A deep low pressure center passed north of Seattle. The Seattle area had high wind with numerous power outages.
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.
A deep low pressure center passed north of Seattle. The Seattle area had high wind with numerous power outages.
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 14, 9:12 AM PST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
912 AM PST Fri Dec 14 2018
.UPDATE...Interesting conditions this morning with very locally
gusty winds being reported around the Port Angeles area with a
mountain wave coming off the north slopes of the Olympics and
occasionally surfacing along the eastern portions of the Strait of
Juan de Fuca zone and out into the strait. Winds are occasionally
gusting to about 55 mph in a few locations there and producing
local power outages. With the downslope flow action, it is quite
warm and dry in Port Angeles and also around the Bellingham area
where lower to mid 60s are being reported along with very dry air
at the surface. A wind advisory was extended to start now in the
eastern portions of the strait and temperatures were raised to
current conditions. Temperatures will fall back to typical values
later this afternoon and evening.
The remainder of the forecast is unchanged. See the previous
forecast discussion below.
&&
.SYNOPSIS...A frontal system will move through Western Washington
later this afternoon and this evening. The low associated with the
front will move inland well to the north of the area. This will
confine the high winds to the coast and extreme northern portions
of the area. A little break between systems on Saturday. The
active weather pattern will resume Sunday with additional weather
systems reaching the area through the middle of next week. These
systems may produce heavy rainfall and windy conditions at times.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...Satellite imagery shows
cloudy skies over Western Washington early this morning with a
warm front north of the area. Rain associated with the front as
far south as Whatcom County at 3 am/11z. Temperatures were mostly
in the 40s.
The forecast issue of the day is how strong are the winds going to
get later today. Water vapor satellite imagery tells the story
with the surface low now west of Vancouver Island and the dry
slot in behind the front aiming right at Haida Gwaii. This is a
good indicator on the future track of the low. This track is
further north than previous model runs. This further north track
will result in less wind across Western Washington later today.
There is still the potential of high winds along the coast just
ahead and with the front. Have pushed back the start time of the
high wind warning to 8 am/16z. Front timed to the reach the coast
around 4 pm/00z. The winds, in the 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 60
mph range, will ease quickly after the front. For the interior
with the low tracking so far north the chances for high winds will
be confined to Whatcom county, the San Juan Islands and Admiralty
Inlet area later this afternoon ahead of the front. A high wind
warning will be issued with the morning package for these
locations for southeast wind as high as 40 mph with gusts as high
as 60 mph beginning early this afternoon and continuing until the
front passes through early this evening. For the remainder of the
area that is currently under a high wind watch winds will remain
below warning criteria ( sustained winds at least 40 mph or gusts
58 mph or higher ) today and tonight. A weak meso surface low will
develop in the wake of the Olympics later this afternoon. This
will tighten up the surface gradients over the central Puget Sound
during the commute this afternoon into the early evening hours.
Model surface gradients have the KOLM-KBLI gradient increasing
rapidly to near plus 7 mb at 4 pm/00z Saturday. With the
gradients in the Strait of Juan de Fuca still easterly expect a
short, up to 6 hours, burst of winds just ahead and with the
front. Will issue a wind advisory for this scenario from 1 pm/21z
to 7 pm/03z for the potential of wind gusts as high as 45 mph from
Olympia northward to Skagit county. For the remainder of the area
breezy conditions will develop just ahead of the front this
afternoon and continue until the front moves east into the
Cascades early this evening.
The more northerly track of the low has slowed the eastward
movement of the front down a touch. This will keep the eastern
portion of the area dry this morning. Rain spreading inland this
afternoon as the front reaches the coast. Highs today will mostly
be in the lower 50s.
Quick burst of westerlies behind the front this evening along the
Strait of Juan de Fuca with the KUIL-KBLI gradient as high as
plus 6 mb. Will issue wind advisories for the Strait of Juan de
Fuca zones for west winds gusting as high as 50 mph. This will
also be a short duration event with the winds easing quickly
overnight. Showers decreasing for the lowland overnight behind the
front. Snow levels will once again drop below pass levels but
precipitation amounts will not be significant. Lows tonight in the
mid 30s to lower 40s.
A little break in the weather on Saturday as the low level flow
turns offshore as a result of the next incoming front stalling off
the coast. Front close enough to throw some cloud cover over the
area. Highs on Saturday will be in the upper 40s.
Front slowly making its way toward Western Washington Saturday
night with the front not moving through Western Washington until
later in the day on Sunday. This system will mark the beginning of
a very activity few days with a series of weather systems moving
into the area.
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...Extended models in
good agreement with a wet pattern through at least Thursday of
next week. Models continuing with the idea of an atmospheric river
scenario setting up in the middle of next week with the
possibility of the atmospheric river stalling over Western
Washington. Felton
&&
.AVIATION...A strong upper level trough will move across the area
today and tonight, bringing with it a threat for another round of
widespread rainfall and gusty winds. Current analysis around 9am
this morning shows a warm front north of the area with a cold front
approaching the coastline. Wind and rain will accompany the frontal
system. Not seeing too many gusts at TAF sites quite yet but strong
winds off the sfc continue to make wind shear a concern until sfc
winds pick up and begin gusting regularly. Rain will push from west
to east with the front across all sites today with cigs dropping
from VFR to at least MVFR /IFR not impossible. Highest winds will
accompany the front where some decent gusts to 30-35kts seem
reasonable. As the front clears the area winds will come down and
rain should scatter out, with cigs recovering back to mainly VFR.
KSEA...VFR conditions this morning will continue into the afternoon
before likely dropping down to MVFR as next batch of rain moves in.
Winds at the sfc rather low but winds really pick up just off the
sfc, leading to a concern for wind shear. The potential for this
will continue to be advertised in the TAF until sfc winds begin to
increase and gusts as the rain approaches. Winds and rain will
diminish into Saturday
Kovacik
&&
.MARINE...A strong, rather amplified trough will continue to push
towards and eventually thru western Washington today and tonight.
Deep layer moisture, widespread rainfall, and strong winds can be
expected with this system.
A quick review of morning wind speeds match the current headlines
well so no major adjustments are being made to the morning marine
update. A few reports of strong winds near Port Angeles have been
received this morning, possibly associated with a mountain wave over
the Olympics. A Special Marine Statement has been issued for the
central Strait valid thru this morning. Gale warning over the
coastal waters remains in effect, with some near-shore obs showing
gusts over 40kts. Highest winds will continue thru the afternoon and
begin to decrease fairly quickly after the system passes this
evening. It should continue to be mentioned that periodic gusts of
storm force level winds are likely thru the afternoon. For the
interior waters, Gale over Admiralty/Northern Inland Waters/East
Strait remain in effect-obs showing speed increasing and as the
storm system moves inland by this afternoon expect these winds to
really begin to increase. Puget Sound Gale Warning will also take
effect this afternoon. Similar to the coastal waters, winds will
drop off quickly after the system passes late tonight. One caveat
will be the Strait, which will likely see a strong westerly push
behind the front-with wind speeds sustained to 45kts possible. Gale
Warning covers this likely scenario for later today.
A break is finally expected early Saturday, with SCA winds likely
across coastal waters and maybe some interior waters, but by
Saturday afternoon, looks like winds increase back towards Gale for
some waters with the next system approaching. This type of trend
looks to continue thru next week with an active weather.
Kovacik
&&
.HYDROLOGY...Flooding continues on the Skokomish River in Mason
County. The river is forecast to recede to below flood stage
later tonight.
Extended models continue to show the potential for an atmospheric
river aimed at Western Washington with the source region for the
air mass from around Hawaii in the middle of next week. Snow
levels will be high and rainfall amounts may be high and rather
persistent. There is the possibility that several rivers around
the area could reach flood stage by the middle of next week.
Albrecht
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM PST this evening
for Bellevue and Vicinity-Bremerton and Vicinity-Everett
and Vicinity-Hood Canal Area-Seattle and Vicinity-Southwest
Interior-Tacoma Area-Western Skagit County.
High Wind Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM PST this
evening for Admiralty Inlet Area-San Juan County-Western
Whatcom County.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM PST this evening for Central Coast-
North Coast.
High Surf Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for Central
Coast-North Coast.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this evening
for Western Strait of Juan De Fuca.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for Eastern Strait of
Juan de Fuca.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory for rough bar until 10 PM PST this evening
for Grays Harbor Bar.
Gale Warning until 10 PM PST this evening for Admiralty Inlet-
Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60
Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10
Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10
To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point
Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To
Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point
Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm-East Entrance U.S.
Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-Northern Inland Waters
Including The San Juan Islands-Puget Sound and Hood Canal-
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Gale Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this evening
for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
&&
www.weather.gov/seattle6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Widespread power outages indicate a high wind event occurred. The wind was from an unusual direction (south), adding to the damage.
The KHQM ASOS recorded sustained wind of 41 mph.
The I-90 and SR-520 floating bridges over Lake Washington recorded sustained wind 40-51 mph.
Both the KSEA and KBFI ASOS equipment recorded sustained wind of 40-41 mph.
The KPAE ASOS recorded sustained wind of 41 mph.
High wind gusts were recorded at Coupeville, 58-62 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, December 2018
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: 791059, 791055, 791052, 791053, 791054, 791051.