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Thanksgiving Eve storm in West may set pressure records

The WPC hinted that the incoming massive storm in the West could set November or all-time pressure records in California and Oregon.

By Jesse Ferrell, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior weather editor

Published Nov 25, 2019 4:34 PM EDT | Updated Aug 7, 2020 4:14 PM EDT

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UPDATE (Wednesday): The storm has preliminary broken the California state record for low pressure. The tricky thing is that Crescent City, which fell to 973.6 mb, is not a station on WPC's map of the lowest pressure records. Nearby Eureka, California and Medford, Oregon, however, are on the map, and they both broke their November pressure records by far.

All time low pressure set in Crescent City, CA: 973.6 mb; sustained winds of 85 mph with gusts to 106 mph at Cape Blanco, OR. Gusts to 69 mph at Crescent City, CA with 34 foot seas offshore.

The storm was something to see coming onshore. Downed trees knocked out power for nearly 100,000 customers.

UPDATE (Tuesday): Ready or not, here it comes.

The forecasts today are even lower, with WPC predicting a 976 mb low (see map below) and models predicting 971-980 mb.

With a drop of 42 mb of pressure forecast from Monday night to Tuesday night, it should (easily) also qualify as a bomb cyclone.

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ORIGINAL BLOG:

Since last week, AccuWeather has been forecasting a strong storm to bring flooding, mudslides and feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mid-week.

The WPC hinted on Twitter this morning that this incoming massive storm in the West could set November or all-time pressure records in California and Oregon. Let's go more in depth. Here are the all-time, November and forecast pressure readings in the West:

All-time, November, and Tuesday night forecast pressure readings in the western United States. Remember, in meteorology, pressures are expressed as a 3-digit decimal number preceded in reality by a "9." So where you see "732" that's actually 973.2 millibars.

The WPC is currently forecasting a 982 mb low pressure system close to making landfall just north of the California/Oregon border Tuesday night around 00 "Z" time (7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. West Coast time). This would likely break the November records of 987.5 in what looks like both Crescent City, California and Medford, Oregon. However, all time records are south of 980 in this area so it's not likely (based on the WPC forecast) that all-time records would be broken.

Computer model forecasts for Tuesday evening showing low pressures between 971 and 983 millibars.

Two out of three of the preferred computer forecast models, however, are indicating central pressures even lower -- 973 on the NAM and 971 on the Euro (ECWMF). If the storm maintained those pressures inland, it would break the all-time records at the aforementioned locations. As the storm moves onshore (or even before), its pressure will rapidly increase, making that less likely.

In any case, there's a very strong storm headed for the West Coast. WPC is advising people to prepare for this possibly historic and unprecedented storm by avoiding travel on Wednesday, forecasting 80-mph winds, 35-foot waves and heavy rain and snow.

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