Sunday Windstorm Update

As promised in the last blog, here is an update regarding the Sunday afternoon & evening windstorm.

A low pressure center will make landfall on southern Vancouver Island this evening. This low center has a strong pressure gradient (change over an area) to the south and west of it. And as we know...change in pressure causes winds. Therefore, the stronger the pressure change, the stronger the winds.

I have put a blue oval around the area of strongest pressure change. This map is for 2 AM Monday.

Let's talk timing and gusts. Winds will begin increasing around 2-4 PM. Peak winds are likely from 5 PM-2 AM. After that, winds will subside through midday Monday.

Here are likely peak gusts from 2 reliable forecast models (Euro & NAM) for local cities.

Puyallup/Sumner: 35-50 mph

South Hill: 35-50 mph

Graham: 35-50 mph

Bonney Lake: 35-50 mph

Tacoma/Fife: 35-50 mph

Lakewood: 35-50 mph

Federal Way: 35-50 mph

Auburn: 35-50 mph

CenturyLink Field (gametime 5:20 PM): 35-45 mph

Because this is the first strong storm of the season, expect localized power outages and tree damage. 

This storm will also bring rain. Expect 0.3-1.0 inches of rain across the South Sound through Monday morning. 

Another potentially windy weather system will be coming to the area on Tuesday. I'll have an update on Monday night regarding this next system.