High Wind — Eastern Strait of Juan De Fuca, Washington

2021-01-12 to 2021-01-13 · Eastern Strait of Juan De Fuca, Washington

Event narrative

After strong winds affected the area beginning during the late evening hours of 12th and through the early morning hours of the 13th, the USCG reported and responded to multiple vessels impacted by high winds around Anacortes, Washington. A pier sunk, and several boats were pulled loose from moorings, with one floating adrift.

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 939461. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.