# Battening down for the worst wind storm ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183 "2006-12-14T21:17:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/21 "2006-12-15T04:34:45Z")
Cool! We had a dull day of lukewarm, hazy weather here in Boston. I would’ve liked some excitement. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/22 "2006-12-15T04:41:49Z")
Checking out the 'Ham Cam it’s 54.5ºF and blowing about 26-27 mph. I think I saw a 40 mph gust earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/23 "2006-12-15T04:57:20Z")
And… 46 mph. And back down to 26 mph. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/24 "2006-12-15T05:11:17Z")
Sitting at home in Tacoma right now, listening to the wind outside. Whew, this has been one crazy winter here. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m eagerly awaiting the frogs and locusts. Hopefully it won’t be as bad tomorrow morning when I’m heading to work, and I’ll be heading home so late that there’ll be less chance that my car will get scooted around into someone else’s. That almost happened a couple of days ago ☹ I-90 has been a beast to drive down. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/25 "2006-12-15T05:14:15Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] It’s supposed to hit us overnight (Vancouver Island). Reminds me that I should put up a couple thermoses of hot water in case there’s no power in the AM. I’ve got power bars and juice and a Brita of fresh water for munching but hoping being close to downtown means if the power goes out it won’t be out too long. We tend to go down if too much of the grid weakens. What a crazy fall it’s been. [/QUOTE] Nothing yet that I’ve noticed, though the city actually issued a press release this afternoon about the winds to come and advice about fastening objects that could become airborne! :eek: Our company Christmas party was tonight (rated: meh) and a lot of people didn’t show because the weather was supposed to be so bad. Just breezy and rainy when I left at 8:15 (told you it was a “meh” party this year). There were supposed to be northern lights visible tonight, but the skies probably won’t be clear for it… Here’s hoping the trees stay up and the power stays on. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/26 "2006-12-15T05:15:21Z")
As a converted free standing garage, my house is about as impervious to wind as a structure gets–low, concrete slab foundation and fifty year old stucco construction–but some of the gusts we’ve had in the past hour or two have actually caused slight movement in the house and I’m feeling nervous about the gigantic trees that surround my house… Forty foot maple in the back yard is bad enough, but the neighbor’s fifty foot high cedars and spruces are making me a tad nervous, as they’re upwind of the house. It’s been a frog strangler all day with the storm drains backing up all over town but almost sixty degrees–such weird weather! Good luck, Seattleites, when some of these gusts get to you! ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/27 "2006-12-15T05:33:00Z")
Oof, I almost forgot! The property where I work is surrounded by huge trees. Around this time last year we had a few fall and hit our buildings, and that weather was nowhere near as bad. We had some city foresters cut a bunch down, so here’s hoping they got all of the weaklings. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/28 "2006-12-15T05:34:20Z")
Your basics: a case of Jack Daniels, a side of beef, a scoped semi-automatic rifle, and a Bowie knife. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/29 "2006-12-15T06:00:58Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] He says that people on Vancouver Island aren’t getting a break. He says their power gets knocked out, the crews get it back on, and then another storm comes in. [/QUOTE] [Almost panglossian, that.](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/12/14/bc-hydro.html) 😉 > [@](#): > > Thousands of people who have been without power for days are being warned by B.C. Hydro that they may want to leave their homes before the next big storm hits the South Coast on Thursday night. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/30 "2006-12-15T06:08:12Z")
[Wind info for the 520 bridge](http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/bridges/sr520/). ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/31 "2006-12-15T06:43:02Z")
It came. It 's gone. We never lost power (all underground lines), although Portland across the river has more than 100,000 without power right now. And a cow-orker (about five miles from me) called to say three-fourths of her backyard fence is gone and she’s been out of power for several hours. She heard two loud explosions just before the power went so that means the local transformers are gone. I expect to see branches and trees down on the way to work tomorrow. At least the closest 150 foot Doug Firs are more than 100 yards from my house so sleeping won’t be scary. The last big blow caused one tree to slice through a neighbor’s house like a hot knife. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/32 "2006-12-15T06:53:58Z")
Still blowing something fierce here in Ballard, though no power loss yet. Lots and lots of flickering. We’re in the bottom half of a split-level, and should be okay. But holy cow. It’s _loud_. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/33 "2006-12-15T07:02:36Z")
In Vancouver BC, we’re getting blown around and some rain. I’m leaving here tomorrow at 5 am heading to Portland on the train. I hope they have a chance to clear the tracks BEFORE my train departs. Something tells me I better bring a book (or 3) ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/34 "2006-12-15T07:11:33Z")
[QUOTE=Hunter Hawk] I reckon there are some people in Madison Valley who are hating life right about now. [/QUOTE] According to the news, one lady in Madison Valley was drowned in a flash flood…in her own basement. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/35 "2006-12-15T07:18:10Z")
I lost power just before 8 and it came on just before 11. Still blowing pretty hard, but it seems to have lessened a bit. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/36 "2006-12-15T07:40:14Z")
It’s hitting Walla Walla pretty hard. Doesn’t help that I’m on the fourth floor of the building, either. Gusts up to 65, and the power just flickered. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/37 "2006-12-15T08:12:09Z")
I’m in Surrey BC and it’s blowing pretty good, with a lot of rain. It’s just on midnight here and I caught the tag end of the news a couple of minutes ago. Wayne is saying that it’ll hit around three or four am and intensify through the morning, dying out around lunch. Intensify?! Think I’ll dig out the second oil lamp and my flashlight. We’ve had a couple of power flickers and it’s getting pretty loud too. This afternoon I was up on Hastings in Vancouver and there was a little snow in the rain but it’s actually warmer now I think. I hear there was a bit of snow around Guildford and White Rock too. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/38 "2006-12-15T08:27:55Z")
[QUOTE=zoogirl] This afternoon I was up on Hastings in Vancouver and there was a little snow in the rain but it’s actually warmer now I think. [/QUOTE] 9c here in New West ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/39 "2006-12-15T09:10:21Z")
The plane ride from BC was rough until we got south of PDX tonight. It was damn cold in Vancouver BC today. 5C @8 AM. 4C at 3PM and raining with wind. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183/40 "2006-12-15T14:48:48Z")
50,000 customers without power in Greater Victoria and Sooke. Roads closed around town due to downed trees. The stuff that rests by the side of the house (recycling, plants, etc.) has migrated. My husband says it was howling during the night, and he could hear crashes and booms. Me? I slept right through it all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battening-down-for-the-worst-wind-storm-ever/384183.md?page=3)