Pacific Northwest windstorms, sometimes colloquially known asBig Blows,[1] areextratropical cyclones which form in thePacific basin, and affect land areas in thePacific Northwest of theUnited States andBritish Columbia,Canada. They form as cyclonic windstorms associated with areas of low atmospheric pressure that track across the North Pacific Ocean towards western North America. Deep low pressure areas are relatively common over the North Pacific. They are most common in the winter months. On average, the month when most windstorms form is November or December.
The closest analogue to these storms areEuropean windstorms, which develop over the eastern portion of the NorthAtlantic Ocean as opposed to the North Pacific.[2]Nor'easters, a similar class of extratropical cyclones, commonly affect the east coast of North America. While the storms on the East Coast are named "nor'easters", the Pacific Northwest windstorms are not called "nor'westers" because the cyclones' primary winds can blow from any direction, while the primary winds in nor'easters usually blow from the northeast.[3]
The largest storm events have struck the Pacific Northwest every 15 to 30 years according to modern records. Among the strongest were the1962 Columbus Day storm, which formed from the remnants ofTyphoon Frieda/Freda and killed 50 people; the 1993Inauguration Day windstorm, which killed 6 people; and the2006 Hanukkah Eve windstorm, which killed 14 people and caused widespread power outages for 11 days.[4]
1993: Inauguration Day windstorm, January 20. Claimed six lives,[8] 750,000 homes and businesses without power with total damage in western Washington of $130 million.[9] Also caused $500,000 in damage to the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.[10]
2006: TheHannukah Eve windstorm[14] caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, left over 1.8 million residences and businesses without power, and killed eighteen. Most deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in the days following the storm because of improper use of barbecue cookers and generators indoors.
2013: Remnants of Typhoon Pabuk on September 28–29, 2013 caused heavy rain in Portland, Oregon had the wettest September ever on record. The moisture from thePineapple Express coming from Hawaii.
2014: December 11: Brought the strongest recorded wind gust to Portland since 1995, of 59 MPH
2016:Ides of October storm, Typhoon Songda transitioned into an extratropical storm as it crossed the North Pacific and approached the west coast of North America. Originally, expected to be a historic windstorm to make a direct hit on Washington State, the worst of the storm ended up staying offshore. Despite this, coastal regions reported winds as high as 100 mph andan EF-2 tornado touched down in Manzanita.[17]
2018: December 20, as winds approached (and occasionally exceeded) 100 km/h, trees came down, high seas cancelled ferries and over 750,000 customers in British Columbia lost power; causing the largest outage in BC Hydro's recorded history.[18] One man needed to be rescued by helicopter from the damaged White Rock Pier and a woman was killed in Duncan after being struck by a tree.[19]
