Tens of Thousands Have Lost Power as a Strong Cyclone Makes Landfall

As the models predicted, a strong storm with powerful winds is moving across our region, and nearly 100,000 customers are without power as I write this blog.

The radar imagery has been stunning.  At 7:30 AM, a well-defined low center (red arrow) was on the coast near the Columbia River.

And by 10 AM, the low was moving inland

Maximum winds so far today (through 10 AM) have been substantial over northern Oregon and southern Washington, with many locations getting to 50 mph.   Up to 54 mph in Olympia and several reaching 70 mph.

Early-season strong winds inevitably mean lots of power outages, with trees being untested and still with lots of leaves.

Right now, at 11:30 AM, about 71,000 customers have lost power in Washington, with more in Oregon, and the event is not over.

The latest European Center forecast suggests the strong winds, and thus power outages, will remain south of downtown Seattle.

Finally, the winds last night at Mt. Rainier's slope around 10,000 ft (Camp Muir), with gusts up to 101 mph:

This is the result of the strong upper-level low associated with this storm (see map at 700 hPa pressure, about 10,000 ft, for this morning).  Not a good time for an ascent. 😁

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