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Forecast | 5-day | Closings/Delays | Traffic Report
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Latest high wind and rain updates

06:15 PM PST on Wednesday, November 15, 2006

KING5.com

Our wind and rain log is shutting down now that the main part of the storm has passed. For major developments, please see today's weather story: Click here.

6 p.m. - A high wind warning expired at 6 p.m., PST, for the lower Columbia, the I-5 corridor in Cowlitz County, the greater Portland and Vancouver areas, the central Willamette Valley and the south Washington Cascade foothills.

5:56 p.m. - The National Weather Service in Portland has cancelled the high wind warning for the south Washington coast, the north Oregon coast and the Willapa Hills.

5:30 p.m. - A wind advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. PST, Thursday for portions of the upper Columbia basin as well as the Spokane, Coeur D'Alene and Pullman areas.

5:07 p.m. - National Weather Service has changed the flooding forecast for the Skokomish River from moderate to major severity near Potlach in Mason County. Forecasted crests will rival those of last week.

5 p.m. - Puget Sound Energy says the storm is still at its peak, causing lots of trees down on wires and such.  About 100,000 customers are in the dark.  There are 90 crews already on duty trying to get repairs made, but since the damage is ongoing, it is difficult to get to everything.  Storm extends to 10 of the 11 counties that PSE serves. They are bringing in crews from central and eastern Washington and Oregon to start working on power restoration.  They are hoping that the wind will die down soon so they can expedite repairs.  Unknown how long until people will get their power back. They guess that most people won't get power back until Thursday, or in some cases, Friday, since the storm is expected to last through tonight.

4:53 p.m. - The King County Road Services Division is advising motorists that high winds and downed trees are prompting road closures in many parts of the county this afternoon. While some roads are being closed temporarily until crews can remove tree limbs and other debris, at least four roads will likely be closed for an extended period due to downed trees and power lines.

Maple Valley: 196th Ave SE between Sweeney Rd & SE 213th St. Status: Closed. Trees down, wires involved.

Snoqualmie: SE 70th Drive at 396th Drive SE. Status: Closed. Trees down in power lines.

Sammamish: SE Duthie Hill Rd between Issaquah Beaver Lake Rd and 271st Ave SE. Status: Closed. Trees down in power lines.

Sammamish: SE Issaquah Fall City Rd between Klahanie Dr SE and 26000 block Status: Closed. Trees down in power lines.

Auburn: SE Lake Moneysmith Rd between 164th Ave SE and 166th Way SE. Status: Closed. Trees down in power lines.

See www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/roadalert for more updates.

4:47 p.m. - From the National Weather Service in Seattle, the high wind warning is cancelled.

High wind is no longer occurring on the coast and along the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. Highest winds observed during the storm:

Tatoosh Island sustained 72 mph / gust 91 mph.

Destruction Island sustained 67 mph / gust 76 mph.

Hoquiam sustained 43 mph / gust 68 mph.

Grays Harbor sustained 40 mph / gust 60 mph.

Sekiu sustained 45 mph / gust 87 mph.

4:39 p.m. - According to KING 5 South Bureau Chief Paul Aker, several roads are blocked by downed trees or power poles, and more than 20,000 Puget Sound Energy customers are without electricity. Another 2,100 Tacoma Power customers and 200 Peninsula Power customers are without power.

Road problems areas include:

- Fairfax Reserve Road 1.5 miles from SR 165 has just one lane open.

- 198th Ave E is blocked with trees down between 120th St E and Rhodes Lake Road E.

- Trees are down blocking 120th St E west of 224th Ave E.

- Trees are down blocking 288th St E and 126th Ave E.

- A power pole is down blocking 40th St E between 214th Ave E and 230th Ave E.

4:29 p.m. - There are scattered power outages in south Pierce County affecting about 2,000 customers.

4:21 p.m. - A downed tree temporarily closed northbound I-5 at milepost 253 in Bellingham. Crews have cleared the tree and all lanes are now open.

4:12 p.m. - The Pierce County ferry, which carries passengers and vehicles between Steilacoom and Anderson Island, is running late due to high winds this afternoon. There is a potential for cancelling ferry runs if weather conditions worsen. If ferry service is cancelled today, it will not resume until 5:45 a.m. Thursday. The 213-foot MV Christine Anderson carries a maximum of 54 vehicles and 150 passengers. Rider Alerts are posted at www.piercecountywa.org/ferry.

4:07 p.m. - The National Weather Service has canceled a flood watch for portions of northwest Washington, west central Washington and western Washington. The weather service says the rain has slowed down and less rainfall than expected has fallen today in Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Thurston counties.

3:25 p.m. - Whatcom County 911 Centers are no longer relaying calls to Puget Sound Energy as they are being received, as a result of the high call volume. Residents are encouraged to contact Puget Sound Energy directly to report power-related problems, including downed power lines, at 1-888-225-5773, and for downed trees blocking roadways. In the City of Bellingham call 676-6850.

3:15 p.m. - Alarm has sounded on the 520 bridge, meaning winds have reached 40 mph. The bridge will not close until winds are sustained at 50 mph for 15 minutes.

2:30 p.m. - The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory because of heavy rains in Grays Harbor, Mason, King, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, Snohomish, Island, Skagit, San Juan and Whatcom Counties.

2:28 p.m. - The central part of Oak Harbor is without power.

2:25 p.m. - A high tide of 11.1 in Seattle's Elliott bay at is coinciding with the strongest winds, producing particularly rough water and increase the potential for beach erosion in West Seattle, Three Tree Point and the south ends of Bainbridge, Vashon and other Puget Sound Islands and peninsulas.

2:10 p.m. - Medics in Bellingham are transporting people with bumps and bruises who have fallen in the wind. One person was hit by a tree, but injuries were non life threatening. Some trees have fallen on a car and a house and power lines are down in one area.

1:45 p.m. - A high wind warning has been issued for Kitsap County.

12:55 p.m. - Five people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision on SR 20 at Coupeville, Whidbey Island, due to a power outage that affected traffic lights.

12:50 p.m. - A large tree has fallen across the road on the 3600 block of Graham Street, in Seattle's Rainier Valley.

12:16 p.m. - Orcas Power & Light is reporting a power outage for the San Juan County.

12:10 p.m. - WSDOT crews and contractors are working together to repair slide areas at:

- US 2 (MP 37) near Index

The goal is to keep two lanes open at all times, but this area will need significant shoring up to stop the sliding. To do that, crews may need to close lanes intermittently.

- Highway 542 (MP 30) five miles west of Glacier - Whatcom County

The Nooksack River moved closer to the road and is eating away at Warnick Bluff, which supports the roadway. Currently, one lane is open and crews are able to alternate traffic through the work zone. WSDOT will temporarily shift the roadway to the north and hopes to have both lanes open again by Thursday, Nov. 16.

- Highway 20 (MP 112.5) Bacon Creek

Contractors with heavy equipment and a plan for long-term repairs are already working on this slide nine miles west of Newhalem. They are digging up the road to replace a broken four-foot culvert that drains water into the Skagit River. There will be intermittent one-lane access past Thanksgiving, but WSDOT is striving to keep one lane of traffic open at all times for the residents of Newhalem and Diablo.

SR 18 (MP 22.5) East of Issaquah Hobart Road

- WSDOT maintenance crews are keeping an eye on a slide moving near the westbound lanes of SR 18, two miles east of Issaquah-Hobart Road. The slide is not affecting the road yet, but if it moves significantly, crews may have to close lanes or slow traffic down to get into the slide area.

11:44 a.m. - Hood Canal Bridge is closed due to high winds

11:30 a.m. - The U.S. Hydrology Web site predicts the Skokomish River at Potlach (Mason Co.) will reach major flood stage at 10 p.m.

11:25 a.m. - Tacoma is reporting some small scattered outages

11:00 a.m. - Wind gusts:

Friday Harbor - 51 mph

Whidbey Island - 59 mph

Hoquiam - 55 mph

Tatoosh - 83 mph

Destruction Island - 76 mph

Oak Harbor - 62 mph

Forks (9 a.m.) - 51 mph

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