A winter storm watch has been issued for Western Washington this weekend, meaning snow and cold will be accompanied by high winds Saturday night and Sunday.
The high winds forecast this weekend may lead to power outages in some parts of King County.
There is a chance of snow Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service, then snow likely after midnight Saturday. Snow will become heavier on Sunday, with winds anywhere from 20 to 30 mph and higher gusts.
Under relatively clear skies, the high Saturday during the day is expected in the 20s. Lows tonight are expected from 15 to 25 degrees.
Sunday highs will be in the lower to mid 30s, with lows in the upper 20s.
Officials are warning that the Sunday snow could have a severe impact on the Monday morning commute:
This is what the National Weather Service is saying about this weekend:
• An intense Pacific storm is taking aim on Western Washington.
• What we can say now:
– This will be a major winter storm that will be life threatening and disruptive to transportation and power for significant parts of Western Washington.
– The most severe threats include:
• Blizzard conditions in the mountain passes and the area of the west Strait of Juan de Fuca.
• High wind in the east Puget Sound Lowlands
• Snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the lowlands:
– Heaviest snow in the Olympics, west Strait, southwest interior and Hood Canal area
– Greatest risk of sleet and freezing rain from Tacoma southward through Olympia to the coast
– Least amount of snow in east Puget Sound areas especially closer to the Cascades, the north Olympic Peninsula and the Northwest Interior
– Terrain will continue to play a major role in where, how much, and when.
PSE prepares for power outages
According to a company press release, Puget Sound Energy is closely monitoring the National Weather Service forecast of high winds this weekend and is preparing to respond to power outages that may result from the weather conditions that are expected to impact the utility’s service area in Western Washington.
“Our assessment and repair crews are on alert and we’re working to secure additional resources, if necessary, to promptly determine the extent of any damage after the storm hits and be in a position to restore power to any customers who experience outages as quickly as possible,” said Sue McLain, senior vice president of Operations for PSE.
Above and beyond PSE’s own resources of 80 service line workers and 100 substation employees, the utility uses more than 50 line crews in its usual day-to-day operations. These resources are lined up and ready to respond. PSE is securing an additional 40 line crews and 12 tree trimming crews to arrive early Sunday morning from other parts of Washington, Oregon and Canada. As details of the approaching storm become clearer, additional actions may be taken. PSE is also increasing the number of available call center representatives and is ready to post a storm alert map on the utility’s Web site: www.PSE.com.
Given the current forecast, PSE is mobilizing crews and resources for a multi-day event, meaning PSE is expecting potentially extensive damage from the gale force winds that are predicted. Customers should be prepared for power outages lasting more than a day.
“We will communicate with our customers every way possible,” said McLain. “This includes encouraging customers to call PSE 24-hours-a-day at 1-888-225-5773 if they experience any outages, as well as regularly updating the news media, our call center messages and the storm alert map as we get reports from the field.
“We ask customers to remember that for safety purposes, PSE personnel may be unable to fully assess the damage until the winds subside,” added McLain. “Additionally, even though all of our vehicles are equipped with snow traction and chains, road conditions may impact our response time.”
In the event of damage to the utility’s electric system, PSE urges customers to stay away from downed power lines. If anyone encounters a downed power line, stay well away from the line or anything it may be touching. Immediately report the location of fallen wires to PSE by calling 1-888-225-5773, or call 911.
Here are some additional tips:
• Create an outage kit equipped with a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food; can opener; flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio to keep track of storm developments and PSE’s progress in restoring power. PSE will issue regular reports to local TV, radio and newspapers.
• Do not use charcoal or a gas grill to cook indoors. Both can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
• Turn off lights and unplug all appliances and sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, to prevent an overload on circuits when electric service is restored. Leave one light on to indicate when service returns.
Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
According to an agency press release, Public Health – Seattle and King County advises all residents to take steps to stay safe and warm and especially to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
“We can’t predict which neighborhoods if any may lose power, so we want to encourage all residents of King County to have a plan about how to stay warm and safe during adverse weather,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “If possible today, stock up on supplies you may need during the weekend and think about how you will stay warm and safe during a possible outage.”
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by never using a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home. Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood and can cause injury or death.
• During a power outage or at any other time, do not operate fuel-powered machinery such as a generator indoors, including the garage
• Do not cook or heat with charcoal barbeques inside your home
• Avoid combustion “space heaters” unless there is an exhaust vent
Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike suddenly and without warning. In some cases, physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue. If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor’s home. The Fire Department will tell you when it is safe to reenter the home.
For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster.
Stay warm and safe
• Make sure you are wearing enough warm clothing before going outdoors. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
• Wear several layers of loose fitting, light weight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Most of your body heat is lost through your head, so wear a warm, woolen hat. Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves.
• If you think power will be out for several days, check with your city for location of warming shelters.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia—slurred speech, confusion, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Get medical help immediately if you think someone has frostbite or hypothermia.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.
• Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• Watch your footing on surfaces that may be icy and slick, and wear shoes that provide traction.
If power goes out where you live, keep food safe
• Keep the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible. This keeps the cold air inside. A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days; a half-full freezer about 1 day.
• If you think the power will be out for several days, try to find some ice to pack inside your refrigerator. Remember to keep your raw foods separate from your ready-to-eat foods.
• Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as the power is out no more than a few hours and the refrigerator/freezer doors have been kept closed. Potentially hazardous foods, such as meat and fish, should be discarded if they warm up above 41º F.
• Frozen foods that remain frozen are not a risk. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed, but are still cold or have ice crystals on them, you should use them as soon as possible. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed and are warmer than 41º F, you should discard them.
