List of Pacific Northwest windstorms

Pacific Northwest windstorms are extratropical cyclones which form in the Pacific basin, and affect land areas in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and British Columbia, Canada. Despite cold waters preventing tropical cyclones from approaching the area, the area is often affected by extratropical cyclones. These cyclones can produce winds equivalent to a Category 2-3 hurricane. The area's trees greatly enhance the damage, and these storms have caused at least $10 billion in damage since 1950. The closest analog to these storms are European windstorms, which develop over the eastern portion of the North Atlantic Ocean as opposed to the North Pacific. +Pacific Northwest windstormsStormImageWinds / MSLPMaximum known rainfall / snowfallDamage / DeathsNotesJanuary 1862 North American Megastorm/1861-1862 ARkStormUnknown winds Unknown pressure of rain at Sonora, California, feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada$100 million >4000 deathsCaused the Great Flood of 1862. The ARkStorm scenario draws inspiration from this event. Impacts extended all the way down to Mexico. An estimated one-third of the state's property was destroyed and one-quarter of California's economy was destroyed.Great Gale of 1880N/A (estimated) "along the coast" of rain at Portland, Oregon of snow at Port Townsend, WashingtonUnknown damage >=5 deathsUnusually heavy snow was recorded, collapsing structures in Seattle.Great Olympic Blowdown of 1921 (3-minute sustained) near Grays Harbor, Washington <Unknown amount of rain Unknown amount of snow$150 million >=1 deathBiggest blowdown in US history at the time. The event felled eight times more trees than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The entire Olympic coastline had at least a 20% loss of trees.The Great Pacific-Northwest Storm of October 21, 1934N/A at North Head Light, Washington "probably" of rain on Salem, Oregon Unknown amount of snow$1.7 million 19-22 deathsColumbus Day storm of 1962 at Cape Blanco (Oregon) ~ of rain at Blue Canyon, California Unknown amount of snowfall$230 million >=46 deathsThe storm formed from the remnants of Typhoon Freda. This storm is sometimes referred to the most powerful windstorm to strike the Pacific Northwest.November 13–15, 1981 windstorm (1-minute sustained) at Whiskey Run, Oregon <Unknown amount of rain of snow in the Sierra Nevada$50 million 12 deathsThis event consisted of two low-pressure systems, one after the other.Inauguration Day windstorm of 1993 near Tillamook, Oregon> of rain at Venado, California and Healdsburg, California of snow in the Cascade Range in Oregon$159 million 6 deathsSometimes referred to as the worst storm since the Columbus Day storm.December 12, 1995 windstorm at Kregor Peak, California of rain at the Russian River (California) Unknown amounts of snow$240 million 3 deathsSometimes referred to as the strongest wind event since the Columbus Day storm.South Valley Surprise of 2002 in central Douglas County, Oregon 995-996 mb (29.4 inHg)Unknown amounts of rain of snow at Timberline Lodge, Oregon$10–12 million ($16.9-20.3 million in 2023) Unknown deaths, 4 injuriesA Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued for five counties in Oregon.Hanukkah Eve windstorm of 2006 at Estevan Point, British Columbia~ of rain in the Olympic Mountains > of snow in Okanogan County, Washington$500 million-1 billion ($756 million-1.51 billion in 2023) (estimates vary) 13-18 deaths (sources vary)Most (8-11)fatalities were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. 1.8 million people were left without power. Washington governor Christine Gregoire declared a state of emergency for parts of the state, and a federal disaster declaration was approved for parts of Washington and Oregon, with over $30 million in federal funding for Washington and $5 million for Oregon.Great Coastal Gale of 2007 along the coast of rain at Cushman Dam 12-20 in (30-51 cm, 1.0-1.7 ft) of snow in the Cascade Range>$1 billion 18 deathsThis storm was composed of three low-pressure systems, with the third being the strongest. The storm moved much slower than normal storms in this area, leading to a long period of hurricane-force gusts. This storm dropped unusually large amounts of rain, with several flood and rainfall records being broken in Washington and Oregon. This storm resulted in the first hurricane force wind warning ever issued.January 2010 North American winter storms in Ajo, Arizona> of rain in the higher elevations of California > of snow around Mammoth Lakes, California>=$3 million >=10 deathsSeveral systems impacted the United States. Seven tornadoes were reported. Several pressure records were broken in California.December 2014 North American storm complex at White Mountain Peak, California of rain at Petrified Forest (California) of snow at Lodgepole, California>=$100 million 3 deathsA tornado was observed in Los Angeles.Map August 29, 2015, windstorm at Destruction Island, Washington>$45,021,594 2 deathsAt least 400,000 homes and 710,000 people lost power in British Columbia, marking the largest power outage in BC Hydro history.October 2021 Northeast Pacific bomb cyclone at Mammoth Mountain, California of rain at Middle Peak, California of snow at Mount Rose, Nevada>$400 million >=2 deathsThis was the most intense storm ever recorded in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean, later tied by the November 2024 Northeast Pacific bomb cyclone.November 2024 Northeast Pacific bomb cyclone offshore Vancouver Island of rain at Venado, California>$41 million 4 deathsThis storm is tied with the October 2021 Northeast Pacific bomb cyclone as the most intense storm recorded in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean.

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List of Pacific Northwest windstorms

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