An unusually strong storm system brought a prolonged period of strong winds to Western Washington in early April. This same storm system also led to high surf conditions near the Coast and heavy snow in the Cascades.
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.
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.
An unusually strong storm system brought a prolonged period of strong winds to Western Washington in early April. This same storm system also led to high surf conditions near the Coast and heavy snow in the Cascades.
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 3, 7:56 AM PST, 4 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
856 AM PDT Sun Apr 3 2022
.UPDATE /0900 AM/...Rain continues to move into the area this
morning. As we progress through the day, rain will become more
widespread. Snow levels will continue to increase to around 4000
feet by this afternoon. Additionally, southerly winds are going to
be picking up this afternoon, particularly for areas along the
water. As the cold front approaches and moves through early Monday
winds are expected to increase area wide, and will become more
west/southwesterly. The aforementioned cold front is still
expected to cause widespread heavy rain and mountain snow (along
with a rapid drop in snow levels). With the rainfall over the
course of today and Monday area rivers are going to rise, as river
forecasts can change quickly make sure to stay up to date on
those forecasts.
Overall there were not many changes to the forecast this morning
(minor changes in precipitation amounts were made). There are
already many advisories/watches/warnings already issued for a
variety of hazards. Please stay weather aware through today and
tomorrow.
Butwin
&&
.SYNOPSIS...A very active end of weekend and start to the next
work week is in store as several potent systems move across the
area. Lowland rain and mountain snow will increase today before
increasing in intensity tonight and Monday along with breezy winds
and high surf. Conditions dry out Tuesday with high pressure
bringing warming temperatures Wednesday and Thursday. Active and
unsettled weather is then likely to return at the end of the week
and this weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...Well, quite the short term
in store for early April. Beginning with the large scale pattern
early this morning, water vapor loop shows a distinct area of low
pressure centered off the Coast of SE Alaska, which is part of a
broad scale cyclonic flow regime that continues to the west
through the Bering Sea. Downstream, a weak split flow pattern is
apparent across the Western US, which then gives way to a few
notable shortwave troughs, one over the Northern Great Plains and
the other over the Eastern Great Lakes. At the surface, high
pressure continues over the PNW, with a frontal boundary noted
offshore near the northern half of Vancouver Island. Downstream, a
few boundaries lie east of the Rockies.
Radar imagery as of about 3AM shows rain increasing in coverage
over the coastal waters and near the Coast. This activity is
largely the result of weak PVA supplied by a shortwave trough/vort
lobe rounding the base of the broader scale troughing south of the
previously mentioned closed low near SE Alaska. The trajectory of
this shortwave will be across Vancouver Island today and into
southern BC. Rain should increase in coverage through the day,
with some mountain snow, particularly over the Olympics and North
Cascades as snow levels range from 3000-4000 feet. Will eventually
begin to see snowfall over the Central and Southern Cascades this
afternoon, but the main show will begin tonight. Given snowfall
onset being this morning and afternoon, have bumped the Winter
Weather headlines up a few hours and upgraded to a Winter Storm
Warning.
Things then get interesting tonight and Monday as a powerful jet
(160+kt at 300mb and 120+kt at 500mb!!) dives towards the region.
Increasing diffluence aloft combined with strong synoptic scale
forcing associated with a robust shortwave trough on the north
side of the jet with quickly aid in widespread precipitation
coverage this evening and overnight. Snow levels will remain in
the 3000-4000ft range, with snowfall rapidly increasing over the
mountains. In addition to precip, winds will become breezy area-
wide, with a Wind Advisory set for Puget Sound and the SW
Interior and a High wind Watch for the Coast and Northern
Interior. Waves will also increase significantly near the Coast as
swells of 20-25ft build into the area, prompting a High Surf
Advisory. A cold front associated with the upper level system
should then pass across the area early Monday morning, setting up
a showery and unstable post-frontal environment for the rest of
the day. Although the heaviest and most widespread precip will
come to an end Monday morning, snow levels will be crashing (below
2000-2500ft) and the environment will begin to take on more
convective characteristics. Thunderstorms appear possible area-
wide for most of Monday as W WA remain in the favorable left exit
region of the powerful jet and H5 temps drop to -30C. Model
guidance right now projects 100-300J/kg MUCAPE amidst plenty of
deep layer shear given the jet. Will see the typical thunderstorm
threats (lightning, hail, gusty wind, heavy downpours) with some
more robust updrafts possible. The overall thunderstorm threat
should diminish with loss of daytime heating Monday night, but
cannot rule out isolated lightning into Tuesday.
Impacts from the storm should begin to wind down into Tuesday as a
fairly strong ridge begins to build in from the Pacific. It's
possible there could be some lingering convergence activity
Tuesday morning given that the westerly post-frontal push down the
Strait will be quite strong, but overall should see a drying
trend. The drier conditions will then carry us into the long term.
Kovacik
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...The synoptic scale
pattern at the start of the long term forecast period will feature
high pressure both at the surface and aloft, making for a dry day
across W WA. High temperatures will begin to trend up, reaching
the mid to upper 50s for most lowland areas through the
afternoon.
The upper level ridge of high pressure will peak in intensity on
Thursday as its center over Southern CA reaches about 585dm. Dry
conditions will continue, with a high confidence in W Wa seeing
the warmest temperatures of the week (and the year for that
matter). Most model guidance suggest mid to upper 60s for highs
Thursday, with some upper 50s lingering for those locations
closest to the water. Would not be surprised if a few locations
hit 70 in the SW interior and down towards the WA/OR border.
The warm weather will certainly not last long as the ridge axis is
set to shift east by Friday and give way to troughing off the
Pacific. Temperatures are set to drop a good 10 degrees on Friday
back into the 50s. A weak frontal system will likely linger in the
vicinity and its currently unclear as to whether it will actually
push through on Friday and bring some light rain. For now, will
show rain chances until there is a consistent signal otherwise.
But overall at this point in time it seems reasonable to prepare
for another stretch of unsettled, active weather all the way
through the weekend and into the next week.
Kovacik
&&
.AVIATION...Increasing west to southwest flow aloft will direct a pair of
vigorous frontal systems through Western Washington in quick
succession over the next 24 to 30 hours. Ceilings will drop to MVFR
as light rain continues to spread inland this morning, reaching the
interior by early afternoon. Rain will increase in intensity this
evening through tonight, dropping vsbys to as low as 3 SM at times.
Strong S/SW winds expected from this afternoon through the end of
the period, with sustained winds 20-30 kts at times and frequent
gusts 30-40 kts. Low level win shear is likely at all terminals this
afternoon through tonight with 2000 foot winds out of the S/SW at 40
to 50 knots.
KSEA...CIGs gradually lowering at this hour, with MVFR CIGs likely
by 18Z as persistent light rain will reach the area. Low end MVFR
(1000-2000 ft) CIGS through the overnight hours with vsbys falling
to as low as 3 to 4 SM at times with heavier rain tonight.
Surface winds southerly rising to 15 to 25 knots by afternoon
increasing to 25 to 35 knots at times after 08Z tonight. 2000 foot
winds rise to S/SW 40 to 45 knots from 21Z this afternoon and
continuing overnight.
27/Pullin
&&
.MARINE...Gale southerlies expected for the coastal waters with
small craft advisory level winds for the remainder of the area today
as the first of two vigorous fronts crosses the area. A secondary,
and much stronger, frontal system associated with a sub-980 millibar
surface low approaching Haida Gwaii will reach the coastal waters
tonight and move onshore in the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning
followed by a very strong onshore push. The strong post-frontal
onshore push is expected to be a long duration event...with full
gale force winds expected across much of the region's waters Monday
into Monday night. Storm force winds will be possible near frontal
passage over the coastal waters. The strong westerly fetch behind
the front will produce combined seas of 20 to 24 feet over the
coastal waters Monday night.
Winds will gradually ease and seas subside by midweek as a broad
surface ridge builds over the coastal waters then shifts east of the
Cascades Wednesday turning the flow offshore. 27
&&
.HYDROLOGY...A couple of wet frontal systems will bring rain,
heavy at times, today through Monday. Snow levels will generally
range from 3000 to 4000 feet through tonight before falling to
below 2500 feet on Monday.
The combination of heavy rains and higher snow levels continues to
suggest that river flooding is likely along the Skokomish River in
Mason County. Minor flooding is still forecast with the river
expected to rise above flood stage late Sunday night. There is
chance the river could reach moderate flood stage for a few hours
on Monday. The Flood Watch remains in effect.
No other river flooding is forecast, but many rivers will still see
sharp rises and a few will rise above action stage. Besides the
Skokomish, the main river of concern is the Snoqualmie which could
get to within a foot or two of flood stage at Carnation Monday
night. The hydrologic outlook remains in effect for this.
Kovacik/16
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Wind Advisory from 2 AM to 8 PM PDT Monday for Bremerton and
Vicinity-Everett and Vicinity-Hood Canal Area-Lower
Chehalis Valley Area-Seattle and Vicinity-Southwest
Interior-Tacoma Area.
Winter Storm Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 AM PDT
Tuesday for Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties-Cascades
of Snohomish and King Counties-Cascades of Whatcom and
Skagit Counties.
Flood Watch from this evening through Tuesday afternoon for Hood
Canal Area-Lower Chehalis Valley Area-Olympics.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM PDT this evening for Admiralty Inlet
Area-San Juan County-Western Skagit County-Western Whatcom
County.
High Wind Watch from 8 PM PDT this evening through Monday
evening for Admiralty Inlet Area-San Juan County-Western
Skagit County-Western Whatcom County.
High Wind Watch from this evening through Monday evening for
Central Coast-North Coast.
High Surf Advisory from 11 AM Monday to 5 PM PDT Tuesday for
Central Coast-North Coast.
Winter Storm Warning until 8 AM PDT Tuesday for Olympics.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Tuesday for Grays Harbor Bar.
Storm Watch from late tonight through Monday afternoon 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.
Gale Warning until 5 AM PDT Monday 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 1 AM PDT Monday for East Entrance
U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-Northern Inland Waters
Including The San Juan Islands.
Gale Warning from 1 AM Monday to 5 AM PDT Tuesday for East
Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-Northern Inland
Waters Including The San Juan Islands.
Gale Watch from Monday morning through Tuesday morning for
Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-West Entrance
U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM PDT Monday for West Entrance
U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM PDT Monday for Admiralty Inlet.
Gale Watch from late tonight through late Monday night for Puget
Sound and Hood Canal.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Monday for Puget Sound and
Hood Canal.
&&
www.weather.gov/seattleThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The KNUW ASOS on Whidbey Island reported sustained winds of 43 mph and a gust to 58 mph around 1330L on April 4th.
On April 4th, around 30,000 people on Whidbey Island were without power.
The DW7371 CWOP on Lopez Island in San Juan County reported sustained wind of 42 mph with a gust of 60 mph around midnight on April 4th.
The CW3375 CWOP station at Ferndale in Whatcom County reported a wind gust of 59 mph around 1am on April 4th.
Around 0100L on April 4th, the KBLI ASOS near Bellingham in Whatcom County reported sustained wind around 41 mph with a gust to 61 mph.
The FW4667 CWOP station near Port Townsend in Jefferson County reported sustained winds around 50 mph with several gusts to 63 mph late in the evening on April 4th (around 2300L).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, April 2022
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: 1021878, 1021879, 1021880, 1021881.