SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Forecast models are signaling a high-impact windstorm threat along the I-5 corridor in Washington and Oregon, with impacts possible from southern Oregon through western Washington as a rapidly developing low-pressure system tracks northward along the Pacific Coast around Christmas Eve into early Friday. While uncertainty remains high, the potential range of outcomes spans from a strong regional wind event to a rare, potentially historic windstorm capable of widespread power outages and infrastructure damage.
Meteorologists emphasize that this system will require real-time nowcasting, as small changes in the storm’s coastal track could dramatically alter wind impacts across millions of residents.
I-5 Corridor Identified as Primary Impact Zone
Based on high-resolution HRRR guidance, the I-5 corridor emerges as the most consistently impacted region in current model output. This includes major population centers such as Eugene, Salem, Portland, Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle, as well as surrounding lowland communities.
At minimum, forecasts suggest a solid wind event with gusts of 45–55 mph along much of the corridor. However, worst-case scenarios depicted in some model runs indicate gusts of 70–80 mph, particularly if the surface low deepens rapidly and tracks just offshore before moving north…