The cause a line of thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front. Here is the radar image at around 12:30 AM (and a close in shot as well). The strongest rain associated with the line is indicated by red color (very, very heavy rain is associated with reds!)
There was a considerable change in virtually all weather parameters with this front. Here are the observations at the top of the atmospheric sciences building here at the UW (click to expand). The winds gusted to 40 mph (top line), the wind direction shifted abruptly to the south, temperature plunged by 6F, pressure spiked upwards (fifth line), and lots of precipitation fell. My dog was terrified.
Was this predicted? Not really. We knew a strong front with good rain was coming in, but did not foresee such an intense event. But with a coastal radar we probably would have seen it coming and been able to provide a few hours warning.The number of tree losses was undoubtedly aided by the saturated soil. Wet soil has less adhesion to roots...less holding power...making it easier to wind to do its dirty work.
The weather should calm down a bit now, with the jet stream and most of the action going into California, for the next few days.
AND...today there was an F2 tornado at Aumsville, 10 miles NE of Salem, Oregon.
The panacea for all ignorance? Coastal Radar! Just think about it: the crystal ball for all we need to know about everything and to think that next year we will prevail! :)
ReplyDeleteOh Wow that is interesting. Thanx for the timely and informative blogs.
ReplyDeleteMy station on the eastern waterfront, Bainbridge Island measured an instantaneous rain rate of just over 9 in/hr for 3 minutes straight from 12:29am-12:32am. This was the highest rain rate I have recorded in 8+ years of continuous monitoring in the area!r
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of dog garments, but I've heard good things about this http://www.thundershirt.com/ to relive thunder & noise anxiety. Money-back guarantee, might be worth considering.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any connection with the company, just in favor of anything that reduces canine anxiety.
Thanks for the great update!
Winds in Eatonville gusted to 65 mph. The raindrops were so big I thought they were hail. But when I went out on the deck to check it was just rain! I didn't see any lightening....and if there was thunder I don't think I would have heard it over the wind! That was an amazing storm! Too short though! And why do the good storms always seem to happen at night?!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt gusted a little in Bellingham near midnight but the real action was at 7:00 am today. Oddly, the NWS only registered gusts of 24mph but it sounded furious, there was 1/4 inch of hail pelting the windows horizontally and a nearby lightning strike. Is it possible there was a microburst that wouldn't register at the airport?
ReplyDeleteCliff, We (wife and I) always look forward to your posts. We noticed very green lightning last night moments before the stuff hit the fan. Have seen lots of lightning, never brilliant green before.
ReplyDeleteOn the coastal radar issue, I really glad this is happening. While others may believe ignorance is bliss, intelligence shall prevail. Have been serious weather geeks for over a decade after taking a course from Michael Carr and Lee Chesneau. Thanks!
Pretty terrifying weather last night! Especially for the dog...Lost power for (fortunately) only an hour, but was really thinking we'd lose a Doug Fir.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to that new Doppler.
I was awake and it was spooky at how fast the weather changed--the high winds and rain just switched on.
ReplyDeleteYes, Mr. DeMarco..there is NOTHING that a coastal radar cannot do. Except predict the economy, perhaps...cliff
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice any wind in Edmonds overnight or any tree debris littering the streets. The shields held Captain.
ReplyDeleteThe sound last night was what really surprised me. At our house there was wind, rain, and a sound like the horn of a semi truck that lasted for several minutes. I heard it move away with the rain. Quite freaky...
ReplyDeleteAnyone else hear the freight train sound at midnight? Maybe that is what @Frith heard. Friends in West Seattle (who grew up in tornado country like I did) also heard the rain + hail+ freight train sound and were ready to head to the basement. We're in Ballard.
ReplyDeleteI heard loud thunder this morning in Bellingham at about 7am as well. I am near the airport... right across I-5 actually
ReplyDeleteI caught screenshot of the squall line on the new UW public radar page. http://imgur.com/ui0CY
ReplyDeleteThat was intense.
There are two videos of the tornado yesterday near Salem (Aumsville) one from a car showing the tornado and another from a helicopter of the damage -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeDa4p_kPo&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=L2Sb-s33kgQ
Best thunder and lightning I've seen in a couple years here. I was very happy to still be awake and watching the show through our south-facing big living room window in Kirkland (which looked like a car wash with all the water blowing against it!).
ReplyDeleteThe wind reminded me of some of the gusts from the December 2007 event, particularly in the way that it swept by. I could see green transformer flashes to the south and watched as they progressed ever closer until one in the neighborhood blew, then as the wind passed to the northwest, the endless green flashes continued on with it like a wave. I distinctly remember a similar progression in 2007.
ReplyDeletePretty to watch, but unfortunate for those who lost power...
Yeah, I heard it as well. Was loud, got louder, then louder, and when I thought it wouldn't get any louder it got even louder. Then after it passed it seemed like it was totally quiet.
ReplyDeleteHey Cliff any comments on the tornado near Aumsville the other day?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUqeHbD0yhI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3_pCbGHo1g
I don't understand these "wind" events. Is it me or is it normal for these wind events to occur during the night?
ReplyDeleteI believe I am always experiencing them during the night and I wonder why?
We have a running joke going on Sinclair Island where whatever the Weather Service is forecasting for wind speed for the next day, just double it and that gives the accurate figure. This works for all wind directions. Yesterday they were forecasting winds of 5 - 15 mph for the islands so it did not surprise me that it blew steady at 20 most of the day with gusts to 30. I don't believe this is related to lack of radar on the coast. It is more a chronic underestimating of the winds in this area.
ReplyDeleteoff the weather topic, but on the Math topic ... have you seen this - http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2010/12/16/132050207/this-is-for-the-i-hate-math-crowd-not-after-this-you-won-t?sc=fb&cc=fp
ReplyDelete