Area Weather

NATIONAL SUMMARY                   
 
As a coastal storm off New England raced away, spreading snow over 
the Canadian Maritime Provinces, snow quickly left eastern New 
England on Friday. Lake-effect snow showers also tapered off quickly 
in upstate New York. Behind the system, cold winds still blasted New 
England and coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic. Besides a few showers 
and storms over South Florida and the Florida Keys, the South was 
mainly dry with sunshine. However, the calm conditions and clear 
skies allowed for a frosty start to some areas in the mid-South in 
the early morning hours. The Plains and the Midwest also remained dry 
with plenty of sunshine. A southerly flow allowed for 
record-challenging highs in the High Plains and moderating warmth 
over the Great Lakes. The Southwest also had sunny and nice weather 
in place. Meanwhile, a potent storm was dropping heavy mountain snow 
in the Cascades into the northern Rockies. Roads became slushy in the 
heavily traveled Snoqualmie Pass along I-90 in Washington as snow 
levels were around 3,000 feet on Friday. Rain continued to fall over 
the lower elevations. High winds also whipped across areas from the 
coastal Northwest through the northern Rockies and even the High 
Plains. The strong waves generated big waves along the Washington and 
Oregon coasts.                     
 
 
SPECIAL WEATHER                    
 
The Infamous Collapse of the "Galloping Gertie" Bridge:
 
--Today marks the anniversary of the infamous collapse of the 
Tacoma-Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, Wash. High winds struck the bridge 
at a critical angle and caused vibrations to set up, which eventually 
collapsed the $6 million, 4-month-old bridge. The bridge became known 
as the "Galloping Gertie" Bridge, due to the galloping and vibrating 
motion of the bridge before its collapse. In downtown Tacoma, maximum 
wind speeds were 31 mph, but were likely higher over Puget Sound. An 
important lesson was learned in bridge construction from this event.
 
 
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS BY ACCU WEATHER 
 
Record Highs Set on Friday:        
 
Location                      New Record        Old/Tied Record
 
-Williston, N.D.              70                  (69/1954)
 
-Dickinson, N.D.              76                  (72/1980)
 
-Bismarck, N.D.               72                  (tied/1954)
 
-Minot, N.D.                  75                            (70/1949)
 
-Rapid City, S.D.             77                            (75/2004)
 
-Yankton, S.D.                80                            (78/1887)
 
-Sidney, Neb.                 80                            (75/1969)
 
-Broken Bow, Neb.             82                            (81/1931)
 
-Valentine, Neb.              81                            (78/1909)
 
-Miles City, Mont.            77                            (73/1999)
 
-Glasgow, Mont.               71                            (tied/1931)
 
-Childress, Texas             87                            (86/1980)
 
-Sierra Vista, Ariz.          84                            (83/1988)
 
-Safford, Ariz.               86                            (85/1977)
 
 
Peak Wind Gusts (MPH) Thursday into Friday:
 
Heart Butte, Mont.                 66                                 
 
 
Deep Creek, Mont.                  67                                 
 
 
East Glacier Park, Mont.           67                                 
 
 
Pendroy, Mont.                     60                                 
 
 
Cut Bank, Mont.                    58                                 
 
 
Great Falls, Mont.                 53                                 
 
 
Helena, Mont.                      53                                 
 
 
Sweet Grass, Mont.                 52                                 
 
 
Bordeaux, Wyo.                     59                                 
 
 
Tillamook, Ore.                    80                                 
 
 
Cape Foulweather, Ore.             78                                 
 
 
Waldport, Ore.                     80                                 
 
 
North of Florence, Ore.            89                                 
 
 
Garibaldi, Ore.                    91                                 
 
 
Astoria, Ore.                      68                                 
 
 
Seaside, Ore.                      64                                 
 
 
24-Hour Rainfall Totals Ending At 1 A.M. EDT Sat.:
 
 
Shelton, Wash.                     1.27                               
 
 
Crescent, Calif.                   1.05                               
 
 
Aurora, Ore.                       0.94                               
 
 
Port Angeles, Wash.                0.92                               
 
 
Seattle, Wash.                     0.76                               
 
 
Renton, Wash.                      0.72                               
 
 
McMinnville, Ore.                  0.67                               
 
 
Salem, Ore.                        0.53                               
 
 
 
DAILY EXTREMES                     
 
National High Yesterday 91 at Canadian, Texas
National Low Yesterday 14 at West Yellowstone, Montana
 
 
         COPYRIGHT 2009 ACCUWEATHER, INC 

Today in Weather History

Copyright AccuWeather, Inc. 2009
All Rights Reserved
 
NOVEMBER 07

PLACE              YEAR                  EVENT
________________________________________________________________________
Tacoma, WA         1940    High winds struck the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge at
                           a critical angle, causing caused vibrations
                           which eventually collapsed the $6 million,
                           four-month-old bridge. Maximum wind speed of
                           31 mph recorded in downtown Tacoma; probably
                           higher over Puget Sound. 

Minneapolis, MN    1991    Minus 6 degrees -- record low for the date.