[1] A major motivation for the station was early detection of Pacific Northwest windstorms; a proponent, Professor Cliff Mass of the University of Washington, said it would provide an additional 6 to 12 hour storm warning to residents of the Pacific Northwest.

[3] In January and February 2001, a research radar placed at Westport, Washington clearly showed the structure of approaching storms and documented heavy precipitation on the coastal mountains.

However, it was not before the involvement of Senator Maria Cantwell in 2008 that the project began to be pushed in front of Congress.

[6][7] Prior to its construction, coastal coverage from the nearest radar at Camano Island on Puget Sound was limited by the Olympic Mountains.

[9][8] It is the only operational WSR-88D that scans as low as 0.2 degrees above the horizon, which sometimes causes image artifacts due to sea clutter.