A strong frontal system and an associated deep area of low pressure produced strong winds and locally heavy rainfall across much of Western Washington.
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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.
A strong frontal system and an associated deep area of low pressure produced strong winds and locally heavy rainfall across much of Western Washington.
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 Feb 24, 4:21 AM PST, 4 hours 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Seattle WA
421 AM PST Mon Feb 24 2025
.SYNOPSIS...An atmospheric river pattern will maintain wet
conditions across western Washington into early this week, with
periods of moderate to heavy rain and strong winds. Conditions
are favored to dry out towards mid-week as high pressure develops,
with potential for more widespread light precipitation next
weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...Lingering shower activity
will continue to stream northward early this morning as weak
ridging aloft allows conditions to briefly dry out. A deepening
low offshore will bring in the next round of impactful weather,
lifting a frontal system northward across western Washington today
that will generate strong winds and widespread precipitation
alongside high seas. While forecast models still show some
variability over the exact track of the low pressure center,
confidence is high that this system will produce strong winds
region-wide and periods of moderate to heavy precipitation. Winds
will be strongest along the Pacific Coast, where gusts up to 60
mph are possible early this afternoon through early Tuesday
morning before the low pressure center shifts onshore and weakens.
Ensembles show a high (60% to 70%) likelihood of wind gusts
reaching 50 mph later this evening into early Tuesday morning
across the lowlands south and east of the Puget Sound, including
the Seattle and Tacoma metro areas, with a slight chance (20% to
30% probabilities) of gusts reaching 60 mph. Winds will peak in
the late evening and early overnight hours before easing into
Tuesday. The long duration of these winds may exacerbate impacts,
especially along the coast where power outages are likely. The
convective nature of this storm system will also allow for locally
heavy showers to develop, producing heavy precipitation at times
and carrying enough instability for more lightning strikes today.
This system will bring an additional 1 to 3 inches of liquid for
most areas through Tuesday and up to 4 inches over higher
elevations of the Olympics and Cascades, which will cause
continued elevated river flows across western Washington. With
snow levels lowering to 3500-4000 ft, the mountains will see
significant accumulating snowfall over higher elevations. Higher
Cascade mountain passes, including Stevens and White Passes, will
see up to a foot or more of accumulating snowfall, with a storm
total on the order of 2 or 3 feet of snow on track for Paradise.
Snoqualmie Pass, on the other hand, is favored to see lesser snow
accumulations. Precipitation will taper off across the lowlands by
late Tuesday morning as the low weakens and shifts eastward, with
showers continuing through Tuesday night over higher terrain.
A sharp upper level ridge will develop over the region on
Wednesday, allowing conditions to dry out and advecting warmer
air into the region. Temperatures Wednesday will rebound into the
upper 50s and low 60s with some sun breaks.
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...Thursday will bring a
chance of light showers, mainly north of the Puget Sound, as a
frontal system splits as it shifts inland. Upper level ridging
will then rebound on Friday before breaking down on Saturday as
another storm system approaches. While forecast confidence
decreases heading into the weekend, the incoming precipitation is
expected to be light with no significant impacts.
Lindeman
&&
.AVIATION...A small break in precipitation as most of the rain has
dissipated early this morning. A mix of VFR/MVFR conditions early
this morning. Satellite imagery shows that fog has started to form
across southern Puget Sound, which may allow for ceilings to lower
into IFR. However, confidence is low on fog formation north of
Olympia, as high clouds are beginning to push north. Two rounds of
rain are expected to push across the terminals today: one later this
morning and another one in the Monday night into Tuesday, which will
keep ceilings to trend MVFR.
Winds will increase Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. Winds
will be 15-30 kt,gusting to 45-50 kt. The strongest winds will be
along the coastal terminals. Probabilities of seeing gusts greater
than 45 kt are 60-80% at KHQM, while elsewhere it is 30-50%. The
strongest winds will be Monday night into early Tuesday morning.
Easterly winds in the morning turning south throughout the day on
Monday.
KSEA...Ceilings currently trending VFR, with models hinting that it
will persist through the morning. This may allow fog formation to
form early this morning, however with the high cloud cover already
reaching the southern Sound, confidence is low on whether the fog
will fill in at KSEA. Conditions are expected to lower later this
morning and afternoon as rain returns, with ceilings trending MVFR
through the remainder of the TAF period.
Easterly winds in the morning gradually veering south through the
day. Winds are expected to increase Monday afternoon into Tuesday
morning, with speeds of 15-25 kt, gusting to 30 kt. The chances of
seeing gusts above 45 kt are 30-40%.
29
&&
.MARINE...Unsettled marine conditions are expected to persist into
early Tuesday morning. Winds will increase later today as a strong
low pressure system pushes across the offshore waters. Winds will
increase to high-end Gale Force winds across the majority of the
waters (including the inland waters), with the exception of the
Central Strait of Juan de Fuca, where winds will stay within Small
Craft criteria. The strongest winds will be along the southern
coastal waters, where Storm Force gusts will be likely. Winds are
expected to peak Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Winds will
begin to subside throughout the day on Tuesday as high pressure
rebuilds over the waters. Calmer marine conditions expected to last
late into the week as high pressure persists over the region.
Combined seas will quickly build tonight to 20-30 ft, with the
largest waves located along the southern coastal waters. Waves will
begin to subside Tuesday into Wednesday. Waves appear to remain at
10-12 ft late into the week.
29
&&
.HYDROLOGY...Early this morning, the Skokomish River remains in
Minor Flood Stage while the Chehalis River continues to rise but
is not expected to flood. Other area rivers have crested and are
falling, or are on track to crest below flood stage this morning.
The Flood Watch has been trimmed back to remove Snohomish, King,
and Pierce Counties, while the Flood Watch remains for areas south
and west of the Puget Sound.
The next round of precipitation will move into western Washington
today, bringing roughly 1 to 3 inches of liquid to the region.
Snow levels will lower with this storm system to 3500-4000 ft,
posing less of a threat to area rivers. The additional
precipitation is forecast to keep the Skokomish River elevated
into Minor Flood Stage through Thursday morning, while other area
rivers may enter Action Stage but are not currently forecast to
flood. A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions south and west
of the Puget Sound.
The heavy rainfall over the weekend, combined with the additional
rain today and Tuesday, increases the risk of landslides in the
mountains.
Lindeman
&&
.SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Wind Advisory from noon today to noon PST Tuesday for Admiralty
Inlet Area-Bellevue and Vicinity-Bremerton and Vicinity-
East Puget Sound Lowlands-Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca-
Everett and Vicinity-Hood Canal Area-Lower Chehalis Valley
Area-San Juan County-Seattle and Vicinity-Southwest
Interior-Tacoma Area-Western Skagit County-Western Strait
of Juan De Fuca-Western Whatcom County.
Flood Watch until 10 AM PST this morning for Central Coast-Lower
Chehalis Valley Area-Olympics-Southwest Interior-West
Slopes South Central Cascades and Passes.
High Wind Warning from noon today to 10 AM PST Tuesday for
Central Coast-North Coast.
High Surf Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST Tuesday
for Central Coast-North Coast.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM PST Tuesday
for West Slopes North Cascades and Passes-West Slopes North
Central Cascades and Passes-West Slopes South Central
Cascades and Passes.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM PST Tuesday for Grays Harbor Bar.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning 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-West Entrance U.S. Waters
Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Gale Warning from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST 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-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of
Juan De Fuca.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Tuesday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Gale Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Tuesday for
East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
Gale Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 7 AM PST Tuesday for
Admiralty Inlet-Northern Inland Waters Including The San
Juan Islands-Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Tuesday for
Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10
To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape
Shoalwater Out 10 Nm.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 high wind, 4 heavy rain, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall of 6.76 inches was reported at Quinault in Olympic National Park.|Heavy rainfall of 4.61 inches was reported in Ocean Shores, WA.
Heavy rainfall of 2.57 inches was reported at Forks, WA.
Heavy rainfall of 3.21 inches was reported in Quilcene, WA.
Heavy rainfall of 4.68 inches was recorded at Jefferson Creek, WA.
A wind gust of 62 mph was recorded at the Quillayute, WA airport.
A wind gust of 81 mph was recorded at Chinook Pass.
A wind gust of 50 mph was recorded at the New Dungeness Lighthouse.
A wind gust of 70 mph was recorded at the Hoquiam, WA airport.
A wind gust of 57 mph was recorded at Port Townsend, WA.
A wind gust of 64 mph was recorded in Ferndale, WA.
A wind gust of 60 mph was recorded at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA.
A wind gust of 61 mph was recorded at Whidbey Naval Air Station, WA.
A wind gust of 52 mph was recorded at Sea-Tac airport.
A wind gust of 60 mph was recorded in Tacoma, WA.
A wind gust of 71 mph was recorded Alpental Ski Area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, February 2025
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: 1236129, 1236127, 1236132, 1236133, 1236098, 1236117, 1236121, 1236102, 1236123, 1236120, 1236116, 1236107, 1236125, 1236119, 1236112.