Thousands Still Without Power Across Western Washington After Strong Winds and Rain

Thousands Still Without Power Across Western Washington After Strong Winds and Rain

Thousands of residents across Western Washington were still without electricity Sunday morning, November 8, after strong wind gusts and rain swept through the region Saturday night.

Utility crews have been working to restore power as outages that affected tens of thousands of customers overnight gradually decline.

Power Outages Drop Across the Region

As of approximately 10 a.m. Sunday, outage reports from local utilities showed the following numbers:

• King County: Seattle City Light reported 6,783 customers without power, down from approximately 30,000 shortly before midnight.
• Puget Sound Energy service area: 7,713 customers remained without electricity, compared with 21,656 reported the previous night.
• Snohomish County: The county's outage map showed 449 customers without power, down from 9,106.
• Tacoma: Tacoma Public Utilities reported just 13 customers without electricity, compared with 1,802 around midnight.

The figures reflect conditions at the time of the utility updates and may change as crews continue their work.

Seattle Neighborhoods Among the Affected Areas

In Seattle, many of the reported outages were concentrated in the Capitol Hill area, particularly between Madison and Republican streets.

Seattle City Light said it had been responding to 143 separate outages across the city at one point Saturday.

Downed power lines, damaged street infrastructure and fallen trees were also reported. FOX 13 footage showed power lines and street equipment down on Dexter Avenue.

Burien and other parts of South Seattle were also dealing with outages.

More Wind Expected

The storm brought strong winds and rain to western Washington, with additional gusty conditions forecast for parts of the region.

Coastal areas could see wind gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph, while winds were expected to increase along the Interstate 5 corridor later Sunday. Forecasters anticipated that breezy conditions would gradually ease during the afternoon.

Residents should continue monitoring weather alerts and local utility updates, particularly if additional strong gusts develop.

Safety Tips During a Power Outage

Emergency and utility officials recommend taking precautions while electricity is out:

• Stay away from fallen power lines and anything touching them. Assume all downed lines are energized and report them to the utility.
• Use flashlights rather than candles to reduce fire risk.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A refrigerator generally keeps food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer can maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours if unopened.
• Preserve phone battery power and use a car charger if necessary.
• Be cautious at intersections where traffic signals may not be working.
• Keep warm with extra clothing and blankets.

Residents should contact their electricity provider for outage updates and estimated restoration times.

Utility Crews Continue Restoration Efforts

Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County Public Utility District and Tacoma Public Utilities have been tracking outages and working to restore service.

Although outage numbers had fallen significantly by Sunday morning, thousands of households across the region were still affected. Restoration times may vary depending on the extent of damage and local conditions.