Wind Storms

While Seattle doesn't face the hurricane risk that Gulf and East Coast cities do, but we do regularly get very powerful wind storms. Most recently, a storm in Mid-December 2006 knocked out power to more than 175,000 Seattle City Light customers.

Major Incidents

Issues to Note

Seattle is vulnerable to wind damage because of the large number of trees. Trees bring down powerlines. This vulnerability can be mitigated by tree trimming. The floating bridges can be another vulnerability because they have to be closed in high winds. Usually their closure is short-term, but twice (1979, 1990) floating bridges in this area have sunk in storms.

Economically, a windstorm's effects are similar to those of a snowstorm. They halt most economic activity for several days. Many people cannot, or choose not, to come to work because they fear long drives or must take care of damage at home. For local governments, debris removal and power restoration can place a strain on budgets. Despite these costs, the biggest economic problem from windstorms is property damage. Families can incur major expense even from light damage to roofing or siding.

Following the 2006 storm, 14 people in the region died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Most windstorms occur from October to March when people need heat. Most of these deaths were the result of people using generators or grills inside their homes for heat. Providing public warning about this danger is an important part in our disaster preparedness education programs.

On the Web

How to Prepare for Windstorms (pdf). Information from the City of Seattle, King County and Washington State.

National Weather Service Seattle. Forecasts, current observations, historical data and more.

Carbon monoxide poisoning information from Public Health Seattle & King County.

The Storm King. Catalog of storms in the Pacific Northwest by Wolf Read at Oregon State University.