SEATTLE — Tens of thousands remain without power days after a series of weather events brought heavy rain and strong winds to western Washington, according to KING 5's First Alert Weather Team.
Friday night's gusty winds knocked several western Washington communities out of power and closed several roadways due to downed trees or power lines.
Utility crews have been working around the clock, some nearly 24 hours straight to restore power. Crews from other parts of the state and Oregon are out to help local crews, which continue to work throughout the night.
Snohomish County Public Utilities District said this is the worst storm it’s seen since 2015, with downed powerlines, trees, and limbs in every part of the county.
Rodney Peterson lives in Marysville, and has been worried about trees behind his home since he moved in. Peterson said he and his wife heard a loud boom Friday night, and saw the tree fell on his home.
Peterson also saw a tree fall on his neighbor’s house all the way to the first floor, and immediately ran to help.
“There was a young lady sleeping on the second floor of the house and there was now she’s on the bottom floor with a tree on top of her. That was traumatic to see,” said Peterson.
Peterson helped to clear debris and free the 20-year-old woman before Marysville Fire and Police arrived, rendering CPR and taking her to the hospital. The woman remains in critical condition.
“The whole family was there and they were distraught trying to free her so I jumped in and tried to help as much as I could,” Peterson said.
In a 10-hour period during the peak and aftermath of Friday’s severe weather, Marysville Firefighters received 80 emergency calls. The department typically receives 40 in a 24-hour span.
Neighbors of Peterson’s street said trees fell on at least nine homes.
As crews work around the clock, people are worried about the cold nights ahead.
“We recommend that you use a small room in your house. Get your family, your pets all in to get that body heat to warm up that room and bundle up,” said Kellie Stickney, spokesperson for Snohomish PUD.
Rob and Janet Lowe also had a tree fall and damage a home they own, but said everyone on the street is coming together to help.
“It was pretty crazy but everyone seems to come together. people were making soup feeding everybody out there,” said Janet Lowe.
Snohomish PUD is asking people to be patient and to avoid downed trees and power lines. It said it could be days for some people in the county before power is restored.
RELATED: Western Washington Forecast
Power Outages
As of 10 p.m. Monday, Snohomish County Public Utilities District lists 19,927 customers without power, Puget Sound Energy reports 85 without power, Jefferson County Public Utilities District reports 2,640 without power and Seattle City Light is fully restored.
Overnight Friday into Saturday, more than 200,000 customers were without power across western Washington.
Some people who live on Camano Island have been without power since 9 p.m. on Friday and it's possible it won't come back on until Thursday.
The Snohomish County PUD is dealing with scores of downed powerlines and poles. At the storm’s peak about 200,000 customers were without power. That’s down to less than 30,000 now, but it’s slow work. Replacing a power pole can take 12 hours and patience is wearing thin.
"It's very frustrating," Camano Island resident Christine Smith said, "especially when we’re taking very cold showers and we’re in total darkness except for relying on your flashlight. Those cold showers really wake you up in the morning."
Road Closures
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) tweeted multiple road closures overnight into Saturday due to downed trees or power lines.
Due to snowfall, spinouts and multiple collisions, I-90 closed at Snoqualmie Pass for a short time Saturday evening so crews could move the vehicles.
The roadway is now bare and wet after intermittent mountain snow last weekend.
WSDOT closed US Highway 2 between Eagle Falls and Skykomish around 2:30 a.m. Saturday due to downed trees. WSDOT reopened US 2 after crews worked for several hours to clear the roadway.
School closures
Lake Stevens School District
Lake Stevens High School and Sunnycrest Elementary School are closed to students and staff, Monday, Nov. 7. If power is restored overnight, and internal building temperatures get to a comfortable setting and network and phone connectivity is ensured, an additional update will be sent to LSHS and Sunnycrest staff and families Monday letting them know that school is in session and the start time.
All other schools will start two hours late. There is no a.m. preschool at the ELC. The afternoon (p.m.) session is on its normal schedule. This delayed start time will allow for the sun to rise, and will allow for safer routes to schools. This will also give the Snohomish County PUD time to continue restoring power throughout the community.
There is no out-of-district transportation tomorrow, including Sno-Isle buses. Transportation staff are in the process of assessing road closures, and we will share information with families about alternative bus routes as soon as they are available. This information will be shared via email and text message.
Download the KING 5 app to check the interactive radar near you, as well as the latest forecast, cameras and current conditions.