Coastal Flood in Washington, December 17 to 27, 2012

Name: Coastal Flood in Washington, December 17 to 27, 2012
Start: 2012-12-17T07:00
End: 2012-12-27T13:00
Location: Washington

December 17 to 27, 2012 · NWS SEW · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

High astronomical tides coincided with low pressure to cause record high tide levels throughout Puget Sound. Many homes and yards along the shoreline were flooded.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $927,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS SEW wrote it up.

High astronomical tides coincided with low pressure to cause record high tide levels throughout Puget Sound. Many homes and yards along the shoreline were flooded.

What forecasters said that day

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 17, 6:07 AM PST, 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 17, 6:07 AM PST, 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
607 AM PST MON DEC 17 2012

CORRECTED MINOR TYPOS.

.SYNOPSIS...THE STRONG PACIFIC STORM THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
RECENT ROUND OF INCLEMENT WEATHER WILL MOVE EAST OF THE REGION
DURING THE DAY TODAY. HOWEVER LOW PRESSURE ALOFT WILL REMAIN OVER
THE REGION FOR SHOWERY WEATHER TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE AIR MASS
WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE LOWLANDS TONIGHT AND
TUESDAY. ALAS...ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING MORE WET
WEATHER TO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
THE BENT-BACK OCCLUSION WAS MOVING ACROSS THE INTERIOR...PUGET SOUND
REGION SOUTHWARD...AT THIS TIME. THIS SYSTEM WILL BE WELL EAST OF
THE AREA BY NOON TODAY. EXPECT WINDS TO DIMINISH IN THE WAKE OF THIS
FEATURE BUT IT WILL REMAIN BREEZY TO LOCALLY WINDY THE REST OF THE
DAY.

EXPECT WINDS TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE ACROSS THE CENTRAL CASCADES
EARLY THIS MORNING AS THE OCCLUSION MOVES ACROSS THE AREA...MAKING
FOR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. ONCE THE OCCLUSION MOVES EAST OF THE
CENTRAL CASCADES...LATER THIS MORNING...WINDS WILL ALSO DIMINISH BUT
PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE.

THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECENT ROUND OF
INCLEMENT WEATHER WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY...WITH A WEAK
UPPER TROF REMAINING OVER THE AREA TONIGHT. A COLDER AIR MASS WILL
INVADE THE REGION LATER TODAY AND SNOW LEVELS WILL PLUMMET TO NEAR
SEA LEVEL BY SUNRISE TUE.

THE MODELS CONTINUED TO INDICATE A PUGET SOUND CONVERGENCE ZONE
/PSCZ/ DEVELOPING TODAY IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. INITIALLY...THE
PSCZ WILL BE PUSHED INTO THE CASCADES BUT AS THE FLOW ALOFT WEAKENS
LATER TODAY...IT WILL BUILD BACK TOWARD THE PUGET SOUND. AT THIS
TIME...THINKING THAT THE PSCZ WILL DEVELOP OVER ITS TYPICAL LOCATION
BUT THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF A SECONDARY CONVERGENCE ZONE
DEVELOPING OVER SKAGIT COUNTY. THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVERGENCE ZONES
AND A COLD AIR MASS IN PLACE WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR
ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL ACROSS THE IMPACTED AREA. THEREFORE HAVE
DECIDED TO ISSUE A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THESE AREAS AS ANY SNOW
THAT STICKS TO THE ROADS WILL CREATE A PROBLEM DURING THE TUE
MORNING COMMUTE.

EXPECT THE UPPER TROF TO BEGIN MOVING EAST OF THE REGION DURING THE
DAY TUE...WITH AN UPPER RIDGE FOLLOWING IN ITS WAKE. ALAS...ANOTHER
PACIFIC STORM WILL BEGIN IMPACTING THE REGION TUE NIGHT...WITH WET
WEATHER IN STORE FOR WED. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE PRECIP WILL START
OFF AS A RAIN/SNOW MIX OR AS SNOW OVER MUCH OF THE LOWLANDS TUE
NIGHT OR WED MORNING...ESPECIALLY OVER THE HOOD CANAL AREA.
INCREASING LOW LEVEL EASTERLY FLOW WILL INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR
SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OVER THIS AREA ON WED. A WINTER STORM WATCH
WILL PROBABLY BE NEEDED FOR THE HOOD CANAL AREA.

.LONG TERM...
MODELS HAVE SHIFTED TOWARD SHOWING A PERIOD OF COOL AND SHOWERY
WEATHER THURSDAY THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. MERCER/05

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED ON AREA RIVERS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...A DEEP SURFACE LOW NEAR 979 MILLIBARS IS MOVING THROUGH
THE CENTRAL STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AT 10Z. IT WILL GRADUALLY FILL AS
IT SHIFTS TO SOUTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA MID MORNING. VERY STRONG
PRESSURE RISES BEHIND IT ARE LEADING TO STRONG SURFACE WINDS OVER
MOST OF WESTERN WASHINGTON THIS MORNING. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY
SUBSIDE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. COLD UNSTABLE AIR ALOFT WILL BE
OVER THE REGION TODAY WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.

KSEA...SHOWERS AND VERY WINDY THROUGH 18Z...THEN WINDS GRADUALLY
EASE THIS AFTERNOON. MESOSCALE MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW A CONVERGENCE
ZONE FORMING THIS AFTERNOON...BUT KEEP MOST OF THE ACTIVITY
ASSOCIATED WITH IT WELL NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. COLD UNSTABLE AIR MASS
OVER THE REGION MEANS SOME PRECIP MAY FALL IN THE FORM OF ICE
PELLETS OR RAIN/SNOW MIX. SNOW ACCUMULATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS
TIME. MVFR CEILINGS IN SHOWERS THIS MORNING...WITH SOME MODEST
IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG WEST-SOUTHWEST WIND
ALOFT OF 55 TO 60 KNOTS NEAR 5000 FEET WILL EASE LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.

&&

.MARINE...A DEEP 979 MB LOW MOVING INTO THE EASTERN STRAIT AT 11Z
WITH STORM FORCE WINDS ALREADY OBSERVED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. WE
SHOULD SEE A STRONG WESTERLY SURGE COMMENCING IN THE STRAIT EARLY
THIS MORNING AS THE LOW FILLS AND SHIFTS TOWARD THE FRASER VALLEY
MID MORNING. STORM WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST AND THROUGH
THE STRAIT THROUGH THE MORNING WHILE GALE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE INLAND WATERS INTO THIS AFTERNOON. COASTAL SEAS
INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 FEET TODAY...LOCALLY HIGHER SOUTH PORTION.
MARINERS SHOULD STAY OFF THE WATERS.

VERY STRONG ONSHORE FLOW BEHIND THE LOW WILL SLOWLY RELAX THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANOTHER FRONT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON
WEDNESDAY. THIS FRONT COULD PRODUCE GALES FOR THE COASTAL
WATERS...STRAIT...AND NORTHERN INLAND WATERS...BUT IT IS NOT IN THE
SAME LEAGUE AS TODAY. 27

&&

.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST UNTIL 10 AM THIS
     MORNING.

     HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR...
     STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA...AND ADMIRALTY INLET AREA UNTIL
     NOON TODAY.

     BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE OLYMPICS AND CENTRAL
     CASCADES UNTIL NOON TODAY.

     WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CASCADES UNTIL
     6 PM THIS EVENING.

     WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL CASCADES FROM
     NOON TODAY TO 6 PM THIS EVENING.

     COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST AND
     INTERIOR SHORELINES UNTIL 11 AM THIS MORNING.

     WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THE PUGET SOUND REGION AND FAR
     NORTH INTERIOR UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THE OLYMPICS FROM NOON
     TODAY TIL 6 PM THIS EVENING.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST UNTIL 4 AM
     TUESDAY.

     WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF THE PUGET SOUND
     REGION AND NORTH INTERIOR FROM LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH
     TUESDAY MORNING.

PZ...STORM WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL WATERS AND
     STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA.

     GALE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINING WATERS.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR ROUGH GRAYS HARBOR BAR
     CONDITIONS UNTIL 4 AM TUESDAY.

&&

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE

FOR THE GRAPHICAL AFD...VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE/GAFD/LATEST_WEBAFD.HTML

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 17, 4:13 AM PST, 2 hours 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
413 AM PST MON DEC 17 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0411 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  HOQUIAM                 46.98N 123.89W
12/17/2012  M0 MPH           GRAYS HARBOR       WA   ASOS

            60 MPH WIND GUST

&&

WWW.WEATHER.GOV

Local storm report, Dec 17, 6:19 AM PST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
619 AM PST MON DEC 17 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0449 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST SEA-TAC                 47.44N 122.30W
12/17/2012  M59 MPH          KING               WA   ASOS

&&

WWW.WEATHER.GOV

Local storm report, Dec 17, 6:20 AM PST, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
620 AM PST MON DEC 17 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0411 AM     TSTM WND GST     HOQUIAM                 46.98N 123.89W
12/17/2012  M60.00 MPH       GRAYS HARBOR       WA   ASOS

0449 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST SEA-TAC                 47.44N 122.30W
12/17/2012  M59.00 MPH       KING               WA   ASOS

&&

WWW.WEATHER.GOV

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 coastal flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Coastal Flood, Admiralty Inlet Area

When: December 17, 7:00 AM PST to December 27, 1:00 PM PST
Where: Admiralty Inlet Area forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Newspaper

A workshop on the Cape George Colony waterfront (near the shore of Discovery Bay) was minimally damaged by seawater. On Whidbey Island, a home on West Beach Road near Swan Lake was destroyed when the bulkhead in front of the house washed out. Several other home's bulkheads were damaged. Several roads on the island were flooded. There was also damage to a seawall along Pebble Beach.

The Port Townsend tide gauge recorded a value of 11.28 ft above MLLW, which is the 8th highest tide of all time and is only 0.45 ft less than the all-time record set on December 10, 1993.

Coastal Flood, Western Whatcom County

When: December 17, 7:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Western Whatcom County forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper

Birch Bay Cafe and Bistro suffered damage as waves pushed a large log through the large bay facing window. A nearby consignment shop was also damaged. About 15 homes and properties were also affected near Terrell Creek. In some cases the water only got into the front yard, but in others it flooded garages and homes. Flooding closed about 4 miles about Birch Bay Drive.

Coastal Flood, Everett and Vicinity

When: December 17, 8:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Everett and Vicinity forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper

Near Warm Beach, and deck and boathouse were partially damaged. A hole was ripped in a dike along the Stillaguamish River, the outflow of water surrounded a farm house.

Coastal Flood, Seattle/Bremerton Area

When: December 17, 8:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Seattle/Bremerton Area forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: Newspaper

In Seattle, record high tides were reported. Dozens of properties in West Seattle had waves spilling onto them. In Olalla a building near the sound had about 4 inches of water inside. A street and apartment parking lots were flooded in Port Orchard.

The Seattle tide gauge recorded a high of 14.48 ft above MLLW for two consecutive readings around 8 AM. This tied the all-time high tide ever recorded, which previously had happened on January 27, 1983.

Coastal Flood, Tacoma Area

When: December 17, 8:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Tacoma Area forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Newspaper

The Red Rooster Cafe on Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor reported some flooding. About a dozen homes were partially flooded on Day Island.

The Tacoma tide gauge recorded its all-time high tide level of 14.89 ft above MLLW. This exceeded the previous record by 0.34 ft. The old record of 14.55 ft above MLLW was from January 3, 2003.

Coastal Flood, Hood Canal Area

When: December 17, 8:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Hood Canal Area forecast zone
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Newspaper

High tide and rainfall flooded SR 300 west of Belfair. A car got stuck in the flooded section of the roadway and was damaged by the saltwater.

Coastal Flood, Western Skagit County

When: December 17, 9:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: Western Skagit County forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper

Coastal flooding.

Coastal Flood, San Juan

When: December 17, 9:00 AM PST to 1:00 PM PST
Where: San Juan forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 48.531, -123.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Coastal flooding.

What these are

Coastal Flood: Flooding of coastal land by the sea, from storm surge, onshore wind or high tides.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Washington in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, December 2012

Sources

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: 423210, 423211, 423214, 423215, 423216, 423217, 423212, 423213.