A powerful winter storm that first slammed the Pacific Northwest with damaging winds and flooding rain is now pushing east across the United States, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Washington and Oregon and triggering a broad swath of winter weather alerts from the Rockies to the upper Midwest.

As the sprawling system intensifies and taps deep Pacific moisture, forecasters warn that dangerous driving conditions, transportation disruptions, and extended power outages are increasingly likely where strong winds, heavy snow, and vulnerable infrastructure overlap.

More News:

Powerful winds leave Washington and Oregon in the dark

Damaging winds that arrived late Tuesday and persisted into Wednesday, December 17, ripped through coastal and interior sections of Washington and Oregon, toppling trees saturated by weeks of heavy rain and cutting electricity to more than half a million customers at the peak of the event, according to utility reports and state emergency officials.

Outage trackers showed more than 400,000 customers without power across the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday morning, with Washington and Oregon accounting for the vast majority of those in the dark.

In western Washington, winds gusted above 50 miles per hour in many communities, with higher gusts along exposed headlands and mountain gaps. The National Weather Service issued High Wind Warnings for large portions of the region, cautioning that widespread downed trees, power lines, and debris could block roads and disrupt travel.

By early Thursday, December 18, local outlets reported that utilities had whittled the statewide outage total down to around 60,000 customers, but crews were still working through a tangle of fallen limbs and damaged lines in Pierce, Snohomish, Island, and other hard hit counties.

Across the Columbia River in Oregon, the combination of saturated soils and wind gusts topping 60 miles per hour along the north and central coast triggered similar scenes of damage.

Forecasters in Portland had warned that coastal headlands, exposed ridges, and mountain passes would be especially vulnerable to treefall. By Wednesday, state and local authorities noted that more than 130,000 Oregon customers had lost power at some point during the storm, with scattered outages lingering into Thursday as line crews contended with difficult terrain and continuing showers.

Atmospheric river, historic floods and now wind compound the crisis

The windstorm arrived on the heels of what officials in Washington have described as historic and still unfolding flooding, triggered by a powerful atmospheric river that parked over the region beginning in early December.

That persistent plume of Pacific moisture unleashed nearly two feet of rain in some mountainous areas, sent major rivers such as the Skagit and Snoqualmie to or above major flood stage, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate low lying communities.

Washington’s governor has warned that flood damage across western counties is profound and not yet fully understood, with washed out highways, damaged levees, and whole neighborhoods inundated.

National Guard troops and local first responders have carried out hundreds of water rescues and assisted evacuations as swollen rivers overtopped banks and seeped into homes, schools, and businesses. Emergency shelters remain open for displaced residents while engineers inspect bridges, culverts, and flood control structures that endured days of record flows.

In this context, the midweek windstorm has magnified existing vulnerabilities. Trees already weakened by saturated ground toppled more readily when buffeted by 50 to 70 mile per hour gusts, cutting newly restored power lines and complicating cleanup in flooded zones.

Officials in Oregon and southwest Washington cautioned residents that additional atmospheric river events are expected to bring more heavy rain and mountain snow into the weekend, keeping soils unstable and the risk of new slides, debris flows, and infrastructure failures elevated.

Storm expands east with blizzard conditions and fire weather extremes

As the storm center lifted out of the Pacific Northwest and intensified over the interior West, it began to spread impacts far beyond Washington and Oregon.

Meteorologists describe the system as a coast to coast winter storm, aided by a strong upper level jet stream that is steering waves of energy eastward and helping the surface low deepen as it taps lingering Pacific moisture and colder air pouring south out of Canada.

By Thursday, more than 30 states were under some form of winter weather or high wind alert, stretching from the northern Rockies across the High Plains and into the upper Midwest.

Parts of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Minnesota faced blizzard warnings, with forecasts calling for 3 to 10 inches of wind driven snow and whiteout conditions on exposed stretches of interstate. Gusts in the Intermountain West and northern Plains were expected to range from 60 to 80 miles per hour, with localized higher speeds on mountain peaks and passes.

Farther south, the same pressure gradient fueling mountain snow and blizzard conditions has created a corridor of extreme fire weather along parts of the Colorado Front Range and adjacent high plains.

There, downslope winds accelerating off the Rockies are combining with ongoing drought and low humidity to raise the risk of rapidly spreading grass and brush fires. Red flag warnings highlight the potential for any spark to quickly turn into a fast moving wildfire, an unusual but increasingly familiar juxtaposition with blizzard conditions unfolding just a few hundred miles to the north.

Travel risks mount: hazardous roads, flight disruptions and transit delays

With the storm’s footprint now stretching from the Pacific Coast to the Dakotas and upper Mississippi Valley, transportation officials are warning that the coming days may be particularly treacherous for drivers and travelers.

In the Northwest, heavy rain, ponding water, and lingering flood debris have rendered some roadways impassable. Standing water as shallow as several inches can stall vehicles, while deeper floodwaters can float and sweep away cars and trucks. Authorities continue to urge residents not to attempt to drive across flooded roads or around barricades.

Where the system is transitioning to snow and ice, especially from the Cascades eastward into the Rockies and northern Plains, slick and snow packed roads, sudden drops in visibility, and strong crosswinds threaten to shut down key mountain passes and interstate corridors.

Transportation departments in Washington and Oregon reported snow at Cascade passes Thursday morning, warning of a slushy, icy mix as temperatures fluctuate near freezing and periods of rain alternate with bursts of heavy snow.

Air travel is also feeling the impact. High winds in Seattle, Portland, Denver, and other regional hubs have produced periods of ground stops, delays, and diversions as airlines work around rapidly shifting conditions.

As the storm continues east, major airports in the central and northern Plains and eventually the Great Lakes region could see deicing delays, cancellations, and crew disruptions ripple through the network. Passengers are being advised to monitor airline notifications closely, allow extra time at airports, and be prepared for abrupt changes to itineraries.

Communities brace for extended outages and cascading impacts

Beyond immediate travel headaches, extended power outages in storm battered communities across Washington and Oregon are creating cascading challenges for residents and local governments.

With overnight temperatures hovering near or just above freezing in many lowland areas, lack of electric heat can quickly become dangerous for older adults, young children, and people with medical vulnerabilities.

Local officials are urging residents who still have power to check on neighbors, share information about warming centers where available, and avoid using grills or generators indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Utilities say the pace of restoration will depend heavily on weather conditions and access. In some rural and mountainous areas, crews must navigate flooded roads, downed trees, and unstable slopes to reach damaged lines.

Where infrastructure has been compromised by both floodwaters and high winds, repairs can take days rather than hours. Electric cooperatives serving inland communities report that teams from neighboring states are on standby to assist if the storm’s eastward march produces new clusters of outages while local crews are still focused on the coast.

Meanwhile, emergency managers are watching for secondary effects that can accompany multi hazard winter storms: sewage overflows in communities with overwhelmed wastewater systems, strain on hospital emergency departments from both weather related injuries and respiratory illnesses, and new disruptions to already stressed supply chains.

Although most major highways remain open in the Pacific Northwest, periodic closures due to flooding, mudslides, or collision cleanup are complicating deliveries of fuel, food, and medical supplies to some isolated communities.

Climate context and seasonal outlook

While individual storms cannot be solely attributed to climate change, scientists note that the overall backdrop against which this week’s events are unfolding is a warming atmosphere and ocean that can supercharge certain types of extreme weather.

The atmospheric river that inundated the Pacific Northwest earlier this month fits a pattern of more frequent and more intense moisture plumes delivering large quantities of rain in relatively short periods. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, increasing the potential rainfall totals when these plumes make landfall.

At the same time, natural climate patterns such as La Niña can influence the positioning of the jet stream and the storm track, sometimes favoring a more active winter for the northern tier of the United States while the southern tier trends drier.

Federal forecasters had signaled an elevated likelihood of a stormy cold season for the Pacific Northwest and northern Plains this year, and this week’s coast to coast system appears to align with that outlook.

Residents and local governments are being urged to treat the current sequence of storms as a reminder to review flood, wind, and winter weather plans as the heart of the season approaches.

For travelers and tourism operators, the evolving climate picture means that flexibility and preparedness are increasingly important. Destinations that rely on mountain snow are grappling with more volatility in snowfall timing and intensity, while coastal and riverfront communities face heightened flood risks.

Travel planners emphasize the value of building extra time into winter itineraries, purchasing flexible tickets where possible, and paying close attention to official forecasts and advisories when planning road trips, ski holidays, or holiday visits that intersect with vulnerable regions.

What travelers and residents should do now

As the storm continues its eastward march through December 18 and into the weekend, authorities stress that situational awareness is critical. Residents across the impact zone are urged to monitor National Weather Service alerts and local emergency information for updates on changing conditions, school closures, evacuation notices, and shelter availability.

Those in flood prone or slide prone areas should be prepared to move quickly if advised to leave, with a go bag that includes essential medications, documents, and basic supplies.

For people who must travel, officials recommend checking road conditions, chain requirements, and closure maps before setting out, especially when crossing mountain passes or open prairie stretches vulnerable to ground blizzards. Motorists are advised to carry winter emergency kits that include blankets, food, water, a flashlight, and a fully charged phone or backup power bank.

Drivers of high profile vehicles such as RVs and trucks should pay particular attention to high wind warnings that can make bridges and exposed highways especially dangerous.

Travelers relying on air or rail should anticipate longer lines and last minute schedule changes as the storm disrupts operations across multiple regions. Tourism dependent communities in ski country and along scenic coastal corridors may still welcome visitors, but local businesses are encouraging guests to arrive prepared for temporary power cuts, road closures, or activity cancellations tied to safety concerns.

In many cases, the most responsible decision may be to postpone nonessential trips into the hardest hit zones until conditions stabilize and local authorities signal that essential recovery work is well underway.

FAQ

Q1. How many people have lost power in Washington and Oregon due to this storm?
Utilities and emergency officials report that more than 500,000 customers in Washington and Oregon have lost power at some point during the storm, with more than 400,000 outages recorded across the Pacific Northwest at the height of the wind event.

Q2. What is causing such widespread damage and outages in the Pacific Northwest?
The outages are primarily the result of strong southwest winds, with gusts often exceeding 50 to 60 miles per hour, toppling trees and power lines that have been weakened by weeks of saturated soils and historic flooding from an earlier atmospheric river event.

Q3. How long are power outages expected to last?
Many customers have already seen power restored within hours, but in heavily damaged or hard to reach areas, utilities warn that repairs could take multiple days, especially where infrastructure has been affected by both flooding and high winds.

Q4. Which regions are now under winter weather alerts as the storm moves east?
Winter storm and blizzard alerts stretch from the Cascades and northern Rockies across portions of Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and into parts of Minnesota and the upper Midwest, with additional advisories possible as the system continues east.

Q5. What kinds of travel disruptions should people expect?
Drivers can expect flooded or debris covered roads in the Northwest, snow packed and icy conditions in the mountains and northern Plains, and intermittent closures of key passes and interstates, while air travelers may face delays, cancellations, and diversions at major hubs affected by wind, snow, and low visibility.

Q6. How dangerous is it to drive through floodwaters or during high winds?
Authorities emphasize that even a small amount of moving water can stall or sweep away vehicles, and that driving through flooded roads is one of the leading causes of flood related deaths; high winds can also overturn high profile vehicles and bring down trees and power lines without warning.

Q7. What should residents do if they lose power in cold conditions?
Residents are encouraged to layer clothing, use blankets, and seek out designated warming centers if homes become too cold, to avoid using grills or generators indoors because of carbon monoxide risks, and to unplug sensitive electronics until power is stable again.

Q8. Is this storm related to climate change?
While any single storm stems from a mix of weather patterns, scientists note that a warming climate can intensify atmospheric rivers and heavy rainfall events and can influence the broader pattern of winter storms, increasing the likelihood of extreme precipitation and compound hazards like those now affecting the Pacific Northwest.

Q9. How can travelers plan safely around storms like this?
Travel experts recommend building extra time into winter itineraries, opting for flexible tickets when possible, closely tracking official forecasts and advisories, carrying emergency supplies in vehicles, and being prepared to delay or reroute trips to avoid the most dangerous conditions.

Q10. Where can people find the most reliable, up to date information on this storm?
Residents and travelers should rely on official sources such as the National Weather Service, local emergency management agencies, and state transportation departments for the latest alerts, road conditions, and safety guidance, supplemented by reputable local news outlets for community specific updates.