March roars in across Western Washington

SEATTLE- A late winter storm which blew across Western Washington still has hundreds of families in the dark this morning.

While power is expected to be returned to most homes by noon, cleanup of downed trees and branches could take good while longer.

On the Kitsap Peninsula, utilities there say in neighborhoods where there was extensive damage, residents will be without power until 8am on Thursday.

The region saw some record one-day rainfall totals for March 1st shatter in two cities. Hoquiam on the Central Coast had 2.17" of rainfall. The old record was 1.49" of rain set back in 1997. In Olympia, they had 1.68" of rainfall. The old record was 1.23" back in 1997.

Peak wind gusts from the March 1st storm.Source: NWS Seattle



Only the flood-prone Skokomish River in Mason County is currently above flood stage in Western Washington.

Wind gusts were impressive too. The windiest spot was near the Shelton Airport with a wind gust of 66 mph reported at 2:14 in the afternoon. The windiest spot in Seattle was 49 mph on the University of Washington campus.

Another round of rain is expected for arrival around Puget Sound this afternoon and early evening. While the winds are expected to be strong, Lead Morning Meteorologist MJ McDermott says she doesn't think they'll be nearly as strong as yesterday.