Over 100,000 Washingtonians and Oregonians are without power this morning due to severe weather. The Pacific Northwest is affected by strong winds, which have caused concerns over safety and damage to property.
Understand the impact of Pacific Northwest Wind Storms
National Weather Service (NWS), issued warnings about the possible dangers of high winds gusts. The risks include pedestrians as well drivers, especially those who operate high-profile vehicles like semi-trucks. They also risk falling trees or structural damage to outdoor objects in residential areas.
Washington, Oregon and Washington State Power Outage Current Situation
At 12:40 AM PT on Monday, PowerOutage.us – a tracking site for power outages – reported that approximately 76,000 Oregonians and over 42,000 Washington State residents were still without power.
Oregon has experienced a large number of power interruptions in the northwest counties.
The following locations experienced significant power outages:
- Clackamas County, ORMore than 21,000 disruptions have been reported in urban and rural zones.
- Tillamook County, ORThe affected customers are mainly dairy farmers and communities along the coast.
- Clatsop County, ORNearly 7,000 power outages have affected communities in the vicinity of the Columbia River mouth.
- Washington County OregonAbout 7,500 disruptions in suburban and rural areas.
- Marion County, ORSalem metro area is affected by over 4,000 power outages.
- Yamhill County is located in Oregon.Approximately 3,500 are experiencing interruptions across this region of wine production.
Washington State has also been affected by power outages in many counties, including the following:
- Snohomish County, WA14 095 outages recorded, affecting both rural and urban communities to the north of Seattle.
- Pierce County WashingtonNearly 9000 customers, including those in the areas surrounding Tacoma, are still without power.
- Thurston County is located in Washington State.More than 7,000 power outages have a major impact on the Olympia area.
- King County (WA)Seattle has experienced almost 11,000 disruptions in residential and commercial zones.
- Lewis County (WA)Around 5,000 people are experiencing power outages.
Official Weather Service Advisory
The NWS issued a number of high-wind warnings in the area, advising residents to be cautious with outdoor travel and activities.
Wind forecasts include:
- Central Oregon Wind AdvisoryWinds of up to 30mph are expected, and peak gusts can reach 45-60mph.
- Washington Coastal Areas Wind AdvisoryExpected winds between 30 and 35 mph, with gusts ranging from 55 to 70 mph on the Central and North Coasts.
- Bremerton Metropolitan Area Wind AdvisoryForecasts predict gusts as high 60 mph.
According to the agency, “Damaging wind will knock down trees and powerlines,” directly correlated with the current widespread outages in the area.
Experts and community insights on the Pacific Northwest Wind Event
NWS Portland communicated on Monday via X, formerly Twitter:
Strong winds are predicted for this afternoon and into early Tuesday morning. Prepare for the winds as they may cause trees to fall, driving difficulties, or power outages. Be prepared to face the worst if a major power outage occurs.
NWS Seattle posted at X on X, Monday:
Over the next couple of hours, south winds are expected to intensify rapidly across Puget Sound. For most of the area, wind gusts are expected to peak between 40-55 mph. Localized gusts as high 60 mph may be possible. Expect stronger winds along the coast. This is especially true for Grays Harbor County.
Shannon O’Donnell Chief Meteorologist, KOMO Seattle News, made a comment on X, Tuesday:
“Winds peaking so far near 50 in the Sound and 70 near the beaches, but we’ll enjoy a much quieter Tuesday and beautiful ‘touch of spring’ Wednesday around the region.”
Timeline and Recovery Activities in Washington and Oregon
Currently, Oregon’s high-wind alerts are expected to last until 2 p.m. Tuesday. Washington’s warnings will be valid until 6 p.m. Tuesday. The utility companies are working hard to restore electricity in the affected areas. Residents are advised to follow safety guidelines and report any downed lines. They should also prepare themselves for possible extended power outages.