First storm of fall to bring wind, rain

Rain is moving in and wind is picking up, so get ready for an active fall day!  It will be breezy to downright windy, but this not a well-developed windstorm that would produce lots of damage.

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Instead, wind gusts will be in the 25-35 mph range in most spots around Western Washington from around daybreak through early afternoon. Wind gusts of 40-45 mph are more likely north of Everett (Whidbey Island, Port Townsend, south-facing areas of the San Juans, and western Whatcom County) and this is where a Wind Advisory is in effect for Wednesday. I expect some sporadic power outages given the time of year, with leaves still on the trees which creates more wind load.

Breezes will continue through Wednesday afternoon and evening, though not as strong as earlier in the day.

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Rain will be heavy at times with about a quarter to a half-inch of rain in the lowlands, with more south of Tacoma and at the coast. Even heavier rain falls in the mountains. While we won't see major river flooding, urban flooding probably will be an issue here and there because of leaf-clogged storm drains. This is more likely later Wednesday through the end of the week as more leaves will be down after the stronger wind gusts of earlier Wednesday.

With the possibility of power outages Wednesday, officials remind people to never approach a downed wire or anything in contact with the wire.

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If your power goes out at home, report the outage to your utility by calling or submitting it online.

Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges,  don't use a gas stove to heat your home, and keep freezers and refrigerators closed to preserve your food.

 Now is a great time to download the KIRO 7 PinPoint Weather App. You can track the storms in your neighborhood and get breaking weather updates right to your phone. It's free in your app store.

Looking ahead

Thursday will remain blustery and showery with periods of rain continuing into Friday and the weekend. Rain will be heavy at times. As colder air moves in, some lightning and small hail are possible on Thursday and Friday afternoons, but thunderstorms should be limited in number. It will probably take until Friday before we have any snow coming down at the lower passes. It's all rain until then.

The upcoming weekend will have rain chances and near-normal temperatures. It looks to remain unsettled into next week.

Cox Media Group