High Wind — Blue Mountain Foothills, Washington

2021-10-24 · Blue Mountain Foothills, Washington

Event narrative

The ASOS station KALW measured a 59 mph gust at 1603 PDT. The co-op observer K7KLA 4 miles ESE of Walla Walla measured a wind gust of 59 mpg at 0713 PDT. A report from the Walla Walla Union Bulletin newspaper indicated that a tree had blown over in a local cemetery and that strong winds led to 700 customers losing power in Walla Walla.

Wider weather episode

A deep Pacific low pressure system that passed to the northwest of the forecast area on Oct. 24th created a tight and strong surface pressure gradient across the eastern mountains of OR and far southeast WA as well as a strong 850mb jet across the region. This in turn led to strong winds mixing down into north facing foothill locations in eastern OR and WA.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 991013. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.