This article examines a recent powerful storm that swept through western Washington, delivering a potent combination of extreme winds, heavy rain, and mountain snow.
We will break down what happened, why it was so disruptive, and what it reveals about the region’s evolving weather and flood risks, as well as what to expect from the next round of storms.
Western Washington Slammed by Wind, Rain, and Widespread Power Outages
The storm that moved across western Washington was a classic high-impact Pacific system, combining intense low pressure with strong pressure gradients that drove damaging winds across lowlands and mountains alike.
With already saturated soils, the region was primed for trouble even before the strongest gusts arrived.
Hundreds of Thousands Lose Power as Trees Topple
At the height of the storm, more than 250,000 customers were without electricity across western Washington.
Late in the evening, 139,171 customers were still in the dark, spanning major utilities including PSE, SnoPUD, Seattle City Light, Tacoma Public Utilities, and Grays Harbor PUD.
Saturated ground conditions played a critical role in the damage.
With soils already soaked, tree root systems had less holding power.
As the winds ramped up, this translated into widespread tree failures:
Extreme Wind Gusts Across Passes and Coastlines
The storm’s most striking feature was the intensity of wind gusts, particularly in mountainous terrain and exposed locations.
According to the National Weather Service, peak gusts reached:
These values are on par with hurricane-force winds at higher elevations and strong gale to storm-force winds at lower elevations.
Such speeds are more than adequate to snap limbs, uproot trees in wet soils, and damage structures not designed for prolonged wind loading.
Transportation Disruptions: Highways and Mountain Passes Closed
The coupling of extreme winds, downed power lines, and heavy snow in the mountains had immediate consequences for transportation and safety.
Both lowland highways and mountain passes experienced closures, complicating travel and emergency response.
Interstate and Pass Closures Highlight Storm Hazards
Near Chehalis, Interstate 5—the main north–south artery through the region—was shut down in both directions overnight when live power lines fell onto the roadway.
This type of event is particularly hazardous, as live lines pose lethal risk and require utility crews to secure the scene before traffic can resume.
In the Cascades, conditions deteriorated further as snow and fierce winds combined to create blizzard-like conditions.
Key impacts included:
Blizzard Conditions and Building Snowpack in the Mountains
As a cold front pushed through the region, snow levels dropped sharply, allowing colder air to spill into higher terrain.
This set the stage for blizzard conditions in areas around Stevens Pass, Stehekin, and the Olympic Mountains.
Snow continued to accumulate, driven by strong winds that reduced visibility and created deep drifts.
This episode contributes significantly to the developing seasonal snowpack, which is crucial for spring and summer water resources—but in the short term, it increases avalanche risk and complicates road maintenance operations.
Lowland Weather, River Flooding Risks, and the Next Storm System
While the most dramatic impacts were felt in the mountains and along key corridors, lowland communities around Seattle and Bellevue also experienced significant weather changes as the system moved through.
Shifting from High Winds to Showers and Breaks in the Clouds
In the lowlands, winds were forecast to gradually ease through the day.
Behind the cold front, the pattern transitioned to a more classic Pacific showery regime, with intermittent showers punctuated by brief sunny breaks over metro areas such as Seattle and Bellevue.
This kind of post-frontal environment is typical after a strong storm: the main wind field diminishes, but unstable air over relatively warm coastal waters fuels scattered showers and occasional small convective cells.
Rising Rivers and Ongoing Flood Concerns
Despite the easing winds, river flooding remained a major concern.
River levels often peak after the heaviest rain has ended because of delayed runoff from saturated watersheds.
Some key points from this event:
Prolonged high flows elevate flood risk for nearby communities, stress levee systems, and can cause bank erosion and infrastructure damage.
Looking Ahead: Another System on the Horizon
The atmosphere over the northeastern Pacific remains active.
Forecasts call for:
For residents, agencies, and utilities, this means that recovery efforts—from restoring power to clearing debris and stabilizing riverbanks—must unfold in the context of continued unsettled weather.
This sequence of storms reinforces the need for resilient infrastructure and robust early-warning systems.
Here is the source article for this story: Storm cuts power to 200,000, downs trees, threatens rivers, with mountain blizzard warning