Extreme weather and its impacts in Pierce County in 2024

Pierce County experienced challenges in 2024 due to extreme weather, including significant rain and wind events. A powerful bomb cyclone in November caused widespread power outages. Drought conditions throughout the year heightened wildfire risks. The aurora borealis was visible during a geomagnetic storm.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The aurora borealis was visible across Washington skies March 23 and March 24 because of a geomagnetic storm, officials said.

NO. 1: SOLAR STORM HEADED FOR EARTH JUST GOT UPGRADED TO MOST SEVERE CATEGORY

The storm is expected to continue throughout the weekend | Published May 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Craig Sailor

With temperatures pushing 90 degrees before noon, Khamiira Richardson, 5, of Orange County, California, cools off at the Wright Park Sprayground while on summer vacation in Tacoma, Washington, on Monday, July 8, 2024. By Tony Overman

NO. 2: ‘VERY ABNORMAL’ HEAT EXPECTED FOR TACOMA EARLY THIS WEEK. LEARN HOW TO STAY COOL

The city announced it’s opening cooling centers, and Pierce Transit will help by offering free round-trip rides to and from those stations. | Published July 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

The sun sets over the Olympic Mountains as seen from Tacoma’s west slope on Saturday, July 13, 2024. By Tony Overman

NO. 3: WILL IT EVER RAIN AGAIN IN PIERCE COUNTY? HERE’S THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST

Pierce County is part of a drought emergency ordered by the Washington State Department of Ecology in April. | Published July 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

A spider tends to its web as a smoky sun rises over Tacoma as seen from the city’s North End on Friday morning. By Craig Sailor

NO. 4: HEAT WAVE, WILDFIRES BRING SMOKY SKIES TO WESTERN WASHINGTON. HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

Bad air is coming from below and above. | Published September 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Craig Sailor

The northern lights descend over the Nisqually River valley in Mount Rainier National Park in May 2024. By Adam Lynn

NO. 5: WESTERN WA EXPECTS NORTHERN LIGHTS THIS WEEKEND WHEN A ‘STRONG’ SOLAR STORM BLASTS EARTH

The storm might make it possible to view the northern lights in western WA this weekend, but will the clouds obstruct the view? | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by rmontalvo@thenewstribune.comRosemary Montalvovmedina@idahostatesman.comVincent Medina

A fallen tree pulls down power lines and partially blocks Alder Cutoff Road south of Eatonville, Washington, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. By Tony Overman

NO. 6: POWER OUTAGES, TREES DOWN IN PIERCE, THURSTON COUNTIES AS ‘BOMB CYCLONE’ HITS WESTERN WA

The storm has electricity down in several areas, according to Puget Sound Energy. Trees also are falling across the region. | Published November 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

Workers from Puget Sound Energy redirect traffic as they try to restore lights along 336th St. S near McKenna, Wash. on Wednesday Nov.20, 2024 By Steve Bloom

NO. 7: LIVE UPDATES: BOMB CYCLONE WREAKS DESTRUCTION IN WESTERN WA, PARTS OF PIERCE COUNTY

Nearly 475,000 lost power across Western Washington, and major state highways were blocked by down trees Wednesday. | Published November 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Puneet Bsanti

An angler walks back to shore as misty rain begins to fall across Chambers Bay on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in University Place, Wash. By Pete Caster

NO. 8: ‘SERIES OF FRONTS’ TO BRING 40 MPH WINDS TO SOUTH SOUND. WILL IT EXCEED THE LAST BIG STORM?

The last storm had gusts that caused widespread power outages. What should the South Sound expect with the next storm? | Published December 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rosemary Montalvo

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.