Massive Pacific Northwest storm causes power outages, downed trees

By Alex Hasenstab (OPB)
Oct. 24, 2021 5:27 p.m. Updated: Oct. 24, 2021 9:50 p.m.

A huge storm with high winds and rain wreaked havoc on the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, causing numerous power outages throughout the region.

Before the weekend, the weather service predicted the storm could produce the lowest barometric pressure every recorded off the Pacific coast. By Sunday afternoon, it looks like that record had been set:

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Wind gusts topping 60 mph downed trees on Interstate 90 east of Seattle and cut power to at least 49,000 customers in the metro area and around Puget Sound, KOMO-TV reported. Around 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Portland General Electric was reporting more than 23,000 customers without power.

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More power outages are possible through Monday, Samantha Borth, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle, told The Seattle Times.

Forecasters issued severe thunderstorm warnings with damaging winds and hail possible for the Oregon coast and Portland area as well as northwestern Washington.

With gusts predicted to hit 65 mph, people on the coast were warned to prepare their homes for flooding, secure items that could blow away, and stay away from beaches and jetties.

The weather service urged mariners to stay in port due to heavy seas, with waves up to 25 feetaccompanied by 50 mph wind gusts capable to eroding beaches and causing coastal flooding from northern Washington to central Oregon. Dangerous conditions were expected to continue overnight into Monday.

The warnings are expected to be lifted by Monday afternoon as the storm passes through.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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