Heavy snow fell in the central Puget Sound area including Seattle.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SEW wrote it up.
Heavy snow fell in the central Puget Sound area including Seattle.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Seattle, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 18, 9:00 AM PST, 1 hour earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
900 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008
.SYNOPSIS...A COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL EVER SO SLOWLY MOVE SOUTH
THROUGH WRN WA TODAY AND TONIGHT...MAINTAINING A CHANCE OF SNOW
SHOWERS. THE LOW WILL MOVE EAST LATE TONIGHT ALLOWING SKIES TO CLEAR
AS DRY NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPS. A STRONG SURFACE HIGH OVER
BRITISH COLUMBIA WILL PUSH COLD AIR SOUTH OVER THE AREA...KEEPING
TEMPERATURES AROUND WESTERN WASHINGTON MAINLY IN THE TEENS AND 20S
THROUGH THE WEEKEND. A STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE
WEST WILL BRING MORE SNOW AND STRONG EAST WINDS TO THE AREA SATURDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE EARLY NEXT
WEEK.
&&
.SHORT TERM...A COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW APPEARS TO BE CENTERED OVER THE
OLYMPIC PENINSULA THIS MORNING. THE ENSUING INSTABILITY AND LIFT
PROVIDED BY THE UPPER LOW CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CONVECTIVE SNOW
SHOWERS ACROSS MUCH OF WRN WA. IN GENERAL...THE HEAVIEST SNOW AT
THIS TIME APPEARS TO BE SITUATED OVER THE CENTRAL SOUND AND KITSAP
PENINSULA...WHERE SURFACE CONVERGENCE IS ENHANCING LIFT. THERE WAS
SOME THUNDER-SNOW DURING THE WEE HOURS IN THIS CONVERGENCE
AREA...CANNOT RULE OUT MORE THUNDER-SNOW. IF YOU HEAR THUNDER...YOU
ARE ABOUT TO GET DUMPED ON...IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY. LIFT IS ALSO
BEING ENHANCED OVER THE OLYMPIC FOOTHILLS SOUTH OF PORT ANGELES AND
SEQUIM...WHERE NORTHEAST WINDS ARE CAUSING UPSLOPE FLOW. IN THIS
TYPE OF CONVECTIVE REGIME...SNOW WILL COME IN QUICK HEAVY BURSTS
WITH BRIEF PEEKS OF SUNSHINE BETWEEN SHOWERS.
THE UPPER LOW WILL CONTINUE TO VERY SLOWLY SHIFT SOUTH-SOUTHEAST
TODAY AND TONIGHT AND OPEN UP INTO A TROUGH. MODELS SHOW THE CURRENT
AREA OF HEAVIER SNOW OVER THE CENTRAL SOUND PIVOTING NORTH AND
WEAKENING BY NOON-ISH. ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT BOTH THE 12Z NAM AND
GFS MODELS SEEM TO HIGHLIGHT IS A BAND OF SNOW THAT DEVELOPS FROM
OLM AND TCM SOUTH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. PLAN TO BUMP
SNOW TOTALS UP TO ABOUT 3 INCHES THERE THIS EVENING...INCLUDING
LEWIS COUNTY. WILL LIKELY EXTEND THE CURRENT ROUND OF WINTER
WEATHER-RELATED ADVISORIES THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. FOR THE SOUTHWEST
INTERIOR...THIS WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. BY LATE
TONIGHT...THE UPPER LOW WILL HAVE OPENED INTO A TROUGH WITH THE
TROUGH AXIS IN ERN WA BY THEN. THE NORTH FLOW ALOFT ON THE BACK SIDE
OF THE TROUGH SHOULD DRY OUT THE ATMOSPHERE OVER WRN WA.
WIND ADVISORY FOR SAN JUAN AND WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTIES WILL REMAIN
IN PLACE WITH THE 16Z KBLI-CYWL GRADIENT OF -12 MB SUPPORTING
CONTINUED OUTFLOW WINDS FROM THE FRASER RIVER CANYON. HANER
.LONG TERM...FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...FRIDAY/SATURDAY WILL BE
ANOTHER COLD PERIOD. HAVE KEEP LOWS WITH GUIDANCE WHICH HAS A LOT OF
TEENS AROUND THE AREA. THE UPPER LOW OVER THE AREA SHIFTS EAST
TONIGHT ALLOWING SKIES TO CLEAR AND RADIATIONAL COOLING TO ADD TO
THE ALREADY COLD DRY AIR MASS MOVING S FROM B.C.
THE NEXT STORMY PERIOD IS THIS WEEKEND. GFS IS A LITTLE FASTER THAN
PREVIOUS RUNS AND THE LATEST ECMWF...AND BRINGS PRECIP TO THE
INTERIOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON. EAST WINDS WILL BE THE INITIAL PROBLEM.
GFS SHOWS A TERRIFIC EAST GRADIENT SETTING UP BETWEEN THE COLD AIR
AND SURFACE HIGH OVER EASTERN WA AND THE INCOMING COLD FRONT. STRONG
GAP WINDS ARE A REALLY GOOD BET. WRF-GFS CROSS-SECTION FOR STAMPEDE
GAP DOESNT INDICATE A SURFACING MOUNTAIN WAVE AT THIS POINT...BUT
WELL HAVE TO CONTINUE MONITORING FOR THIS. WITH STRAIGHT E WINDS
THE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN QUITE COLD...SO WITH THE GFS SHOWING STRONG
WARM ADVECTION AT 850 MB THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT
WARM-OVERRUNNING TYPE OF SNOW EVENT FOR SOME AREAS. NAM12 GOES OUT
FAR ENOUGH TO GET A LOOK AT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...AND THE MAIN AREAS
LOOK TO BE THE SW INTERIOR...KITSAP PENINSULA/HOOD CANAL AREA...AND
THE WESTERN STRAIT. THIS TYPE OF E FLOW PATTERN USUALLY DOESNT
BRING MUCH SNOW TO THE AREAS EAST OF PUGET SOUND PROPER...INCLUDING
SEATTLE.
BOTH GFS/ECMWF HAVE A COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER THE AREA SUNDAY AND
MONDAY. BOTH MODELS ARE SHOWING NE LOW LEVEL FLOW FROM A SURFACE
HIGH OVER B.C. SO IF THIS IS RIGHT...COLD AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL
CONTINUE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. TOO EARLY FOR A SANTA FORECAST BUT
THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE 25TH LOOK UNSETTLED AND ON THE COLD SIDE.
KAM
&&
.AVIATION...STRONG CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL REMAIN ACROSS
WA/SOUTHERN B.C. TODAY WITH WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. AIRMASS IS COLD...
MOIST AND UNSTABLE WITH SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUING ACROSS THE REGION
THROUGH THE REST OF THE MORNING AND INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. HEAVIER
SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE FOUND ACROSS THE PUGET SOUND AREA ON EAST INTO
THE CASCADES. NORTHERLY OUTFLOW FROM THE FRASER RIVER VALLEY WILL
ALSO PRODUCE UPSLOPE FLOW ACROSS NORTHERN OLYMPIC PENINSULA. CURRENT
MODEL OUTPUT SHOWS SHOWERS DIMINISHING MIDDAY WITH SHOWERS MAINLY
LINGERING IN THE SW INTERIOR AND MOUNTAINS. THE UPPER LOW WILL MOVE
INTO E WA/ID/MONTANA ON FRI WITH OFFSHORE FLOW DEVELOPING ACROSS
WESTERN WA. 33
KSEA...SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING WITH THE
HEAVIER BAND OF SHOWERS MOVING NE AND OUT OF THE AREA BY 18Z.
ISOLATED SHOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH
CYCLONIC FLOW OVER THE AREA...HOWEVER NOT EXPECTING SIGNIFICANT
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS. DRIER WEATHER IS EXPECTED LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS TODAY WILL REMAIN NORTHERLY AT 10-15
KT. 33
&&
.MARINE...SURFACE TROUGH REMAINS ACROSS W WA TODAY WITH 1000MB PRES
CENTER ALONG THE COAST. THE LOW WILL SHIFT INLAND TODAY...WITH NELY
OUTFLOW FROM THE FRASER RIVER VALLEY INCREASING. ALREADY HAVE GALES
UP FOR THE N INLAND WATERS...WEST AND CENTRAL STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA
WHICH LOOKS GOOD. NORTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE WATERS
TONIGHT AND FRI...THEN VEER TO E/SE ON SAT. GALES WILL BE POSSIBLE
AHEAD OF THE INCOMING SYSTEM THIS WEEKEND. 33
&&
SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND THE
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT OF THE SEATTLE/TACOMA/
BREMERTON AREAS...EVERETT AND VICINITY...HOOD CANAL...THE
SOUTHWEST INTERIOR...THE LOWER CHEHALIS VALLEY...NORTH
COAST...EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS.
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR SAN JUAN AND WESTERN WHATCOM
COUNTIES.
PZ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY COASTAL WATERS AND EAST ENTRANCE OF THE
STRAIT. GALE WARNING WEST AND CENTRAL STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA
AND NORTHERN INLAND WATERS.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY GRAYS HARBOR BAR.
WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE
FOR THE ENHANCED AFD PLEASE VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE/GAFD/LATESTWEBAFD.HTML (ALL LOWERCASE)PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
736 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0735 AM SNOW 2 WNW RANDLE 46.54N 121.99W
12/18/2008 M14.0 INCH LEWIS WA TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER LEWIS-40...4.5 INCHES NEW OVERNIGHT...14 INCHES
TOTAL.
&&
TBUEHNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
752 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0751 AM SNOW 2 WSW CONCRETE 48.53N 121.79W
12/18/2008 M21.0 INCH SKAGIT WA TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER SKAGIT-14...21 INCHES TOTAL SNOW ON THE
GROUND...29 DEGREES.
&&
TBUEHNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
804 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0751 AM SNOW 5 NNW GRAND MOUND 46.88N 123.04W
12/18/2008 M7.5 INCH THURSTON WA TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER THURSTON-33...7.5 INCHES TOTAL ON THE
GROUND...1.25 INCHES NEW OVERNIGHT...STILL SNOWING..30
DEGREES.
&&
TBUEHNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
932 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 AM SNOW 1 ENE ELWHA 48.06N 123.57W
12/18/2008 M20.0 INCH CLALLAM WA TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL.
0830 AM SNOW 4 E MOUNT VERNON 48.42N 122.22W
12/18/2008 M6.0 INCH SKAGIT WA TRAINED SPOTTER
6 INCHES NEW...14.5 INCHES TOTAL.
0830 AM SNOW 1 WSW MOUNT PLEASANT 48.10N 123.40W
12/18/2008 M4.5 INCH CLALLAM WA TRAINED SPOTTER
4.5 INCHES STORM TOTAL.
0830 AM SNOW 5 NNW GRAND MOUND 46.88N 123.04W
12/18/2008 M3.0 INCH THURSTON WA TRAINED SPOTTER
3 INCHES NEW - 9 INCHES STORM TOTAL.
0830 AM SNOW 5 NNE POTLATCH 47.44N 123.12W
12/18/2008 M2.0 INCH MASON WA TRAINED SPOTTER
2 INCHES NEW SINCE 8 AM. 4 INCHES STORM TOTAL.
0830 AM SNOW 3 WNW SEKIU 48.28N 124.37W
12/18/2008 M5.0 INCH CLALLAM WA TRAINED SPOTTER
5 INCHES NEW.
0916 AM SNOW 2 S OLYMPIA 47.02N 122.89W
12/18/2008 M2.0 INCH THURSTON WA TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL.
0916 AM SNOW 2 NNE PUYALLUP 47.21N 122.26W
12/18/2008 M1.0 INCH PIERCE WA TRAINED SPOTTER
1 INCH AT HOME IN PUYALLUP. 3 INCHES AT WORK IN TACOMA.
&&
DDAMICO2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow of 2-12 inches with many reports of 4 inches or more.
Snow of 2-5 inches fell. Schools, government agencies, and many businesses were closed. Two charter buses crashed as they turned and slid down a street. One crashed through a barrier next to I-5, stopping with its two front tires dangling over the freeway. The 11 injuries were all minor.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, December 2008
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 141100, 141099.