Strongest Wind Gusts Recorded in Western Washington on Wednesday Night Winds reached their peak in western Washington on Wednesday night, with the most severe gusts recorded in the Cascades. A wind speed of 134 mph was measured at Alpental, located above Snoqualmie Pass. These extreme conditions caused widespread damage, including downed power lines and trees, and tragically resulted in at least one fatality when a tree fell onto a vehicle. The intense winds occurred during a Wind Advisory for the lowlands and a Blizzard Warning in the mountainous regions, though both alerts have since been lifted. The storm system brought significant impacts across the area, with varying wind speeds reported in different locations. In the Puget Sound lowlands, wind gusts ranged from 36 to 45 mph, with SeaTac recording 45 mph at 9 p.m. and Everett measuring 44 mph at 10 p.m. At higher elevations, the winds were even stronger. Alpental, situated at 2,400 feet above Snoqualmie Pass, experienced the highest gust of 134 mph at 9 p.m. Snoqualmie Pass itself saw winds of 73 mph at the same time. At Mount Rainier, winds reached 63 mph at 8 p.m. near Sunrise, which is around 6,000 feet in elevation. Crystal Mountain recorded 59 mph at 6 p.m. near the gondola, which is approximately 6,800 feet high. Paradise-Rainier had winds of 53 mph at 11 p.m., and Stevens Pass saw 48 mph at midnight on the ridge tops. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Cascade and Olympic mountains until 5 a.m. on Saturday. The KING 5 news outlet has activated its First Alert system for this weather event, which could impact lives, property, and travel in the Pacific Northwest. The First Alert Weather Team will provide updates to ensure public safety during the storm.#alpental #snoqualmie_pass #mount_rainier #crystal_mountain #king_5
