Windstorm causes damage, power outages around Sound

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SEATTLE — A Pacific storm that was uncharacteristically strong for the month of April caused power outages and damage in some areas. Read updates below, including details about the overnight closure of State Route 530 in Snohomish County.

PHOTOS: Windstorm damage

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Reports of tree down, high winds, closures: 

  • [10:37 p.m.] The outage numbers were down to 1,166 customers for Seattle City Light; 7,502 for Puget Sound Energy and 800 for the Snohomish County PUD.
  • [10:13 p.m.] "Homes in the Oso area have been asked to voluntary evacuate and SR530 will be closed tonight as a precaution due to an unstable hillside above the highway," Snohomish County Sheriff's spokeswoman Shari Ireton said in a statement. "The movement of the hillside is very slow and there has been no reported injuries or any damage to property.  Actions this evening by first responders are a precautionary measure only. Geologist are calling this a 'reactivation of small portion of a previous landslide.'"
  • [10:05 p.m.] Ten residents have been approached by officials in Snohomish County for voluntary evacuation by Whitman Road, according to KIRO 7 reporter Natasha Chen.
  • [9:29 p.m.] The Snohomish County PUD said the outage number is down to 800 customers.
  • [9:04 p.m.] The Washington State Department of Transportation confirms SR 530 in Oso will be closed overnight until further evaluation can be done.
  • [8:48 p.m.] The new outage numbers have 1,163 Seattle City Light customers without power; 9,497 Puget Sound Energy customers without power; and 160 customers without power in Grays Harbor.
  • [8:16 p.m.] A slide near Oso, about two miles west of where the major slide happened in 2014, closed State Route 530. Authorities described the slide at milepost 36 as slow-moving, and KIRO 7 reporter Natasha Chen will be live there on KIRO 7 at 11.
  • [7:24 p.m.] State troopers in Oregon responded to a fatal one-car crash on Highway 58 (milepost 52) where a 35-year-old Tacoma resident died from her injuries. Her passenger had serious injuries.
  • [7:14 p.m.] Seattle City light said the new outage numbers in Renton/Skyway is 6,100 customers. Crews are working to restore power.
  • [5:49 p.m.] Seattle City Light responding to Renton/Skyway outages. About 7,300 customers out. Investigating cause. Early estimated time of restoration is midnight.
  • [5:33 p.m.] The Seward Park Upper Loop Road is currently closed.
  • [5:01 p.m.] A tree in Bothell sheared off a transformer and hit a car. The people in the car suffered only minor injuries.
  • [4:39 p.m.] Wind gusting at 53 MPH near Friday Harbor.
  • [4:03 p.m.] A tree fell in Bothell on a car, closing 108th Avenue NE between East Riverside & NE 164th Place. Power is out in the area. Occupants of the vehicle suffered minor scrapes.
  • [3:45 p.m.] Due to high winds north of Seattle, all Sounder north line trains will be slowed to 40 MPH north of Edmonds.
  • [3:39 p.m.] Howling on Hurricane Ridge, with gusts reported at 86 MPH in the past hour.
  • [3:17 p.m.] A KIRO 7 viewer reports tree debris down along Western Avenue in Seattle near Foundation Nightclub.
  • [2:55 p.m.] Peak gust on the Hood Canal Bridge today reportedly at 59 MPH.
  • [2:36 p.m.] Part of a tree came down on a home in Ruston, Wash. during the storm. There is some interior damage but no one was injured. KIRO 7's Kevin McCarty will report at 5 p.m.
  • [2:10 p.m.] Power outages and tree debris seen on roadways in Sammamish.
  • [1:53 p.m.] Current list of roads affected by downed trees and tree debris in roadways -- provided by Pierce County Public Works. Click to view.
  • [1:40 p.m.] Trees reported down on State Route 167 in both directions near Gay Road. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.
  • [1:28 p.m.]  All City of Puyallup parks are now closed due to high winds. Stay out of all parks for your safety.
  • [1:15 p.m.] Downed trees and power lines reported in Pierce County's Bonney Lake.
  • [1 p.m.] Severe Side Winds on both dirs. SR 16 near Tacoma Narrows Bridge at mp 8.
  • [1 p.m.] Trees down on both dirs. SR 109 near Breckenridge Dr at mp 4. Traffic reduced to one lane.
  • [1 p.m.] Tree down on car in Pierce County's Edgewood community.
  • [12:22 p.m.] Gust of 102 MPH just measured at Crystal Summit, elevation 6,830 feet.
  • [11 a.m.] In Olympia, a tree fell down on northbound I-5 late Friday morning, blocking a right lane as the wind picked up. No one was hurt.
  • [11 a.m.] Trees went down on SR 510 near Nisqually.
  • [11 a.m.] In Bellevue, a strong gust of wind caused a tree to fall on a home in the 2400 block of 161st Avenue Southeast, causing significant damage to the house. No one was hurt.

About this storm: 

This Pacific storm will be uncharacteristically strong for the month of April.

"A High Wind Warning is in effect for the coast for sustained wind 25-40 mph and some gusts to 60-70 mph.  The Puget Sound region is under a Wind Advisory for sustained wind of 25-35 mph with gusts around 45-55 mph. Locations north of Everett have a High Wind Warning, which means sustained wind of 25-40 mph with gusts of 50-60 mph," KIRO 7 Meteorologist Nick Allard said.

The low pressure system that is wound up offshore is unusually strong for this time of year, but it will fortunately be making landfall Friday evening over Northern or Central Vancouver Island and not closer, and that means that we will avoid a major, destructive windstorm.

Still, wind gusts of 30-45 mph in many populated areas Friday with isolated stronger gusts over 50-55 mph will cause sporadic to numerous power outages.  Trees aren't fully leafed out yet, but the ground is still wet so some trees and branches are expected to come down.