The Barge Restaurant in Raymond earned its name on Dec. 20, as a 12-foot tide flooded the Willapa River estuary.

PACIFIC COUNTY — The most serious windstorm so far this season struck Pacific County and the rest of Washington’s outer coast on Dec. 20.

Winds gusted to 75 mph on the roadway at the crest of Astoria-Megler Bridge’s south high rise.

At Cape Disappointment, gusts reached 73 mph and sustained winds remained above 50 mph for more than three hours.

In the past, such a storm would have produced jaw-dropping readings at wind gauges stationed atop Naselle’s Radar Ridge and Megler Mountain above the bridge.

However, the Bonneville Power Administration’s Anemometer Network “has been retired. Our efforts and funds have moved into other areas,” Scott Winner of BPA said.

Tidal flooding was also a significant issue last week.

High wintertime “king tides” coupled with wind waves and storm runoff resulted in localized flooding.

Raymond in north Pacific County and Rosburg in western Wahkiakum County were particularly impacted.

Motorists on U.S. Highway 101 east of the Chinook tunnel encountered dangerous conditions, as large waves carried stones and other debris over the rip-rap barrier onto the roadway.