“Explosive” Weather on the Way

by Lin McNulty

We’re not really trying to be alarmist, but the latest forecast from NOAA/NWS contains a few words that seemingly require immediate attention, e.g., Urgent, Powerful, Explosive, and Strongest…on Record.

Local weather spotter Danny Stevens says this is commonly referred to as “meteorological bomb,” with possible wind gusts up into the 60s and 70s.

While we are not accustomed to posting weather updates, given the severity of this predicted storm, and given the recent uprecedented flooding in Eastsound, it seems prudent to make sure our readers are aware of this warning in order to take necessary precautions. Or are we just being “jumpy?” Time will tell.

Here are some steps recommended by County Department of Emergency Management you might consider taking before 7 p.m. Sunday night, when this storm is predicted to find its way to the San Juans.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1107 AM PDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...POWERFUL AND DAMAGING WINDSTORM TO AFFECT PARTS OF WESTERN
WASHINGTON TONIGHT...

EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING PLACE WITH A LOW PRESSURE CENTER
THAT WILL MAKE LANDFALL THIS EVENING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FAR
NORTH WASHINGTON COAST AND CENTRAL VANCOUVER ISLAND THIS EVENING.
THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST SEPTEMBER
WINDSTORMS ON RECORD. NORTHWEST WASHINGTON...FROM THE NORTH COAST
THROUGH THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND THE NORTH INTERIOR...WILL
BE AT THE GREATEST RISK FROM THE STRONGEST WINDS.

SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-WESTERN SKAGIT COUNTY-
EVERETT AND VICINITY-ADMIRALTY INLET AREA-
1107 AM PDT SUN SEP 29 2013

...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
7 AM PDT MONDAY...

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...EVERETT...PORT TOWNSEND...WHIDBEY
  ISLAND...ANACORTES...BELLINGHAM...CHERRY POINT AND THE SAN JUAN
  ISLANDS.

* TIMING...STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING. A
  SHIFT TO POWERFUL WEST WINDS IS EXPECTED AROUND MIDNIGHT FOR
  LOCATIONS NORTH OF EVERETT.

* WIND...INCREASING FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 30 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS
  TO 60 MPH THIS EVENING. THE STRONGEST WIND WILL LIKELY BE OVER
  THE ADMIRALTY INLET AREA WHERE GUSTS COULD REACH 60 TO 70 MPH.
  ONCE WINDS BECOME WESTERLY AROUND MIDNIGHT NORTH OF
  EVERETT...SPEEDS OF 40 TO 55 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH ARE
  POSSIBLE...WITH THE STRONGER WINDS FOR NORTH WHIDBEY
  ISLAND...FIDALGO ISLAND...AND THE SOUTHERN SAN JUAN ISLANDS.

* IMPACTS...HIGH WINDS CAN TOPPLE TREES...DOWN POWER LINES...AND
  DAMAGE PROPERTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS DAMAGING WINDS ARE OCCURRING OR
IMMINENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH
OR STRONGER ARE LIKELY OR OCCURRING.