Coast-to-coast storm with 232 km/h (144 mph) gusts leaves 1 dead, 2 injured across Northwest and Rockies
A powerful windstorm with gusts reaching 232 km/h (144 mph) battered parts of the Pacific Northwest and Rockies this week, leaving one dead, two injured, and hundreds of thousands without power by December 18, 2025. The deep low-pressure system continues moving east toward the northern Plains and Midwest, sustaining severe winds and wildfire risks.
Truck overturned by windstorm in Idaho on December 17, 2025. Credit: Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office
A powerful winter storm system that began over the northeastern Pacific earlier this week produced widespread damage from the Pacific Northwest through the central Rockies.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported hurricane-force gusts exceeding 160 km/h (100 mph) as the system advanced inland, disrupting transport networks and power infrastructure across several states.
Peak gusts reached 232 km/h (144 mph) at Mount Coffin in Wyoming and 229 km/h (142 mph) at Coldwater Ridge in Washington. Near Mount Hood in Oregon, winds reached 222 km/h (138 mph).
In lower elevations such as Whidbey Island, Washington, gusts reached around 115 km/h (71 mph). Across the wider region, gusts of 80–130 km/h (50–80 mph) were widespread, with the highest intensities concentrated over exposed ridges and mountain passes.
Twin Falls Sheriff’s Office shared pictures of tree damage and trucks being flipped over due to high winds in the region that claimed one life and left two kids injured.
A 55-year-old man was killed in Idaho when a tree fell onto his home due to high winds. Meanwhile, two children were critically injured waiting for a school bus in Twin Falls when trees and power lines collapsed nearby due to high winds on December 17.
At the storm’s peak, nearly 750 000 customers, roughly 1.8 million people, were without electricity across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies. By December 19, between 300 000 and 325 000 remained without service as restoration efforts continued.
In Colorado, utilities implemented precautionary power shutoffs affecting approximately 30 000 customers to mitigate wildfire risks caused by damaged lines and high winds.
The storm also sparked multiple wildfire ignitions in parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, and eastern Colorado, prompting temporary evacuations.
The NWS issued Red Flag Warnings for the central Plains due to strong winds and low relative humidity that increased fire potential in grassland and foothill regions.
Sections of Interstates 25 and 80 were intermittently closed to high-profile vehicles due to extreme crosswinds and debris. Several regional airports experienced operational delays as winds exceeded safe thresholds for smaller aircraft. Numerous local roads remained blocked by fallen trees and power lines.
The storm formed as an atmospheric river over the northeastern Pacific was making landfall along the Oregon–Washington coast on December 17.
The system’s steep pressure gradients and complex terrain of the Cascade and Rocky Mountains amplified wind intensity through orographic acceleration. Gusts above 220 km/h (135 mph) recorded at mountain stations correspond to Category 3 hurricane intensity on a gust-equivalent basis.
The system is now advancing eastward toward the northern Plains and Midwest, where forecasts indicate additional wind gusts of 95–120 km/h (60–75 mph) through December 20.
Authorities continue advising caution near downed lines and unstable trees as restoration work progresses. Damage assessments are ongoing, and recovery operations are expected to continue through the weekend.
References:
1 More than 300K without power across Northwest, Rockies, as coast-to-coast storm delivers 100+mph wind gusts – FOX Weather – December 18, 2025
2 High winds batter water-logged Northwest, killing Idaho man and cutting power to half a million – AP – December 18, 2025
3 Two kids waiting for the bus critically injured due to strong winds in Idaho – FOX Weather – December 17, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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