On the morning of Dec. 17, powerful winds swept through Western Washington, resulting in extensive electricity disruptions for residents.
By late evening, around 78,649 customers remained without power statewide, with Pierce, Snohomish, and Island counties experiencing the highest impact.
Earlier in the day, at approximately 1 a.m., outages peaked at nearly 350,000 across the region.
The National Weather Service in Seattle had issued a High Wind Warning for much of Western Washington, cautioning about strong gusts, falling trees, and potential power losses from Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday.
Wind speeds exceeding 50 mph were recorded in locations including the Port of Tacoma, Coupeville, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Port Angeles, Shelton, and Renton.
Notably, Alpental reported a gust of 112 mph, while Snoqualmie Pass saw winds of 82 mph.
The warning covered areas from Everett, Marysville, and Mount Vernon to Olympia, Tacoma, Federal Way, and Kent, as well as Port Townsend, the Hood Canal region, the western Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the North Olympic Coast.
Coastal communities such as Westport, Ocean Shores, La Push, and Neah Bay were also included in the alert.
Additionally, a Wind Advisory was in effect for parts of Seattle, the Eastside, San Juan County, Western Whatcom County, and Eastern Kitsap County, including Bremerton and Silverdale.
Conditions are anticipated to improve after daybreak on Wednesday as winds gradually subside across Western Washington.
To prepare for such outages, it is recommended to ensure you have essential supplies before severe weather arrives.
Plan for alternative power sources like batteries, portable chargers, or power banks, with at least one pre-charged and ready for use.
Provide flashlights for each household member.
Stock up on nonperishable food and water, as power is often restored within a day, but preparation is key.
Keep freezers and refrigerators closed; a refrigerator can maintain cold temperatures for about four hours, and a full freezer for around 48 hours, as advised by Ready.gov.
Use generators and fuel outdoors, at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and attached garages, and connect them to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords. Allow the generator to cool before refueling to avoid ignition risks from spilled fuel.
Report or View Outages:
Puget Sound Energy - Call 1-888-225-5773 | Outage Map
Seattle City Light - Call 206-684-3000 | Outage map
Tanner Electric Cooperative - Call 425-888-0623 | Outage map
Snohomish County PUD - Call 425-783-1001 | Outage map
Tacoma Public Utilities - Call 253-502-8602 | Outage map
Peninsula Light Co - Call 877-853-1388 | Outage map
Jefferson County PUD - Call 360-385-5800 | Outage map
Clallam County PUD - Call 800-542-7859 | Outage Map
