Washington, 2020

Strong Wind in Washington, October 13 to 14, 2020

October 13 to 14, 2020 · NWS SEW · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong area of low pressure moved into the area on October 13, bringing gusty winds to much of Western Washington. Winds gusted to between 45-55 mph across lowland locations, including areas along the Coast, areas around Puget Sound, and northward towards the United Stated and Canada border.

The toll

Deaths
1
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

A strong area of low pressure moved into the area on October 13, bringing gusty winds to much of Western Washington. Winds gusted to between 45-55 mph across lowland locations, including areas along the Coast, areas around Puget Sound, and northward towards the United Stated and Canada border.

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 Oct 13, 2:08 AM PST, 5 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 13, 2:08 AM PST, 5 hours 52 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 13, 4:01 AM PST, 3 hours 59 minutes before
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Event by event

2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Tacoma Area

When
October 13, 8:00 AM PST to October 14, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Tacoma Area forecast zone
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Broadcast Media

Numerous power outages were reported as the area faced its first wind storm of the season. A man in his 30s was struck and killed by a falling tree while clearing debris in his yard on Key Peninsula near Tacoma, WA.

Strong Wind, Hood Canal Area

When
October 13, 10:00 AM PST to October 14, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Hood Canal Area forecast zone
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
Social Media

Strong winds led to downed trees and powerlines blocking both lanes of traffic along SR-3. Washington State Patrol closed the road in both directions for a period of time.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Strong Wind, Tacoma Area2020-10-13MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Washington in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, October 2020

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 924944, 924946.