Heavy rain moves into area after strong winds knock down trees, power lines (PHOTOS)





SEATTLE -- Tens of thousands of people were without power Wednesday and Wednesday as trees and tree limbs came down during high winds.

Officials say over 54,000 customers were without power at one point as a wind and rain storm blew through Western Washington.

The National Weather Service in Seattle on Wednesday issued high wind warnings on the coast and north of Seattle from Everett to Bellingham while wind advisories were issued from Seattle to south of Centralia.







The weather service says a wind gust up to 44 mph was recorded at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday evening, and a gust of 52 mph was recorded at McChord Field near Lakewood. It was even worse in the mountains, of course.



Authorities were reporting downed trees and power lines throughout the region, including one that was blocking two lanes of Interstate 5 south of Seattle.

Tacoma Fire said a branch of  falling tree struck a man at North 5th and I Street in Tacoma and he was rushed to the hospital with injuries. But a spokesman said the injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

At 7:20 p.m., Puget Sound Energy said nearly 43,000 customers were still without power.

Here is the link to the PSE outage map. 

 



Q13 News Chief Meteorologist Walter Kelley said heavy rain started pounding the South Sound and the foothills late Wednesday night. "Expect some urban flooding," he said.

The Skokomish, Skagit, Stillaguamish and Nooksack rivers were all at risk for minor flooding.





 

The Grays Harbor Public Utility District said power was lost to more than 5,600 customers in Montesano at one point, but was later restored.

Seattle City Light said 2,260 customers were without power at 7:20 p.m.

The Snohomish County Public Utility District said 3,880 customers lost power at about 4 p.m. in the Lynnwood/Mountlake Terrace area.

Here is the link to its outage map: https://outagemap.snopud.com/

Snohomish County PUD also reported scattered power outages in Monroe, Lake Stevens, Granite Falls, Stanwood and on Camano Island.



 



Get real-time updates on windy weather conditions via Seattle City Light WindWatch.