High Wind — South Washington Coast, Washington

2025-02-24 to 2025-02-25 · South Washington Coast, Washington

Event narrative

The mesonet station 82sw1 Cape Disappointment: Peak gust 85 mph 02/24 2200 PST, near or above 58 mph 1900 02/24 to 0400 02/25. In addition, the mesonet station ODT 76 Megler Bridge; peak gust 76 mph 02/25 0106 PST, near or above 58mph 02/24 1300 to 02/25 0400. Also, the Holy Cross Radio communications tower which provides the region with its primary cell coverage broke in half from wind between midnight and 1 am. The tower is located on atop a hill outside of Raymond above the rock quarry. This affected several thousand cell phone users.

Wider weather episode

A strengthening upper-level low and an associated strong low pressure system at the surface tracked just off the Pacific Northwest coast leading to a period of high winds. Heavy snow also fell across the south Washington Cascades during this period in addition to localized flooding on the Grays River near the coast. The frontal passage during the early afternoon hours of Feb 24th allowed for a period of isolated severe thunderstorms later that afternoon due to a low CAPE but high shear environment.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1236379. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.