS THOSE AREAS EXPOSED TO WINDS COMING OUT OF THE FRASER
RIVER VALLEY. THESE AREAS CAN EXPECT WINDS OF 2O TO 3O MPH
WITH GUSTS NEAR 45 MPH ON FRIDAY. THE STRONG WINDS WILL
RESULT IN WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE ZERO TO TEN DEGREE RANGE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH
OR GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP
SMALL TREE BRANCHES...TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES...AND
CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES.

&&

$$

WAZ505-518-519-191445-
/O.CON.KSEW.HW.A.0005.081220T1500Z-081222T0000Z/
EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES-
WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES-
1041 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST PUGET SOUND
LOWLANDS AND THE NORTH AND CENTRAL CASCADES FROM SATURDAY
MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

A HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON. A POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE EAST WIND EVENT MAY
DEVELOP FROM THE CASCADES INTO THE EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS
SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THIS EVENT SHOULD THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THE
DAY ON SUNDAY.

DURING THIS EVENT...SUSTAINED WINDS COULD REACH 50 TO 70 MPH WITH
PEAK GUSTS OF 70 TO 90 MPH. IN THE LOWLANDS...THE STRONGEST WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN KING COUNTY SUCH
HAS NORTH BEND...MAPLE VALLEY AND ENUMCLAW. HOWEVER...STRONG
WINDS WILL EXTEND ALL THE WAY WEST TO NEAR LAKE WASHINGTON AND
THE HIGHWAY 167 CORRIDOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR A DAMAGING
WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 50 MPH...OR GUSTS OF 70
MPH OR HIGHER MAY OCCUR. RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WIDESPREAD
DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES THAT COULD LAST FOR MORE THAN A WEEK.

CONSIDER SAFE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY WARM IF THE POWER GOES
OUT WHILE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING. WIND CHILL
READINGS DURING THIS EVENT MAY BE NEAR ZERO IN THE LOWLANDS AND
ABOUT 25 BELOW ZERO IN THE MAJOR MOUNTAIN PASSES.

&&

$$

WEATHER.GOV
000 
WWUS76 KSEW 191200
NPWSEW

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
400 AM PST FRI DEC 19 2008

WAZ001-503-191300-
/O.CAN.KSEW.WI.Y.0021.000000T0000Z-081220T0200Z/
SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-
400 AM PST FRI DEC 19 2008

...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS CANCELLED THE WIND
ADVISORY FOR WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY AND SAN JUAN COUNTY. ADVISORY
LEVEL WINDS ARE NO LONGER EXPECTED TO DEVELOP.

&&

$$

WAZ515-192000-
/O.EXA.KSEW.HW.A.0005.081220T1500Z-081222T0000Z/
WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-
400 AM PST FRI DEC 19 2008

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WATCH FOR THE WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

STRONG EAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP SATURDAY AND CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY MORNING AS
A FRONTAL SYSTEM APPROACHES THE AREA. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL
LIKELY OCCUR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. SUSTAINED WINDS 30 TO
40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR A DAMAGING
WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS OF 60
MPH OR HIGHER MAY OCCUR. RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WIND DAMAGE
AND POWER OUTAGES. 

&&

$$

WAZ505-518-519-192000-
/O.CON.KSEW.HW.A.0005.081220T1500Z-081222T0000Z/
EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-
WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES-
WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES-
400 AM PST FRI DEC 19 2008

...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

A HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST PUGET SOUND
LOWLANDS AND FOR THE WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTH AND CENTRAL
WASHINGTON CASCADES...FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

DURING THIS EVENT...SUSTAINED WINDS COULD REACH 50 TO 70 MPH WITH
PEAK GUSTS OF 70 TO 90 MPH. IN THE LOWLANDS...THE STRONGEST WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN KING COUNTY SUCH
AS NORTH BEND...MAPLE VALLEY AND ENUMCLAW. HOWEVER...STRONG WINDS
COULD EXTEND ALL THE WAY WEST TO NEAR LAKE WASHINGTON AND THE
HIGHWAY 167 CORRIDOR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR A DAMAGING
WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS TO 60
MPH OR HIGHER MAY OCCUR. RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE
WATCH AREA SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WIDESPREAD
DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES THAT COULD LAST FOR MORE THAN A WEEK.

CONSIDER SAFE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY WARM IF THE POWER GOES OUT
WHILE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING. WIND CHILL
READINGS DURING THIS EVENT MAY BE NEAR ZERO IN THE LOWLANDS AND
ABOUT 25 BELOW ZERO IN THE MAJOR MOUNTAIN PASSES.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Seattle, WA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 18, 12:09 AM PSTGale WarningSEW28 hr
Dec 18, 9:05 AM PSTSmall Craft Advisory for Rough BarSEW5 days
Dec 18, 9:05 AM PSTSmall Craft AdvisorySEW42 hr
Dec 18, 10:08 AM PSTWinter Weather AdvisorySEW12 hr

Nearby

Wind Advisories in Washington, 2008Every wind advisory in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.