Heavy snow fell in the Cascades.
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 Cascades.
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 31, 4:08 AM PST, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
400 AM PST TUE DEC 30 2008
.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH
WESTERN WASHINGTON THIS MORNING. HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE DAY WITH MOIST ONSHORE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT. A SECOND
SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS
SECOND SYSTEM PROMISES TO GIVE HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS TO AREAS FROM
SEATTLE SOUTHWARD THURSDAY AND STRONG WINDS TO MUCH OF WESTERN
WASHINGTON THURSDAY NIGHT. WEAK SYSTEMS WILL BRUSH THE AREA OVER THE
WEEKEND WITH SHOWERS POSSIBLE AND NEAR AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. ANOTHER
FRONT WILL BRING MORE RAIN TO THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY.
&&
.SHORT TERM...OCCLUDED FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVED ONSHORE ALONG THE NORTH
COAST AROUND 07Z PRODUCING STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS AS IT PASSED
INLAND. WINDS ALONG THE COAST HAVE BECOME WESTERLY AND DROPPED OFF
TO 25-35 MPH BEHIND THE FRONT. A STRONG WESTERLY SURGE THRU THE
STRAIT BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD HAVE LIMITED AFFECT ON WHIDBEY ISLAND
AS STRONG PRESSURE FALLS REMAIN WELL TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. THE
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS FOR 1-2 FT OF SNOW THROUGH
THIS AFTERNOON LOOKS ON TRACK. AS OF 10Z MOST SITES THROUGHOUT THE
CASCADES HAVE PICKED UP 2 TO 3 INCHES...WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL
RATES YET TO COME WITH AND BEHIND THE FRONT. HEAVY SNOW OVER THE
MOUNTAINS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY WED AFTERNOON WITH THE COOL
AND UNSTABLE AIR COUPLED WITH MODERATE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. CONTINUE
TO EXPECT THE SNOW LEVELS WILL TO DROP TO AROUND 1000 FT BY LATE
THIS AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION WILL BECOME SHOWERY OVER THE LOWLANDS
TODAY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH ONSHORE FLOW GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF BY
LATE TONIGHT. SHOWERS WILL LIKELY STICK AROUND THROUGH THE NIGHT
WITH WITH A BIT OF A BREAK LATE. SKIES WILL REMAIN CLOUDY WITH
TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S OVER THE LOWLANDS.
MODELS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE DETAILS OF THE NEXT PACIFIC
SYSTEM...THOUGH THEY ARE STARTING TO AGREE ON A FEW THINGS. LATEST
RUNS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A STRONG AND DEVELOPING WARM
FRONT PASSING INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON DURING THE DAY THURSDAY WITH A
TRAILING AND DEEPENING LOW PRES SLIDING EAST ALONG THIS FRONT.
MODELS ALSO SEEM TO BE IN AGREEMENT ON BRINGING THE LOW INTO THE
OFFSHORE WATERS AS AN UNCONSOLODATED SYSTEM...PHASING AND RAPIDLY
DEEPENING AS IT MOVES ONSHORE. THE BIG DIFFERENCES STILL REMAIN IN
THE TRACK OF THE LOW AS IT MOVES ONSHORE...WITH GUIDANCE STILL NOT
MORE FOCUSED THAN LANDFALL SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HOQUIAM AND CENTRAL
VANCOUVER ISLAND OVERNIGHT THU NIGHT. TONIGHTS NAM RUNS HAVE
SWITCHED TO A MORE NORTHERLY TRACK...NOW BRINGING THE LOW INTO
SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND WHILE THE GFS AND ECMWF CONTINUE TO FAVOR
MORE SOUTHLERLY PATHS INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON.
LOCATION...LOCATION...LOCATION. THE DIFFERENT LOW TRACKS THAT THE
MODELS CONTINUE TO PRESENT BRING VERY DIFFERENT THREATS TO
WESTERN WASHINGTON. A MORE NORTHERLY TRACK FAVORS HEAVY RAINFALL
ESPECIALLY FROM THE N CENTRAL CASCADES-KSEA-KHQM SOUTHWARD WHERE 18
HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS BETWEEN 2 AND 4 INCHES COULD BE BRIEFLY
ACCOMPANIED BY A RISE IN FREEZING LEVELS TO OVER 7000 FT THURSDAY
AND THURSDAY NIGHT. REMAINING LOW ELEVATION SNOWPACK STILL ON THE
GROUND IN THE SOUTH INTERIOR WOULD ALSO ACT TO ENHANCE RUNOFF.
FLOODING OF SOME RIVERS IN THIS SCENARIO...ESPECIALLY THE SKOKOMISH
AND CHEHALIS COULD OCCUR. IN ADDITION A MORE NORTHERLY TRACK ALSO
SUPPORTS THE THREAT OF S/SW HIGH WINDS OVER MOST AREAS OF WESTERN
WASHINGTON...MOST LIKELY FOLLOWED BY A STORM FORCE WESTERLY SURGE
THRU THE STRAIT.
A MORE SOUTHERLY TRACK INTO KHQM WOULD MAKE POST FRONTAL HIGH WINDS
THE BIGGEST THREAT...ESPECIALLY VIA THE CHEHALIS GAP AS WELL AS THE
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA THROUGH TO THE CASCADES. A SOUTHERLY TRACK
WOULD ALSO SUPPORT A LOWLAND SNOW EVENT NORTH OF THE TRACK OF THE
LOW AS STRONG AND COLD LOW LEVEL EASTERLY FLOW IS OVERRUN BY A MOIST
PACIFIC AIRMASS.
EVENING SHIFT HAS ISSUED A FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK FOR WESTERN
WASHINGTON...HIGHLIGHTING THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA FOR
THE LATE THU THRU EARLY FRI PERIOD. PORTIONS OF THIS AREA MAY NEED
TO GO TO A FLOOD WATCH WITH RISING CONFIDENCE IN THAT THREAT. WILL
DEFER TO DAY SHIFT FOR DETAILS ON A HIGH WIND WATCH.
.LONG TERM...SPLIT FLOW DEVELOPS OVER THE WESTERN US FRIDAY NIGHT...
WITH THE NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE FLOW OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON KEEPING
A THREAT OF RAIN OR SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
MEDIUM RANGE MODELS BRING THE NEXT PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM INTO THE
AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SUPPORTING ANOTHER ROUND OF
WIDESPREAD RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW. WITH THE BUILDING RIDGE OUT OVER
THE PACIFIC THE UPPER FLOW REMAINS NWLY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK
WHICH BODES WELL FOR SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS AND SHOWERS ACROSS THE
LOWLANDS.
&&
.AVIATION...STRONG ONSHORE FLOW THIS MORNING AS A FRONT MOVES EAST
OF THE REGION. MVFR CEILINGS TO CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON AS
SHOWERS STREAM ONSHORE WITH UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. MAY SEE SOME
MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT IN CEILINGS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE
EVENING. WITH A 160 TO 180 KNOT JET AIMED AT THE STATE...SYSTEMS
RIDE INTO THE REGION AT A PRETTY GOOD CLIP AND TIMING OF WINDOWS OF
PROLONGED VFR MAY BE TOUGH. STRONG GUSTY SURFACE WINDS THIS MORNING
WILL GRADUALLY EASE AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
KSEA...PERIODS OF MVFR WITH PASSING SHOWERS TO CONTINUE INTO EARLY
AFTERNOON. GUSTY S-SW SURFACE WINDS WILL GRADUALLY RELAX 18Z ONWARD.
BEST SHOT AT PROLONGED VFR CEILINGS MAY BE 20Z-02Z...BUT LIGHTER
GRADIENTS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT SHOULD ALLOW MVFR CONDITIONS TO
REDEVELOP. FAST FLOW OFF PACIFIC BRINGS MORE WIDESPREAD PRECIP BY
12Z THU AS NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHES.
&&
.MARINE...KEPT GALE WARNINGS GOING ALL WATERS THROUGH LATE MORNING
WITH STRONG POST FRONTAL ONSHORE FLOW. WEAK SURFACE RIDGE BUILDS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR A BRIEF BREAK...BUT NEXT SYSTEM QUICK
ON THE HORIZON. GALES A PROBABLE BET AGAIN FOR MUCH OF THE WATERS BY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON OR NIGHT. COMBINED SEAS OVER COASTAL WATERS MAY
EXCEED 20 FEET WITH NEXT SYSTEM. 27
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE OLYMPICS
AND CASCADES UNTIL 4 AM PST TUE.
WIND ADVISORY EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA...ADMIRALTY
INLET...WESTERN SKAGIT COUNTY...SAN JUAN COUNTY UNTIL 7 PM THIS
EVENING.
PZ...GALE WARNING ALL WATERS.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY GRAYS HARBOR BAR FOR SEVERE BAR
CONDITIONS.
WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
318 AM PST WED DEC 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1156 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BELLINGHAM 48.74N 122.47W
12/30/2008 M51.00 MPH WHATCOM WA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
1203 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 N OAK HARBOR 48.39N 122.62W
12/31/2008 M52.00 MPH ISLAND WA OTHER FEDERAL
1216 AM HIGH SUST WINDS PORT TOWNSEND 48.12N 122.78W
12/31/2008 M43.00 MPH JEFFERSON WA MESONET
SUSTAINED 43 MPH GUSTING 48.
1241 AM NON-TSTM WND GST HOQUIAM 46.98N 123.89W
12/31/2008 M52.00 MPH GRAYS HARBOR WA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
1246 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BELLINGHAM 48.74N 122.47W
12/31/2008 M56.00 MPH WHATCOM WA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
1256 AM NON-TSTM WND GST FRIDAY HARBOR 48.54N 123.03W
12/31/2008 M55.00 MPH SAN JUAN WA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0100 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 18 SE JOYCE 47.95N 123.46W
12/31/2008 M76.00 MPH CLALLAM WA OTHER FEDERAL
WIND GUST MEASURED ON HURRICANE RIDGE.
0206 AM NON-TSTM WND GST TACOMA 47.25N 122.46W
12/31/2008 M51.00 MPH PIERCE WA OTHER FEDERAL
&&
WWW.WEATHER.GOVPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
649 AM PST WED DEC 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0218 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SHELTON 47.21N 123.11W
12/31/2008 M48.00 MPH MASON WA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0535 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 15 ESE JOYCE 48.05N 123.43W
12/31/2008 M45.00 MPH CLALLAM WA TRAINED SPOTTER
SUSTAINED WEST WIND 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH
&&
WWW.WEATHER.GOV1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow fell in the Cascades--18 inches of new snow was reported at Paradise on Mt. Rainier.
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: 141932.