Strong Wind in Washington, April 18, 2022

Name: Strong Wind in Washington, April 18, 2022
Start: 2022-04-18T19:00
End: 2022-04-18T19:01
Location: Washington

April 18, 2022 · NWS SEW · 1 event in 1 county or zone

At 7:00 PM on the evening of April 18th, a weak waterspout was reported on the eastern shore of Lake Samish (near Bellingham) in Whatcom County, Washington. Video evidence confirmed the waterspout.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

At 7:00 PM on the evening of April 18th, a weak waterspout was reported on the eastern shore of Lake Samish (near Bellingham) in Whatcom County, Washington. Video evidence confirmed the waterspout. This waterspout resulted in damage to three boats docked on the shore of Lake Samish and other minor damages. This event will be classified as a waterspout and not a tornado given the rapid dissipation of the waterspout as it came onshore.

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 Apr 18, 2:16 PM PST, 4 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 18, 2:16 PM PST, 4 hours 44 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
316 PM PDT Mon Apr 18 2022

.SYNOPSIS...A system will move across the area today for rain and
mountain snow. Showers Tuesday for potential thunderstorms. An
additional system Wednesday-Thursday with an upper trough through
the week. Drier weather potentially into the weekend with ridging.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...A system is sliding
through the area today with steadier rain. The heaviest rain will
taper off this evening, with a few showers tonight, especially
along the coast. Mountain snow with snow levels 3500-4500 feet
into early tonight, 1500-2000 feet on Tuesday. The heaviest snow
will be for the North Cascades with amounts of 5-15" through
tonight, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect. Showers to
increase on Tuesday with the upper trough. Increasing unstable
environment on Tuesday with the potential for thunderstorms during
the day. Drier weather Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

A weather system will slide northward on Wednesday with increasing
rain during the day. Additional lowland rain and mountain snow
Wednesday-Thursday with an upper trough over the area, mainly
lighter snow amounts. A cooler pattern today with the front. The
temperatures into the mid 50s for midweek.

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...The upper trough will move
out of the area on Friday for additional light precipitation,
mainly for the mountains. The ensemble/member guidance highlights
the potential for ridging Saturday/Sunday for drier weather,
there is some uncertainty with at least the slight chance for
precipitation, lowland rain, across the area. A system possible on
Monday. Temperatures near average in the upper 50s and low 60s
into early next week with the potential ridging. JD

&&

.AVIATION...A front will continue to move through Western Washington
through the evening. Areas of MVFR with the mountains obscured.
There will onshore flow behind the front easing on Tuesday. The air
mass will become unstable Tuesday as cooler air aloft moves over the
area. 19

KSEA...A front was moving through Western Washington this afternoon,
onshore flow ought to keep cigs pretty typical MVFR through the
night. The PSCZ this evening ought to stay well up in Snohomish
County.

&&

.MARINE...At 2pm this wind shift was through the coastal
waters and the front will be through the I-5 corridor around 4pm.
Strong onshore flow will follow the front through the evening before
gradients relax Tuesday. The next front will move through the waters
late Tuesday night and Wednesday. Low pressure remains over the
offshore waters for much of the remainder of the week. 19

&&

.HYDROLOGY...No river flooding is expected in the next 7 days.
The Skokomish River will see rises later today into Tuesday
morning, but flooding is not expected.

&&

.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM PDT Tuesday for Cascades of
     Whatcom and Skagit Counties.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM PDT Tuesday for 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.

     Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM PDT Tuesday for Grays Harbor Bar.

     Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for Central U.S. Waters
     Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of
     Juan De Fuca.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Tuesday for Northern Inland
     Waters Including The San Juan Islands.

     Small Craft Advisory until midnight PDT tonight for Admiralty
     Inlet-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM PDT Tuesday for 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.

     Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM PDT Tuesday for Grays Harbor Bar.

     Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for Central U.S. Waters
     Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of
     Juan De Fuca.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Tuesday for Northern Inland
     Waters Including The San Juan Islands.

     Small Craft Advisory until midnight PDT tonight for Admiralty
     Inlet-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.

     Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Tuesday for Puget Sound and
     Hood Canal.

&&

www.weather.gov/seattle

Event by event

1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Western Whatcom County

When: April 18, 7:00 PM PST to 7:01 PM PST
Where: Western Whatcom County forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public

WATERSPOUT. Location 48.661, -122.374. At 7:00 PM on the evening of April 18th, a weak waterspout was reported on the eastern shore of Lake Samish (near Bellingham) in Whatcom County, Washington. Video evidence confirmed the waterspout. This waterspout resulted in damage to three boats docked on the shore of Lake Samish and other minor damages. This event will be classified as a waterspout and not a tornado given the rapid dissipation of the waterspout as it came onshore.

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

Every storm in Washington in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, April 2022

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: 1016061.