And the Winds Shall Blow

Last year about this time, southwest Washington (where I live) and northwest Oregon were pummeled by hurricane force winds. The strongest gusts recorded in my county were near 150 mph and sustained winds of 60 - 90 mph lasted for over 24 hours. Trees fell by the hundreds of thousands and power was out for anywhere from 4 days - 2 weeks.

What made this sad situation all the more fun was the forecasts of the preceding days. About one week before the big storm made landfall, the predictions were dire and everyone around was understandably anxious. However, about 3 days before the storm hit, the National Weather Service severely downgraded the potential storm and everyone let out a sigh of relief. Then the storm hit and it was worse than the first prediction!

Consequently, I would think folks would understand why everyone in Pacific County, Washington is on edge tonight. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning, a Coastal Flood Watch and a Special Weather Statement for our area for the next 36 - 48 hours.

High Wind Warning
Issued by The National Weather Service
Portland, OR
2:06 pm PST, Thu., Dec. 11, 2008

... HIGH WIND WATCH UPGRADED TO A HIGH WIND WARNING... IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 4 AM PST SATURDAY FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COASTS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 4 AM PST SATURDAY.

SOUTH WINDS AHEAD OF A STRONG PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL INCREASE LATE FRIDAY MORNING AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH ALONG THE BEACHES AND COASTAL HEADLANDS ON THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COASTS. WINDS IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL INCREASE TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 OR 60 MPH. THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO WESTERLY 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 65 MPH LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE MUCH OF FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE SLOWLY EASING LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY DECREASE EARLY SATURDAY.

Special Weather Statement
Issued by The National Weather Service
Portland, OR
11:22 am PST, Thu., Dec. 11, 2008

... ARCTIC AIR OVER SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON SUNDAY AND NEXT WEEK WITH SOME SNOW POSSIBLE AT TIMES NEXT WEEK...

AFTER THE STRONG STORM FROM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MOVES THROUGH... ARCTIC AIR WILL SPILL INTO SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON SUNDAY... AND CONTINUE OVER THE AREA FOR AT LEAST A GOOD PART OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE COLDEST WEATHER IN MUCH OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON SINCE AT LEAST 2004. DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE 20S ON SUNDAY MAINLY IN THE NORTH AS THE ARCTIC AIR SPREADS IN. THE ARCTIC AIR WILL LIKELY REACH THE SOUTHERN WILLAMETTE VALLEY AREA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. DAYTIME HIGHS WILL THEN STRUGGLE TO REACH FREEZING THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. NIGHTTIME LOWS WILL DROP INTO AT LEAST THE TEENS... WITH SINGLE DIGITS OR POSSIBLY EVEN BELOW ZERO IN THE CASCADES.

I certainly hope that this storm doesn't turn out to be as bad as last year! If we lose electric power again, things will be much worse this time around due to the arctic chill. I guess I should at least take some solace in the fact that this year we have a sufficient amount of wood to burn in the fireplace.

Let's all now say the winter oath together, Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.