As promised, there is quite a bit to write about in the weather department. The storm that moved through Sunday into early Monday brought heavy snow in the mountains, high winds along the coast and locally inland and upwards of two inches of rain in Clark County. And we are not done yet with scattered showers and thunderstorms today.
With very cold air aloft, there could be some heavy thunderstorms and possible cold-core funnel clouds around the Pacific Northwest. Hail that covered the ground was reported in some parts of western Washington Monday, with several trees toppled over locally. I measured a wind gust of 40 mph early Monday morning with other gusts as high as 50 mph in Clark County.
A sampling of reported wind gusts for Monday include: Mt. Hebo, Ore., 96 mph; Hurricane Ridge, 92 mph; Garibaldi, Ore., 79 mph; Lincoln City, Ore., 74 mph; Astoria, Ore., 66 mph; Ocean Shores, 60 mph; Whidbey Island, 61 mph; and Bellingham, 51 mph.
With possible thunderstorms in the forecast, it is always a good idea to be cautious about lightning. It is the second largest killer associated with thunderstorms, averaging 66 deaths a year. In the state of Washington, at least one death per year is reported from lightning strikes. Never retreat under a tree or be the highest object in an open area. Try to seek shelter in a building or hard top-vehicle. If you are caught out in a large open area, find the lowest spot, squat down on the balls of your feet, minimizing contact with the ground. Remember, lightning can strike miles away from the thunderstorm clouds.
