In case you hadn't already heard, we have a very serious and major storm situation brewing this weekend.
UPDATE: Please also remember to clear your yards and such of anything that could become airborne. I'm on my way outside to put the chairs, umbrella, and table in the garage, take down the tiki torches from this summer's party, and tie down anything loose.
From NWS:
STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS ON SATURDAY MORNING AND INTENSIFY ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WIND EVENT WILL PEAK ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND THEN SUBSIDE ON SUNDAY.
AT THE HEIGHT OF THIS EVENT...SUSTAINED WINDS COULD REACH 50 TO 70 MPH WITH PEAK GUSTS OF 70 TO 90 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN KING COUNTY SUCH AS NORTH BEND...MAPLE VALLEY AND ENUMCLAW. HOWEVER...STRONG WINDS COULD EXTEND ALL THE WAY WEST TO NEAR LAKE WASHINGTON AND THE HIGHWAY 167 CORRIDOR. ALONG THE I-405 AND HIGHWAY 167 CORRIDORS...WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE.
THIS EVENT COULD RIVAL A SIMILAR FOOTHILLS WIND STORM FROM EARLY DECEMBER 2003. DURING THAT EVENT...NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN OVER...BLOCKING RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND MAJOR HIGHWAYS ALIKE. POWER WAS KNOCKED OUT TO MANY RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES FOR AS MUCH AS A WEEK. PEOPLE NEED TO PREPARE NOW FOR MAJOR DISRUPTION RESULTING FROM THIS WINDSTORM. BE SURE TO HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES ON HAND TO LAST FOR SEVERAL DAYS SHOULD YOU BE STRANDED AT HOME. BY LATE SATURDAY MORNING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO PREPARE.
IN ADDITION...WIND CHILL READINGS DURING THIS EVENT MAY BE NEAR ZERO WITH AIR TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S. CONSIDER SAFE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY WARM IF YOUR POWER IS KNOCKED OUT FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD.
In addition, Kitsap County could see as much as 18 inches of snow in places, and the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (read: Whidbey, Anacortes, etc.) may also be looking at major snowfall on top of the mess we've already had this week.
STRONG EAST WINDS WILL PREDOMINATE SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS MEANS THAT THE HEAVIEST SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MOST LIKELY BE OVER THE KITSAP PENINSULA AND ALONG HOOD CANAL...WHERE THE EAST WINDS WILL ENHANCE THE SNOWFALL BY CREATING UPSLOPE CONDITIONS AS THEY ENCOUNTER THE OLYMPICS. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS HERE COULD RANGE FROM 6 INCHES TO A FOOT AND A HALF.
ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE EAST WINDS MAY ENHANCE THE SNOW IS ALONG THE WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND THE NORTH COAST WHERE 6 TO 15 INCHES IS POSSIBLE.
And of course, lest we forget Southwestern Washington and perhaps as far north as Tacoma and Olympia, you guys get snow and maybe even some freezing rain thrown in:
THE TRACK OF THE FRONTAL SYSTEM ACROSS SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND OREGON MEANS GREATER SNOW FALL WILL OCCUR OVER THE SOUTHWEST PART OF WESTERN WASHINGTON. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 10 INCHES MAY BE POSSIBLE OVER THE SOUTHWEST INTERIOR AND THE CENTRAL COAST. IN ADDITION...LOCAL SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE AS WARM AIR ALOFT FROM THE SYSTEM MOVES OVERHEAD. PARTS OF THE IMMEDIATE COAST MAY CHANGE TO RAIN SUNDAY MORNING.
Two years ago, we here in Western Washington had a windstorm that knocked power out to over a million people. My husband and I didn't have electricity for nearly a week, but temps were a good twenty degrees warmer than they are now. The snow by itself is already wreaking havoc around here...we have eight inches on the ground from yesterday, and in a place where there are no plows and salt isn't used on the VERY hills terrain, it's pretty hard getting around today.
Nevertheless, this is a very serious situation, guys. Please take the time to stock up pantries and figure out how to stay warm for a few days. Take in neighbors and loved ones who may have fewer resources and/or for whom a bed or couch or floor in your house may make a commute easier or a warm shower possible.
This is wicked scary, and very out of character for your average Emerald City winter. Here are some resources:
National Weather Service Seattle
UW Professor Cliff Mass' weather blog
Weather Underground WA State cities list
Some things to consider:
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Battery powered radios
- Extra water in case you're on a pump
- Full tank of gas in your car
- Enough medications and food to last several days
- Ditto #6 but for pets and other members of the household
- Cash (sometimes stores will open even if the power is out, but won't take cards or checks)
- Means of making coffee (this is, after all, Seattle. I pined for coffee for days during the last windstorm)
P.S. To my beloved Eastern Washington Kossacks, know we haven't forgotten you and your multiple feet of snow this week. You are in our thoughts and hope you'll think of us this weekend.