Utility crews in the Seattle area are actively working to clear fallen trees and restore power to nearly 200,000 homes, schools, and businesses without electricity as of early Friday. This comes amid a new wave of heavy wind and rain affecting the region.
Officials indicate that power outages in Seattle may extend into the weekend. The severe storm also impacted Northern California, where creeks overflowed, prompting firefighters to conduct water rescues. Forecasters have warned of additional disturbances expected on Friday.
Among the areas worst affected is Issaquah, located roughly 20 miles east of Seattle, where fallen limbs and downed power lines obstruct roadways. Many residents sought refuge at the Issaquah Senior Center, according to staff member Tina Riehl, who noted the center was filled as the power outage took a significant toll.
The storm, fueled by an atmospheric river drawing moisture from the Pacific Ocean, has resulted in at least two fatalities across Western Washington. It later moved south, causing flooding and transportation disruptions in Northern California. At Santa Rosa Airport, nearly seven inches of rain fell on Wednesday, breaking the record for a single day.
Rescue efforts in Santa Rosa saw approximately 150 individuals evacuated as floodwaters threatened nearby structures, including a Hampton Inn and a health clinic. Paul Lowenthal, a fire department division chief, reported that rising water levels trapped guests, patients, and staff while water accumulated under parked vehicles, creating a precarious situation.
With additional heavy rain forecasted, fire officials are preparing to evacuate more individuals using rescue vehicles, as conditions remain perilous.
The storm on Friday is predicted to continue along a similar trajectory, extending further into the Bay Area, although with expected reductions in intensity. Certain areas in Northern California could accumulate up to 16 inches of rainfall by the week's end, accompanied by winds gusting up to 65 miles per hour.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service anticipate that by Friday evening, the Eel River in Humboldt County will reach levels making Highway 211 impassable.
Following numerous days of rain, there is an elevated risk of flooding and landslides as water-soaked ground conditions worsen. Officials express particular concern about potential mudslides in areas affected by recent wildfires in California.
In Washington State, Puget Sound Energy confirmed that this storm has led to the most extensive power outage in the region since 2006. The utility aims to restore power to most service areas by noon on Saturday.
At the storm’s peak, over 500,000 customers across Western Washington were without electricity. In response, several large school districts, including Bellevue, closed on Thursday due to power outages affecting many schools.
Some hospitals in the Seattle area relied on emergency generators following the storm. UW Medicine reported treating numerous patients for storm-related injuries, including at least one in critical condition due to incidents involving falling trees.