A broad upper level trough with embedded shortwave trough digs into the Pacific Northwest in early November. Bringing with it blustery winds and precipitation in various forms resulting in hazards and utility/infrastructure disruption.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 EKA wrote it up.
A broad upper level trough with embedded shortwave trough digs into the Pacific Northwest in early November. Bringing with it blustery winds and precipitation in various forms resulting in hazards and utility/infrastructure disruption.
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 Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 1, 2:23 AM PST, 9 hours 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
323 AM PDT Fri Nov 1 2024
.SYNOPSIS...Strong frontal system will bring widespread showers,
isolated thunderstorms, high mountain snow and strong gusty
southerly winds today through this evening. Some rain possible on
Saturday, followed by drier conditions on Sunday. Dry weather
with breezy to windy conditions expected early to mid next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Unsettled and wet weather today through this evening.
A shortwave trough embedded in a broad upper level trough over
the Northeast Pacific will dig southward across NW California
today through this evening. An associated frontal boundary along
with an IVT plume is forecast to move onshore late this morning,
followed by a cold front this afternoon. A low-level jet in
advance of the front along with warm air advection will initially
result in light stratiform precipitation. Model sounding indicate
long thin CAPE profiles, while CAMS continue to show simulated
cores over 40dBZ and CAPE over 50-150J/kg. Thus precip rates
should increase by late morning or early afternoon. Colder air
aloft will subsequently spread across the area this afternoon. As
result, instability will increase to around 100-200J/kg and
could allow for some isolated low-topped thunderstorms embedded
in the precip shield. HREF and NBM indicate a 15 to 30% chance
over the waters and right along shore, but any storms will be weak
and short lived. Light rain with periods of moderate to locally
heavy rainfall will be possible. Total rainfall amounts from this
system are forecast to range from 0.50 to 1.5 inches from late
Friday morning through late Sunday morning. The highest amounts
are expected across the interior Del Norte with total rainfall up
to 2 inches. The lowest amounts are forecast for southern
Mendocino and Lake counties with total rainfall from 0.25 to 0.50
inches.
In addition, the local pressure gradient will quickly increase,
with strengthening southerly winds in response. The frontal
boundary will be weakening, but will carry 925-850 mb winds
around a 40-60 kts jet streak along the north coast. Gusts from 40
to 50 MPH is expected over the coastal headlands and exposed
ridges in Del Norte and Humboldt counties. As result, a Wind
Advisory is in place from 7 AM to 5 PM Friday.
Snow levels will be high with this frontal system. Around 2.5
inches will be possible above 5000 feet and may impact travel on
Highway 3 at Scott Mountain Pass Friday afternoon. More
significant snowfall is expected for the Trinty Alps.
Sunday and early next week, high pressure is forecast to build
across the West Coast, though moisture may spill over the offshore
ridge and provide some minuscule precip or insignificant drizzle.
Stronger ridging aloft by mid to late week will promote dry
weather and breezy northerly winds. Offshore wind flow mid/late
week will likely yield even drier conditions and possible fire
weather concerns. The recent spat of rainfall will mitigate these
concerns, especially for the northern portion of the area. DB
&&
.AVIATION...A frontal system has been approaching from the NW
overnight. Conditions have been mostly VFR at all forecast
terminals except for interludes of MVFR cigs at KCEC. Southerly
winds are forecast to rapidly accelerate along the coast early
this morning in advance of this next front, and potential for
LLWS will increase by 16-18Z. Conditions are expected to
deteriorate to IFR at both KCEC and KACV by late morning into
early afternoon. Satellite showed low clouds in valleys to the
north of UKI early this morning. Appears conditions will remain
VFR at KUKI with only high level cloud formations. Frontal
passage and light to moderate precip will bring MVFR vsbys and
ceilings by late afternoon and into tonight. DB
&&
.MARINE...A large NW swell has filled in this afternoon, with
buoy's reading sig wave heights in the 15 to 18 ft across the
waters. This swell will persist through the evening then slowly
decay Friday through this weekend. The next front approaches
Friday morning, and is expected to bring Gale Force southerlies to
the northern waters during the day Friday. Southerlies will begin
to increase after midnight tonight as this feature approaches,
and gusts in excess of 40 kts are possible around midday tomorrow.
Wind quickly weaken after this feature passes and stay relatively
light Saturday, then turn northerly again Sunday.
Riding is forecast to develop Sunday through much of next week. This
will likely keep winds primarily northerly through a majority of the
upcoming work week. Another large NW swell is forecast to fill in
Sunday night, with the latest guidance showing a peak of around 15
ft at 17 seconds Monday morning. /TDJ
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...High humidity and wetting rain will preclude any
major concerns today-Saturday. Drying offshore flow will increase
early to mid next week, however recent rainfall in the northern
most zones will continue to mitigate the risk for fire spread. DB
&&
.HYDROLOGY...No concerns at the moment with much needed rainfall
expected today through Sat. DB
&&
.BEACH HAZARDS...Low end high surf advisory possible Sunday night
and early Monday. Forecast magnitude of the swell is below criteria,
however beaches may still have a summer-time profile. DB
&&
.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 3 PM PDT this
afternoon for CAZ101.
Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 5 PM PDT this
afternoon for CAZ102-104>106.
Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 3 PM PDT this
afternoon for CAZ103.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM PDT early this morning for
PZZ450-470.
Gale Warning from 6 AM this morning to 3 PM PDT this
afternoon for PZZ450-470.
Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM PDT Saturday for PZZ455-
475.
&&
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For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.pngPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
1225 PM PDT Fri Nov 1 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SE Kneeland 40.73N 123.95W
11/01/2024 Humboldt CA Utility Company
Power outage affecting 110 homes.
&&
JHWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
1227 PM PDT Fri Nov 1 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1150 AM Flood 5 SSW Klamath Glen 41.44N 124.02W
11/01/2024 Humboldt CA Dept of Highways
Water ponding and accident reported due to
hydroplaning.
&&
JHWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Due to non-thunderstorm wind gusts, power to 110 homes had interuption. This occured 2 miles southeast of Kneeland, CA. Lat 40.73N, Long -123.95.
Power to 500 homes was interrupted due to non-thunderstorm associated winds. This took place 1 mile SSW of Benbow, CA. Lat 40.05N, Long -123.79W.
Several days of rain led to rock slides, 3 miles north of Leytonville, CA.|Lat. 39.72N, Long. -123.50W.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, November 2024
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: 1224535, 1224536, 1224763.