Cold/Wind Chill — Seattle and Vicinity, Washington

2024-01-12 to 2024-01-16 · Seattle and Vicinity, Washington

Event narrative

Here's an article excerpt taken from the Seattle Times 01/18/24.

At least five people have died from hypothermia in Seattle since Jan. 11, during a stretch of days that saw temperatures plummet well below freezing, according to the King County medical examiner's office.

Authorities have not said whether any of them were experiencing homelessness, but extreme cold presents a troubling and increasingly common danger facing the people forced to live outside.

Wider weather episode

A modified Arctic front moved into Western Washington. After producing some locally heavy snowfall on the Olympic Peninsula, it was followed by strong Fraser River outflow winds and several days of cold temperatures when a number of record low temperature records were set. It also resulted in several cold weather related deaths in King County. As precipitation moved into the region at the end of the cold episode, heavy snow was reported across the North Interior and freezing rain/drizzle resulted in travel impacts around Puget Sound.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1160372. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.