New Years Eve wind event 2005: Radar analysis and damage assessment of relationship to slantwise convective circulations embedded along bent-back front

Observational analysis and, air and ground based damage surveys are used to investigate the intense land falling extra-tropical cyclone of December 31, 2005. Hurricane force winds sweeping Humboldt, Del Norte and Western Trinity Counties of Northwest California produced one of the most damaging wind storms of recent history. Associated structural and tree damage were reported along the coast north of Cape Mendocino with other damage reported further north and east. Wind speeds up to 97 mph were recorded around Humboldt Bay and tree damage across the area noted, indicated more widespread winds in excess of 70 mph. Wide-spread power outages affected over 56000 utility users. The distribution of wind damage swaths were analyzed from air and ground damage surveys and correlated to radar velocity data to investigate the possible relationship to slantwise circulations embedded in the coma head behind the bent-back front.