Wind leaves some without power in Western Washington storm

SEATTLE (AP) — Officials say high winds and rain have left a few thousand without power in a storm that is also expected to bring flooding through Saturday.


Puget Sound Energy reported over 6,000 customers without power throughout Western Washington Friday morning with larger outages in Deming, Seabeck, Port Orchard, Newport and Enumclaw.

The National Weather Service in Seattle issued a wind advisory Thursday afternoon, saying winds could gust to 55 miles an hour at times through Friday afternoon.  Late Thursday night, the National Weather Service said peak wind gusts on Thursday reached 62  mph on Smith Island, 58 mph at Destruction Island, 58 mph on Whidbey Island, 56 mph at Cherry Point, 52 mph at Bellingham, 49 mph at Hoquiam.

A flood watch is also in effect  through Sunday morning with widespread flooding expected Friday.  The NWS issued a flood warning Thursday night for the Bogachiel River near La Push and the Skokomish River near Shelton in Mason County. More warnings are expected.

The Washington Emergency Management said the Rain Shadow from the Olympic Mountains is "super clear in this radar GIF" from Thursday night.