An intense surface low pressure system over central Oregon produced a very strong northeasterly pressure gradient across eastern Washington and north Idaho on November 27th. Mesonet weather stations reported peak wind gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range, however terrain constriction of winds funneling down the Purcell Trench and adjacent valleys of north Idaho produced locally higher gusts which…
Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 OTX wrote it up.
An intense surface low pressure system over central Oregon produced a very strong northeasterly pressure gradient across eastern Washington and north Idaho on November 27th. Mesonet weather stations reported peak wind gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range, however terrain constriction of winds funneling down the Purcell Trench and adjacent valleys of north Idaho produced locally higher gusts which downed numerous trees and caused multiple power outages. An estimated 2000 residents of eastern Washington and north Idaho lost power during this wind storm.
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 Spokane, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 27, 4:02 AM PST, 3 hours 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
402 AM PST Wed Nov 27 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
Winds will become strong and blustery today, with light to
moderate snow mainly confined to the Cascades, Waterville
Plateau, and Lookout Pass. Much cooler temperatures and drier
weather can be expected for the remainder of the holiday week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
...Very Windy and Unsettled Across the Region Today...
Today through Thursday: The primary weather system impacting the
weather across the Inland Northwest will be the anomalously deep
low that tracked inland near the CA/OR border last night. This
system is projected to slowly fill as it moves eastward across
Oregon today. As it does, the pressure gradient will tighten
across our forecast area today. The wind forecast for today
largely remains unchanged from the last few days: northeast winds
35-45 mph with gusts to 60 mph likely across the northern Idaho
Panhandle and NE Washington, and 30-40 mph with gusts to 55 mph
possible in Spokane, the Okanogan Valley, West Plains, and the
Columbia Basin. The North American Ensemble Forecast System
(NAEFS) is still projecting this to be a rather anomalous wind
event, and there remains to be potential for downed trees leading
to power outages and impacts to holiday travel. These winds will
weaken a bit after sunset, but should remain breezy into Thursday
morning.
A new wrinkle in the forecast is that most HREF models are
painting substantially higher precipitation totals across upslope
regions of the east slopes of the Cascades and into the Waterville
Plateau. There does remain to be some uncertainty, as evidenced
by a wide range of totals in the SREF plumes at Wenatchee. That
being said, we see the potential for 2-4 inches of snow in
Wenatchee today, and upwards of 6 inches across the Waterville
Plateau. Also a factor is that any snow that does fall will have
the potential to be blown around, substantially lowering
visibilities. We will issue a Winter Weather Advisory to highlight
concerns for those 2 areas. Elsewhere, northeast flow is
generally a drier pattern, but we can't completely rule out a few
stray snow showers across most of the region. A few inches of snow
will be possible at Lookout Pass today, but most of Shoshone
County will be downsloped under easterly flow.
With breezy northeast winds continuing tonight into Thursday
morning, and a colder airmass on the way, wind chills will dip
down into the single digits Thursday morning, with some local
spots below zero. Drier weather is expected across most of the
region Thursday, with forecast high temperatures reaching the 20s
and 30s.
Dang
Thursday night through Tuesday: Models suggest Eastern Washington
and North Idaho continue to be influenced more or under the top edge
of a large trof over the Western US. This trof has the bulk of the
energy and moisture well away from the forecast area however the
airmass over Eastern Washington and North Idaho does remain fairly
conditionally unstable which will allow for efficient radiational
cooling during the overnight hours (allowing for below normal
temperatures) and little in the way of sensible weather from about
Thursday night on to about Saturday night. Sunday and on through
Tuesday models continue to suggest a complicated pattern change
involving a shift in the steering flow with a warmer south-southwest
approach. This will increase the chance of rain and snow showers and
allow for a warming trend to increase temperatures back to near
seasonal normals. /Pelatti
&&
.AVIATION...
12Z TAFS: The primary aviation concern the next 24 hours will be
strong and gusty north to northeast winds. Winds of 25-35 kt and
gusts of 35-50 kt will be possible across TAF sites during the
day. Winds will weaken slightly after sunset, but remain gusty.
Forecast confidence is lower with regard to precipitation chances.
Isolated snow showers will be possible across all TAF sites during
the day, but it remains to be seen whether they will bring
reduced ceilings or vsbys. The one exception is KEAT, where snow
is more likely and blowing snow could reduce conditions down to
IFR at times.
Dang
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane 34 21 31 17 29 17 / 20 20 0 0 0 0
Coeur d'Alene 33 21 31 16 29 17 / 20 20 0 0 0 0
Pullman 37 23 35 18 29 17 / 20 10 0 0 0 0
Lewiston 38 26 36 21 29 20 / 20 10 0 0 10 0
Colville 36 18 35 12 33 14 / 20 20 0 0 0 0
Sandpoint 30 18 29 14 28 17 / 20 20 0 0 0 0
Kellogg 31 21 29 17 27 19 / 20 20 0 0 10 0
Moses Lake 39 24 37 16 34 14 / 20 20 0 0 0 0
Wenatchee 32 22 32 14 31 14 / 60 60 30 0 0 0
Omak 34 22 33 14 31 15 / 20 20 10 0 0 0
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...High Wind Warning until midnight PST tonight for Coeur d'Alene
Area-Northern Panhandle.
WA...High Wind Warning until midnight PST tonight for Northeast
Mountains.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to midnight PST
tonight for Waterville Plateau-Wenatchee Area.
Wind Advisory until midnight PST tonight for Okanogan Valley.
Wind Advisory until midnight PST tonight for Moses Lake Area-
Spokane Area-Upper Columbia Basin.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Spokane WA 606 AM PST Wed Nov 27 2019 IDZ001-002-WAZ034>037-043-281415- Northern Panhandle-Coeur d'Alene Area-Moses Lake Area- Upper Columbia Basin-Spokane Area-Northeast Mountains- Okanogan Valley- 606 AM PST Wed Nov 27 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... East Central Washington...North Central Washington and Northeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Very windy conditions are expected today, and will have the potential to cause tree damage and power outages, in addition to making pre-holiday travel difficult. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time. IDZ003-004-026-027-WAZ031>033-038-042-281415- Idaho Palouse-Central Panhandle Mountains-Lewiston Area- Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Northeast Blue Mountains- Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-Washington Palouse- Okanogan Highlands-East Slopes Northern Cascades- 606 AM PST Wed Nov 27 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... North Central Idaho...North Central Washington and Southeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time. WAZ041-044-281415- Wenatchee Area-Waterville Plateau- 606 AM PST Wed Nov 27 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Central Washington and North Central Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Very windy conditions are expected today, and will have the potential to cause tree damage and power outages. Falling and blowing snow will also make pre-holiday travel difficult. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bonner County Emergency Manager reported large trees blown down damaging a home southeast of Priest River on Dufort Road.
News reports indicted numerous trees down blocking the road access to the boat launch at Farragut State Park.
A tree was blown down blocking Gooby Road northwest of Sandpoint.
The Bonner County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down onto a house in Hope.
Broadcast media reported large trees blown down near Hayden Lake.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Idaho in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Idaho, November 2019
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: 863603, 863604, 863605, 863607, 863606.