Powerful wind storm knocks out power to thousands in Puget Sound
Dec 12, 2014, 5:47 AM | Updated: 3:38 pm
Thousands of people are still without power as utility crews rush to cut up trees and make repairs to downed lines.
At the storm’s peak Thursday night, 150,000 residents were powerless across the region. Puget Sound Energy reported 105,000 customers were without electricity, while 14,000 Seattle City Light customers sat in the dark. Snohomish County PUD worked overnight to restore power to their 50,000 customers who lost it during the storm.
Utility crews continue working through the day to restore power. Currently, 32,000 PSE customers still don’t have power and 12,000 Snohomish County PUD customers are in the dark.
Check Puget Sound Energy outages, Snohomish County PUD updates, Tacoma Public Utilities.
Strong winds moved in Thursday evening from the south and quickly spread north. Around 9 p.m., gusts of 69 mph were recorded on Whidbey Island. Gusts clocked 60 mph on Alki Beach, 54 mph in Everett, 51 mph in Olympia and 48 mph in Gig Harbor.
The National Weather Service clocked a wind gust of 77 mph at Naselle in southwest Washington and a 61 mph gust at Camano Island.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport had a gust of 48 mph. Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said flights weren’t affected.
PSE said Thursday that at least 30 crews, made up of three to four workers, from other utility and power companies, are in the area to help with restoration efforts. More than 40 tree service crews were ready to clear downed trees and branches.
In Kelso, a 61-year-old man was taken to a hospital after a tree broke through the rafters of his house and hit him in his garage. The Daily News of Longview said the man’s condition was not known.
Rough seas on the coast destroyed a third vacation house at a spot known as Washaway Beach.
Winds brought down scaffolding at six-story apartment building under construction in Redmond.
A falling tree hit a propane tank and started a fire at the Red Wind Casino near Olympia.
Forecasters expect a calmer weekend with some sunshine and a return next week to occasional rain showers and mountain snow.
The National Weather Service says a landslide risk continues Friday in Western Washington.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
