Severe weather swept through parts of the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, while forecasts indicated a return of heavy rain for several southern and midwestern states. The stormy conditions disrupted travel plans following the Christmas holiday, leading to numerous flight cancellations across the country. Thunderstorms caused ground stops at both Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, resulting in significant delays and cancellations. With hundreds of flights affected, the situation was particularly challenging for passengers like Latoyia Pugh, who experienced multiple delays and poor communication regarding her connecting flight.
In response to the weather, Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated the state’s emergency response plan to assist local officials in addressing the threats posed by the severe conditions. As suspected tornadoes touched down in certain areas, including near El Campo, preparations were made to ensure the safety of residents and travelers. While the National Weather Service issued various warnings earlier in the day, the tornado alerts were eventually lifted by Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Oregon and Washington braced for moderate to heavy rainfall and potential thunderstorms, with the National Weather Service advising of possible flooding due to the anticipated downpours. Power outages affected tens of thousands of customers in the region initially, but efforts were made to restore service throughout the day. This ongoing series of storms, fueled by an atmospheric river along the West Coast, was expected to bring further challenges as more extreme weather was forecasted to arrive in the affected areas by Thursday night.
As the region continued to experience the impact of the atmospheric river, meteorologists warned of additional disturbances and gusty winds in the coming days, potentially leading to tree damage and further power outages. The situation remained dynamic, with a new round of rainfall and adverse weather conditions expected to persist into the following day.
High wind warnings were issued for stretches of coastal Oregon and Washington, with forecasters in Medford, Oregon, cautioning of “damaging winds [that] will blow down trees and power lines.” The National Weather Service in Seattle echoed similar warnings, noting potential wind gusts peaking at around 60 mph for coastal areas and reaching up to 55 mph around the Puget Sound. Meteorologists in Portland reported a wind gust of 92 mph at Beacon Rock, Washington — approximately 35 miles east of Portland — in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Widespread Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings were in effect overnight into Thursday morning, with gusts forecast to peak around 60 mph for the coast and Admiralty Inlet northward. Gusts of 45 to 55 mph were expected for Puget Sound, with the possibility of localized stronger wind gusts.
The latest storm activity in the Pacific Northwest followed a series of hazardous weather events along the West Coast during the holiday week. Previously, a major storm had battered Northern California, resulting in the tragic death of at least one individual at Sunset State Beach in Santa Cruz. The victim became trapped beneath debris, believed to have been caused by a large wave, as reported by the Associated Press. Additionally, two individuals had to be rescued when a section of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed.
On Thursday, thick fog blanketed portions of the Midwest, notably in Kansas City, where forecasters anticipated fog and light rainfall persisting throughout the day. Areas of particularly low visibility, less than a quarter of a mile in some locations, were expected to linger across central and eastern Kansas as well as central Missouri into the morning. While forecasts indicated the fog would gradually dissipate by the afternoon, lingering impacts were projected.
Further north in Illinois, similar conditions were observed. The National Weather Service in Chicago alerted residents to “areas of dense fog [that] will remain over parts of northern Illinois into this afternoon,” emphasizing low visibilities and advising caution on the roads until conditions improved.
These weather events come amidst an FDA recall of Costco eggs due to a salmonella risk, a passenger airliner crash in Kazakhstan, and an ongoing investigation following the discovery of a body in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane in Maui.
