High Wind — Central Coast, Washington

2021-01-12 to 2021-01-13 · Central Coast, Washington

Event narrative

Wind gusts of around 60 mph were reported across Grays Harbor County beginning during the late evening hours of the 12th and continuing through the early morning hours of the 13th. Humptullips reported a gust of 62 mph, with the Hoquiam airport reporting a gust of 58 mph and Ocean shores at 59 mph.

Wider weather episode

A compact area of low pressure passed over the northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula during the evening hours of January 12 into the early morning hours of Wednesday January 13, producing a very strong pressure gradient as pressure quickly began to rise on its backside. This led to a short period of strong winds, some of which on the backside of the low was channeled and enhanced by topography.

By daybreak on the 13th, as the wind began to subside, over 550,000 power outages were reported across the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 939387. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.