High Wind — Admiralty Inlet Area, Washington

2021-09-17 · Admiralty Inlet Area, Washington

Event narrative

Puget Sound energy data revealed most of Whidbey Island without power due to strong gusty winds during the evening hours of Friday 9/17. A wind advisory had been upgraded to a High Wind Warning to account for this. Winds then gradually subsided through late evening.

-One observation on Whidbey Island reported a sustained wind of 47 knots with gusts to 63 knots around 6pm on 9/17.

-WSDOT ferry route from Port Townsend/Coupeville service had been suspended due to high winds and rough seas.

Wider weather episode

A strong frontal system passed across Western Washington in the middle of September, bringing heavy rain, high elevation snowfall, gusty winds, and a few thunderstorms to the area. This was the first notable frontal system in several months, prompting the issuance of several weather headlines. The active weather was most pronounced across the area Friday 9/17 through Saturday 9/18, with wind of highest impact, particularly the Admiralty Inlet area, Jefferson County, and Western Skagit County.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 986922. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.