Coastal flood watch

From the County’s Emergency Management department: The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Coastal Flood Watch for Western Washington lasting through the weekend into Monday evening. Saturday and Saturday night:  The rains will become heavier and sustained Southeast winds will grow thru the day to 20-25 mph then increase to 33-40 mph over night, with gusts between 40-50 mph.

Sunday: Very Strong winds will affect the coastal areas on Sunday along with heavy rain throughout the County. The ocean swells are expected to grow to 30-35 feet thru Monday.  For Sunday, it is predicted that the coastal areas will be impacted by sustained Southwest winds between 35-40 mph. Gusts will be much higher, likely reaching near 55 mph! A Coastal Flood Watch has been issued  from Sunday morning thru Monday night for the entire Washington Coast. Coastal floodingis a probability due to the high astronomical tides occurring in the afternoon hours influenced by the significant Westerly wind driven ocean swells. The combination Southwest winds and extremely large ocean surf will likely produce tides over 3 feet higher than predicted values.

This is the first volatile weather event of what has been predicted to be many significant weather events this Fall and Winter. Grays Harbor County Emergency Management recommends that you prepare your home and family for the upcoming Fall & Winter hazardous weather.  Winterize your home, check your generators, clean chimneys, stock up on food and water items and be prepared for power outages and possible road flooding. Do not drive over flooded roadways!

Be prepared for power outages. Always use caution around downed tree limbs and power lines. Never use a generator inside of your home! Become aware of the warning signs  of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Significant beach erosion and rip currents will be evident with waves running very far up the beaches. Stay away from rocks and jetties. Waves will be strong enough to sweep a person out to sea. DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK TO THE SEA!

For more information on how to become Pro-Active, contact Grays Harbor Emergency Management by visiting our website, call us at (360) 249-3911 or e-mail us at GHCDEM@co.grays-harbor.wa.us

Coastal Flood Watch

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA

315 AM PDT SAT OCT 23 2010

…HIGH WAVES ALONG THE COAST MAY CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT…

.A STRONG FALL STORM SYSTEM WILL GENERATE A LARGE SWELL TRAIN THAT IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE WASHINGTON COAST EARLY SUNDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THE LARGE SWELL WILL GENERATE HIGH WAVES ALONG THE COAST THAT COULD CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING…

PARTICULARLY ALONG THE CENTRAL WASHINGTON COAST.

WAZ516-517-232330-

/O.EXT.KSEW.CF.A.0001.101024T1800Z-101026T1200Z/

NORTH COAST-CENTRAL COAST-

315 AM PDT SAT OCT 23 2010

…COASTAL FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT…

THE COASTAL FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT.

A LARGE WEST SWELL OF 30 TO 35 FEET IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE HIGH SURF ALONG THE WASHINGTON COAST SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. WAVES ALONG THE COAST WILL BEGIN BUILDING EARLY SUNDAY WITH THE HIGHEST WAVES SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. WAVES THIS LARGE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING ALONG PARTS OF THE WASHINGTON COAST. THE CENTRAL COAST IS NORMALLY MOST PRONE TO COASTAL FLOODING…ESPECIALLY AROUND THE

HIGH TIDES.

THE HIGHEST ASTRONOMICAL TIDES AT ABERDEEN THIS WEEKEND WILL BE ABOUT 10.7 FEET AROUND 230 PM SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY AFTERNOON. FLOODING IN ABERDEEN NORMALLY BECOMES A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT 14.0 FEET AND PREDICTED ASTRONOMICAL TIDES ARE WELL BELOW THIS LEVEL. HOWEVER…THE COMBINATION OF THE TIDES…LOW ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURES…STRONG AND PERSISTENT SOUTHWEST WINDS…AND LARGE WAVES WILL LIKELY PUSH THE TOTAL STORM TIDE MORE THAN 3 FEET ABOVE THE PREDICTED ASTRONOMICAL VALUE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING OR BEACH EROSION WILL OCCUR IF WEATHER CONDITIONS DEVELOP AS EXPECTED. RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOULD MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

Charles T Wallace

Deputy Director of Emergency Management

Grays Harbor County

(360) 249-3911 x 290

cwallace@co.grays-harbor.wa.us

http://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/DEM/Index.asp