¿Son realmente tan ventosas las Tri-Cities? Depende de tu perspectiva

This article is available in English at this link.

Las personas que viven en las Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) suelen hablar del viento. A menudo, es para quejarse de lo ventosa que parece ser la zona. Las Tri-Cities ciertamente pueden experimentar fuertes vientos durante tormentas regionales, pero ¿cuánta de esta percepción se debe a sesgos de confirmación y de recencia durante dichas tormentas?

Naturalmente, la velocidad del viento varía en toda el área de las Tri-Cities. Las cimas de las colinas, los campos abiertos fuera de la ciudad y las zonas a lo largo del río Columbia experimentan vientos más fuertes porque hay menos obstáculos que bloqueen el movimiento del aire. También hay muchos días en los que las Tri-Cities experimentan poco o nada de viento.

Ingalls Weather agradece el apoyo que recibe de los donantes. Por favor, considere hacer una pequeña donación en este enlace para ayudarme a pagar el sitio web y el acceso a datos meteorológicos premium.

Este artículo analiza las condiciones promedio generalizadas para las Tri-Cities en su conjunto. Cabe destacar que las personas que viven en lugares como Canyon Lakes probablemente verán vientos más fuertes que quienes están dentro del Richland Bypass.

Perspectiva del Noroeste

Los habitantes de las Tri-Cities viven en el área metropolitana más ventosa entre las ciudades medianas y grandes del Noroeste del Pacífico. Solo Bend se acerca a lo que experimenta la zona, con vientos promedio en Bend que superan los de las Tri-Cities en diciembre, enero y principios de febrero.

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El perfil de velocidades de viento en Spokane sigue de cerca el de las Tri-Cities, aunque con velocidades aproximadamente 1.5 mph (2.5 km/h) más bajas durante todo el año. Seattle y Eugene son las menos ventosas de este grupo.

Las comunidades más pequeñas en y cerca de los principales pasos montañosos del Noroeste del Pacífico son más ventosas que las Tri-Cities. A pesar de estar a solo media hora en coche al sur de Kennewick, Hermiston es notablemente más ventosa porque está más directamente en la trayectoria del viento que atraviesa el desfiladero del río Columbia.

Comparaciones a nivel nacional

Sin embargo, solo en el Noroeste del Pacífico destaca el viento de las Tri-Cities. Veamos primero las cinco áreas metropolitanas más grandes de los Estados Unidos (Nueva York, Los Ángeles, Chicago, Dallas y Houston).

De este grupo, solo Los Ángeles experimenta menos viento que las Tri-Cities. Houston y Nueva York ven cómo sus vientos promedio caen por debajo de los de las Tri-Cities en verano, pero lo compensan con vientos más fuertes durante el resto del año. Por supuesto, Houston también experimenta huracanes ocasionales.

Chicago se gana su apodo de “La Ciudad de los Vientos”. Su mes más calmado es julio, con una velocidad promedio de 8.7 mph (14.0 km/h), superior incluso a los meses más ventosos de las Tri-Cities: marzo, abril y junio, con 8.1 mph (13.0 km/h).

La parte más ventosa del interior de los Estados Unidos contiguos se encuentra en los High Plains, justo al este de los Rocky Mountains. El este de Wyoming es especialmente ventoso, algo que los viajeros frecuentes de la I-25 y la I-80 al este de Laramie conocen muy bien.

El terreno relativamente plano de esta región, combinado con la profundización de los sistemas de baja presión en el lado sotavento de los Rockies, genera vientos fuertes a medida que estas perturbaciones se desplazan hacia el este a través de América del Norte. Alguien que se encuentre al aire libre en las High Plains probablemente sentirá una ligera brisa incluso en ausencia de un sistema de baja presión intenso.

Las tormentas de viento son más frecuentes y más intensas en las High Plains. Entre 2010 y 2019, el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional emitió un promedio de dos advertencias de vientos fuertes por año para Tri-Cities. En comparación, la Cordillera Frontal de Colorado recibió alrededor de seis advertencias anuales, mientras que en algunas partes del sureste de Wyoming se emitieron más de 30.

Causas del viento en el Columbia Basin

En el nivel más básico, el viento es causado por diferencias en la presión del aire, moviéndose de regiones de alta presión hacia regiones de baja presión. Este viento es canalizado por el relieve regional, como las Cascades, el río Columbia e incluso los Rockies. La magnitud de la diferencia de presión entre dos ubicaciones se llama gradiente de presión.

Los vientos del oeste y suroeste que atraviesan los pasos de las Cascade dominan el patrón de viento en la Columbia Basin. Casi el 64% de las observaciones horarias en el aeropuerto de las Tri-Cities en Pasco registraron vientos con un componente occidental, incluyendo el 95% de las observaciones cuando el viento sostenido superaba las 40 mph (64 km/h).

Para visualizar cómo el aire atraviesa las Cascade, imagina una compuerta abierta en un canal de riego. Las paredes de hormigón se extienden hacia adentro desde el borde, pero una abertura en el centro permite que el agua pase. El nivel del agua es más alto detrás de la compuerta que delante de ella. El agua se acelera y se vuelve más turbulenta al pasar por la compuerta antes de calmarse más adelante.

En esta analogía, el desfiladero del río Columbia y Snoqualmie Pass son compuertas de agua, y las Montañas Cascade son las paredes de hormigón. La alta presión a menudo se acumula detrás de los sistemas regionales, como los frentes fríos, formando el “agua” detrás de la compuerta. Las Cascade actúan como una barrera formidable para la alta presión entrante, generando vientos fuertes a través de los pasos montañosos.

El viento como peligro meteorológico

Aunque las Tri-Cities pueden no ser tan ventosas como muchos otros lugares en los Estados Unidos, el viento sigue siendo un peligro significativo. Es la causa meteorológica más común de muertes en el área de advertencia de la oficina del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional en Pendleton, que incluye la Columbia Basin.

Además del polvo, los vientos fuertes pueden levantar objetos sueltos. Ejemplos notorios en las Tri-Cities incluyen trampolines voladores y enormes acumulaciones de plantas rodadoras. Una brisa moderada, altas temperaturas y baja humedad relativa combinadas crean un riesgo significativo de incendios.

El criterio para una advertencia de vientos fuertes varía de un lugar a otro, pero generalmente se emiten cuando los vientos sostenidos están entre 40 y 73 mph (64-117 km/h) o cuando hay ráfagas más fuertes.

The peak of the ongoing heat wave impacting the Pacific Northwest will draw to a close Wednesday evening. For the Tri-Cities, Yakima, and surrounding areas, temperatures will moderate from around 105° to 110°F (40° to 43°C) to “only” around 100°F (38°C). First, though, the region will go through breezy conditions Wednesday evening.

Wind speeds won’t match the standard fall and winter wind storms Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon can receive, but gusts to 25 mph (40 km/h) are possible around the Tri-Cities and Yakima. In the Columbia Gorge and Kittitas Valley, gusts to 40 mph (65 km/h) are possible.

The strongest gusts will be outside of towns where trees and buildings don’t slow things down. Locations west of Hermiston will get the strongest gap flow winds coming through the Columbia Gorge.

This wind will be generated by high surface pressure moving in west of the Cascades while the thermal trough (low pressure caused by heat) shifts from the Columbia Basin toward Idaho and Utah. The Cascades form a barrier to incoming high pressure, with wind surging through gaps in the mountains like the Columbia Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass.

Forecast details

The forecast has prompted the National Weather Service in Pendleton to issue a fire weather watch from 14:00 to 23:00 Wednesday for the Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley. A red flag warning is also in effect for the Blue, Strawberry, and Wallowa Mountains from 12:00 Tuesday to 23:00 Wednesday.

Wind will accompany very low relative humidity and very hot temperatures since the Columbia Basin will be insulated from the cooler marine air that will be filtering into the I-5 Corridor. During the afternoon and evening hours, relative humidity may get as low as 10% in the Columbia Basin and 7% in the mountains.

Peak temperatures on Wednesday will likely be around 105° to 108°F (40° to 42°C) in low elevation locations before slowly moderating into the overnight hours. Cooler temperatures are expected in the mountains, but not cool enough to remove the significant fire danger.

Gusty winds, low relative humidity, and high temperatures combine to make it easy for wildfires to spread rapidly. Any fires that develop in both the desert areas and mountain forests could make long-distance runs before temperatures cool enough to suppress fire behavior after midnight.

Preparation

Not everyone will be threatened by a fire on Wednesday but now is a good time to prepare in case one does pop up near you. Have a go bag near your front door with critical documents and medication as well as water, some food, entertainment, cash, and portable chargers to supply everyone in your household.

Have a plan now for where you will go in case you need to evacuate. This can be any safe place you feel comfortable going that is more than a few miles from your house. Consider close relatives and friends. Make sure your yard is clear of flammable debris.

Preparation before an emergency saves lives.

Extended forecast

The center of the heatwave shifts eastward during the second half of the week but temperatures are forecast to remain above average in and around the Columbia Basin. Highs around 100°F (38°C) are forecast for the Tri-Cities Thursday through Monday.

If the Tri-Cities Airport can hit 100°F (38°C) on Thursday, the area has a chance of getting close to or breaking the record streak for 100° days. Thursday looks like the coolest day of the week with a forecast high between 98° and 101°F (37° and 39°C). The average high for this time of year is 92°F (33°C).

A dying dry cold front associated with low pressure in Alaska may cross the Pacific Northwest early next week to create another round of fire weather concerns in the Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley.

https://ingallswx.com/2024/07/09/high-fire-danger-for-columbia-basin-on-wednesday/

People living in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) like talking about wind. Often it is to complain about how windy the area is perceived to be. The Tri-Cities certainly can get windy during regional storms, but how much of this perception comes down to confirmation and recency bias during such storms?

Naturally, wind speeds vary throughout the Tri-Cities area. Hilltops, open fields outside of town, and spots along the Columbia River experience stronger winds because there are fewer obstacles blocking air movement there. There are also plenty of days when the Tri-Cities experiences little or no wind at all.

This article discusses average conditions generalized for the Tri-Cities as a whole. Note that people living in places like Canyon Lakes are likely to see stronger wind than folks in places like inside the Richland Bypass.

Pacific Northwest perspective

Tri-Citians live in the windiest metro area among medium and large cities in the Pacific Northwest. Only Bend comes close to what the area experiences with average wind in Bend exceeding that of the Tri-Cities in December, January, and the beginning of February.

The profile of average wind speeds in Spokane follows the profile for the Tri-Cities fairly closely, just with speeds that are about 1.5 mph (2.5 km/h) slower throughout the year. Seattle and Eugene are the least windy among this group.

Smaller communities in and near major Pacific Northwest mountain gaps are windier than the Tri-Cities. Despite only being a half hour drive south of Kennewick, Hermiston is reliably windier because it is more directly downwind of the Columbia River Gorge.

National comparisons

It is only among the Pacific Northwest that that the Tri-Cities’ wind stands out, however. First, a look at the five largest metro areas in the United States (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston).

Out of this group, only Los Angeles experiences less wind than the Tri-Cities. Houston and New York do see average winds dip below here during the summer months but make up for it with stronger winds during the rest of the year. Of course, Houston also experiences the occasional hurricane.

Chicago is appropriately nicknamed the Windy City. The calmest month there is July with an average speed of 8.7 mph (14.0 km/h). This is higher than even the windiest months in the Tri-Cities – March, April, and June which all come in at 8.1 mph (13.0 km/h).

The windiest non-coastal part of the Contiguous United States is found on the High Plains just east of the Rocky Mountains. Eastern Wyoming is especially windy, something frequent travelers of I-25 and I-80 east of Laramie are intimately aware of.

Relatively flat land in this region combines with deepening low pressure systems in the lee of the Rockies to create strong winds as these disturbances move eastward across North America. Someone standing outside in the High Plains is likely to feel a slight breeze even in the abscense of a strong low.

Wind storms are both more frequent and stronger stronger on the High Plains. During 2010 to 2019, the National Weather Service issued an average of two high wind warnings1 for the Tri-Cities each year. Compare that to around six for the Colorado Front Range and over 30 in parts of Southeast Wyoming.

Causes of Columbia Basin wind

At the most basic level, wind is caused by differences in air pressure with air moving from regions of high pressure toward regions of low pressure. This wind is funnelled by regional terrain, such as the Cascade Mountains, Columbia River, and even the Rocky Mountains. The magnitude of the pressure difference between two locations is called the pressure gradient.

Westerly and southwesterly winds coming through Cascade mountain gaps dominate the wind pattern of the Columbia Basin. Nearly 64% of hourly observations at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco2 recorded winds with a westerly componet to them, including 95% of observations when the sustained wind was over 40 mph (64 km/h).

To visualize how air filters through the Cascades, imagine an open water gate in an irrigation canal. Concrete walls extend inward from the edge but a gap in the middle allows water to pass through. The water level is higher behind the gate than in front of it. The water accelerates and becomes more turbulent as it passes through the gate before calming further downstream.

In this analogy, the Columbia River Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass are water gates with the concrete walls being the Cascade Mountains. High pressure often fills in behind regional systems like cold fronts, forming the “water” behind the gate. The Cascades are a formidable barrier for the incoming high pressure, creating strong winds through the mountain gaps.

Other weather patterns also amplify winds through the Columbia Gorge toward the Tri-Cities. Low pressure systems deepen east of the Rocky Mountains as they move eastward, creating a modest west-east pressure gradient across the Cascades. This often, but not always, occurs in the same storm system that pulls a cold front across Washington.

A diurnal wind pattern3 sets up in the Columbia Gorge during the warm season because hot air is less dense than cold air. On hot summer afternoons, enough heated air rises to create a low pressure center in the Columbia Basin. This void is filled by cooler relatively high pressure air coming from the Willamette Valley. The diurnal wind pattern is most noticable west of Boardman.

Wind as a weather hazard

While the Tri-Cities may not be as windy as many places in the United States, the wind is still a significant hazard. Wind is the most common fatality-causing weather hazard in the county warning area for the National Weather Service office in Pendleton,4 which includes the southern Columbia Basin.5

While I haven’t poured through the individual data points, my guess is that a majority of the wind-related deaths in the Columbia Basin occur as a result of drivers being caught in localized dust storms near freshly plowed agricultural fields and construction areas.

One day while commuting home from work at WSU, I was stuck on Interstate 82 for about three hours while crews cleared a crash in such an event near Reata Road. Six people were killed with another 20 injured in three separate dust storm pileups on Interstate 84 between Hermiston and Pendleton during a wind storm in 1999.

In addition to dust, strong winds toss around loose objects. Infamous examples in the Tri-Cities include flying trampolines and huge drifts of tumbleweeds. A moderate breeze, high temperatures, and low relative humidity combine to create significant fire risk.

1. The criteria of a high wind warning varies somewhat from place to place, but generally speaking they are issued for sustained wind between 40 and 73 mph (64-117 km/h) or stronger gusts. ↩︎
2. Records at the Tri-Cities Airport began on April 1, 1945. ↩︎
3. A diurnal weather pattern is one that repeats every 24 hours or so. ↩︎
4. The county warning area for the National Weather Service office in Pendleton covers an area from Bend to Ellensburg and The Dalles to the Wallowas. ↩︎
5. See this link for more details. ↩︎

https://ingallswx.com/2024/05/28/are-the-tri-cities-really-that-windy-it-depends-on-your-perspective/