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Subscribe to RSSRain floods a Seattle area parking lot, damaging numerous vehicles, including a man's brand new car. KING's Jim Forman reports.
The heavy winds and rain that pummeled the Pacific Northwest, flooding roads and highways and leaving at least one person dead, eased on Tuesday though showers remained in the forecast for much of the Thanksgiving holiday week.
Rain and wind pounded Washington and Oregon on Monday, flooding streets, toppling large trucks and cutting power to more than 20,000 people.
Nearly 2 inches of rain fell in six hours in one Seattle neighborhood — a total that Seattle Public Utilities meteorologist James Rufo-Hill called "extraordinary."
"It was a pretty big storm for most of the city — lots of rain in a relatively short amount of time," he said, but several neighborhoods "really got drenched."
By late Monday night, 2.13 inches of rain had fallen for the day at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, shattering the record of 1.23 inches for Nov. 19 set in 1962.
Other areas of Western Washington fared even worse. More than 7 inches fell over a two-day period in Potlatch, Mason County, more than 6 inches in Bremerton and nearly 4 inches in Olympia, meteorologist Jay Neher said, according to The Seattle Times.
The drenching caused widespread flooding of roads and highways and some residential neighborhoods, and even sewage overflows in parts of Seattle and Everett, Wash. Several blocks of downtown streets were briefly flooded in Port Orchard, west of Seattle.
Wet weather was expected to continue through the week, but National Weather Service meteorologist Jay Neher in Seattle said that the "heavy rain is over."
"We're into showers now," he said.
The Spokesman-Review via AP
During a strong gust of wind, Michele Purkey's umbrella flips back as she crosses street Monday in downtown Spokane, Wash.
Weather Service meteorologist Ted Buehner said he had one "screaming message" for those traveling across mountain passes for Thanksgiving: "Be prepared for hazardous winter weather — and that includes coming back," Buehner told The Seattle Times.
On Oregon's northwest coast, an elk hunter was killed Monday morning when a tree crashed on his tent near Nehalem. Two hunters in an adjacent camp heard the tree snap as gusts reached more than 70 mph, and saw it lying across the tent. They cut it away in an attempt to rescue the man, to no avail.
Nearly 44 million people in the U.S. will travel this Thanksgiving week with a whopping 90 percent driving. NBC's Tom Costello reports.
Tillamook County Sheriff Andy Long identified the hunter as Nathan Christensen, 52, of Seattle.
A Portland police officer was seriously injured during all-terrain vehicle training when a tree fell. Sgt. Pete Simpson said the accident on Hayden Island in the Columbia River appeared to be weather-related.
In southwest Washington, a Washington State Patrol car and another vehicle were struck by a tree carried by a mudslide on U.S. Highway 101 near Naselle.
The patrol car started burning, and the trooper had to break a window to crawl to safety. The trooper was unhurt, and the female driver of the other vehicle was OK except for neck pain. Both vehicles were destroyed by the fire.
Strong winds overturned large commercial trucks on two highways Monday. One tractor-trailer rig tipped over while crossing the Astoria-Megler Bridge that carries U.S. 101 across the Columbia River. That caused a lengthy traffic headache.
Another tractor-trailer rig was blown onto its side in the middle of the Chehalis River Bridge in Aberdeen, on the Washington coast, Aberdeen police said.
Peak wind gusts in Washington reached 101 mph on the Astoria bridge and 61 mph at Hoquiam on the coast. They hit 114 mph on isolated Naselle Ridge in the mountains of southwest Washington, the Weather Service reported.
Thousands of people in Oregon and Washington were left without power on Monday.
Flood warnings were issued for a handful of western Washington rivers, with moderate flooding expected Tuesday along the Chehalis River in the Centralia area. Residents there were told where to find sandbags and were directed to move any endangered livestock to higher ground.
The Weather Service reported 24-hour rainfall totals as of Monday evening that included 4.09 inches in Bremerton, west of Seattle; 2.97 inches at Hoquiam on the Washington coast; and 6 inches at Cushman Dam on the Olympic Peninsula.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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"Nearly 2 inches of rain fell in six hours in one Seattle neighborhood — a total that Seattle Public Utilities meteorologist James Rufo-Hill called "extraordinary."
Not to diminish the severity of the weather for you guys Seattle but down here in Florida it can easily drop 2" of rain in 15 to 30 minutes....if a good size hurricane goes over the top of us it could be 20" in a day...
Forgive me that I don't think there is an "extraordinary" story here....a story...but certainly not extraordinary.
70 mph winds are just under Cat 1 so, yeah....that'll take out some trees and do some damage..
Key word: TREES. Wind and trees don't mix. Did you notice how folks up here were hurt?
I agree that 2 inches aren't much and I don't think people in Seattle thinks it's a lot. It just NBC news. The 2 inches was just recorded, but many areas have much more. We received 6 inches in 12 hours and we just consider this a winter storm. No big deal. The 114mph winds were a bit much to deal with tho.
Florida can get those 20 inches Troy and it causes some minor flooding of swamps. Up in the NW, two inches running down hillsides can cause slides and as it comes together, major flash flooding. Add the winds of 70 to 100 mph and it was a major storm for the NW. I think Roker (AL) referred to it as a "winter hurricane" for the NW. At least the cost of the storm doesn't appear to be on the scale of a hurricane although a lot of folks don't have power in cold temperatures right now.
Troy1101- Do you realize a fifty year old record was broken? The saying everything is relative, is relative in this story. Not to mention the geology differences between Seattle and Florida are quite different. With Seattle being hilly and Florida flat. So when it mentions high winds, falling trees and flooding, that 2.13 inches on roads makes all the difference.As does peoples experiences in the past. So I suspect Seattle folks are going to be taking this seriously.
I find it interesting how often folks will compare what is happening weather wise in one place with where they live. As if it is no big deal really. While looking at Sandy, the cold front afterward with the struggles people have endured to recover, and now with this storm hitting the Northwest, I think people deserve all the compassion available from their fellow man.
Now is not the time to judge and dismiss how easily Mother Nature may be dealing with others in life.But to be supportive for what is happening to everyone experiencing whatever life is handing out. I hope folks will be able to get through these events as safely as possible. For it looks like hard times are upon us in so many forms.The wheel of life is turning and let us help and support others while we are still up.
It was just the annual thanksgiving week storm.
hope it stays north, that rain tends to turn white around these parts...............
@IA SCOTTERTRAMP. what evelation are you at? Haven't hear the snow level, but must be above three K, or more. But yes, that rain is coming down, very hard right now. What makes it nice is hearing it on the metal patio covering. Sure puts a person to sleep at night.
As for rain in FL, well, what you might receive, and what we might receive is two different stories. And the wind with the rain does cause problems. Trees falling down, taking the power lines with them, falling on homes, vehicles, etc. Yes, it has happen before, but it doesn't make it any easier the next time either.
Thanksgiving Day is suppose, key word is suppose, to be the driest of all week. Sure hope so, but at least them temp is over 50 degrees. Better that than below freezing, right?
In Seattle perhaps...I live about 37 miles north and 20 miles east in the foothills of the Northern Cascades (for 56 years). This is November in Washington State this is normal. Skagit Valley floods almost every Thanksgiving just part of life here in paradise. drama drama drama
Pat Robertson will claim this was his gods punishment on the pagan liberals for legalizing the "demon weed".
@DEPROGRAMMER, not for legalizing gay marriage? Heaven forbid, he forgot that.
deprogrammer
I am a conservative, live in Washington, and voted for pot. I would much rather deal with pot heads the in the world than drunks (I have been both) and The God has nothing to do with anything on this planet-yet-especially the bad stuff (that is the other guy-and people). You really should study up and know something about a subject before you slam it. Your comment was at best very ignorant and based on more mystical prejudices than the religion you attacked. Not to mention quite bigoted.
SallyAnn-4595694
You do make an interesting point but as I said, The God has nothing to do with anything on this planet-yet-especially the bad stuff (that is the other guy-and people). His time is not yet-but it is coming.
Nice that you speak from experience totherepublic, however I disagree, knowing the dangers that pot represent, speaking to both law enforcement and former users. While I agree that drunks can be more volutile and unpredictable, I rather have neither one behind the wheel of a vehicle or making critical decisions at work.
Still, the voters approved it, have fun with that.
As for religion, to each his own and there are enough denominations to give everyone a shot.
to the republic - please your bs along with the rest of your screwball buddies - is done - no gods time is coming genius - record heat, drought, wildfires, storms, east coast west coast - climate change happening faster and very harshly caused by us - not a made up super being - slowly the world is catching on - but thx to minds like yours always looking to the heavens for answers its probably to late - thx GOP - thank goodness romney did not get in - might have bought us more time before it really spins out of control- his time is not yet but it is coming- yeah great- when- backed up by what - some sill y book written 2000 years ago when could barely build a fire - do you people ever step back and listen to yourselves - really - clinically insane - actually none of you should even get to vote
Okay. The old record was set in 1962.
Now before Al Gore or any of his minions say that this storm is because of man made climate change they first have to explain how the old record from 50 years ago happened naturally.
CO2 levels in 1962 were 315 ppm. Well below the "safe" level of 350 ppm. So why was 1962 normal and natural but 2012 is artificial and man made?
You have to explain the past if you want anyone to believe what you are saying about the future.
And as for the talk above about hot summers, drought, cold winters and east coast hurricanes you might want to check the weather in the 1950s.
http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/joe-bastardi-show-parallels-to-the-1950s-and-tells-us-what-to-expect-looking-forward/
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/new-and-cool/its_the_amo_stupid1/
If weaker tropical storm Irene in 2011 and weaker post tropical cyclone Sandy in 2012 are proof of man made climate change then what was the cause of the three stronger Cat 3 east coast hurricanes in 1954?
Then Pat is misrepresenting the Bible.
Gays can marry? OMG what if it rubs off? I think I'm turning gay, or Japanese, one of the two.
Sorry I don't watch TV, I didn't realize Washington also passed gay marriage. I guess that adds a new meaning to the bible verse that says men marrying men should be stoned.
Blue sky here in St. Helens Oregon :).