I am seeing the models starting to sniff out the cut off low near the coast of So Cal/Baja and a "High over Low" pattern, aka, Split Flow pattern targeting the west coast right after Christmas. This is a vivid memory of tracking previous systems in OCT and NOV that targeted this area and ejected out into the TX/OK panhandle and hit your region. I would NOT be surprised to see a huge blocking pattern evolve and "seed" some cold into the Plains/Midwest to close out DEC. For example, the GFS is sniffing it out precisely as I remember...Stout -NAO and west-based block, West Coast Ridge and major trough off So Cal coast. The models at this range have a terrible accuracy figuring out where this energy goes. The saying, "Cutoff low is a weatherman's woe" will hold true here!

KGEG gusted to 60 a few minutes ago. It’s coming in waves and gets worse with showers. We even had some hail a bit ago.

Been without power since about 1am. Probably gonna last a while.

This has to be one of the stronger windstorms in recent memory for the Columbia Basin and eastern Gorge-- Dalles gusted to 66 mph, Pendleton to 81, Wenatchee to 63, and there are stations around Pullman gusting upwards of 80 (including one usually reliable station with a 97 gust that I'm somewhat dubious of)

Given the warm and boring pattern we are currently in I figured I would look ahead. Using Gary's 72 day cycle the central and southern plains should see some chances for precip around January 5th and January 9th +/- a day. This would relate to the storms on October 25th and 29th. The LRC should also transition into phase 1 of the pattern January 1st (the colder phase) so it's possible this precip could take on the form of snow for some.