February 13, 1979, windstorm

The February 13, 1979, windstorm was a natural phenomenon which happened in the West Coast region of Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

During the early morning, an intense wave cyclone moved across southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

South of the low center, a strong atmospheric pressure gradient was carried across Washington, with associated high winds.

As reported by the crew of the Hood Canal Bridge, average winds reached at least 80 mph out of the south, with gusts in the triple digits.

It is suspected that a severe list in the bridge exposed pontoon access hatches to the waves, which then tore the covers loose allowing water to enter the flotation devices, causing sections to sink.