Windstorm on the West Coast

Winds have finally subsided out west where a major windstorm has left widespread damage across the region. The windstorm started from a rare combination of a high pressure system in Seattle and a low pressure front in the Southwest that was funneled through the mountains. Wind strengths of up to 167 miles per hour were allegidley recorded in south California near Henniger Flats. This is more than 20 miles per hour stronger than a category four hurricane. Obvious consequences were of toppeled trees, powerlines, and roofs.

There is no deffinate answer as to why thsi rare and epic difference in pressures occured. I find it interesting thought that they do think this traces back to the backbone of what seems to be of many recent natural disasters - Global Warming. A super hazard at its finest, global warming seems to be at work again by altering the time of the year they are at their peak, from fall to winter.



http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/freak-gusts-during-western-wind-storm/