Bomb cyclone: Updates on Seattle area power outages, school closures and more

Abhijit Sarkar gave up on staying in his Sammamish high-rise building after he learned his power might not come back on until Saturday.

He hadn’t had electricity since 9 p.m. Tuesday. So, after two days of eating bread and fruit, he booked an Airbnb and went to get a hot meal.

As he left his high-rise, he ran into neighbors also fleeing to stay with their daughter, who had a generator.

Sarkar was one of hundreds of thousands people who still didn’t have power after a bomb cyclone tore through Western Washington on Tuesday. And, as crews and residents recovered from one storm, he was among those hoping a second storm on Friday won’t cause similar havoc.

Read the full story here.

A range of injuries and medical needs has piled into local emergency departments after a powerful windstorm devastated the region, but so far hospitals say they’re not too overwhelmed.

The bomb cyclone that blew into the region Tuesday has killed at least two people and injured dozens more, complicating the job of many health care facilities that also lost power. But most larger hospitals, which have backup generators, haven’t seen major disruptions to patient care, according to local health care leaders.

Read the full story here.

Bloodworks Northwest is seeking blood donations to make up for the appointments that had to be canceled this week because of power outages caused by the windstorm.

The bomb cyclone created “an urgent need for blood donations in our community,” the nonprofit said Thursday. More than 130 blood donation appointments were canceled on Wednesday, which significantly affected the daily supply — 1,000 donors are needed per day to support Western Washington and Oregon hospitals, the nonprofit said.

Bloodworks Northwest noted the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, which will also impact supply.

The blood center is seeking donors of all blood types, especially Type O and platelet donors. Appointments can be booked at 800-398-7888, at bloodworksnw.org or downloading the Bloodworks App.

A shelter-in-place directive for some Mercer Island residents continues Thursday.

People who live in the 7400 to 7800 blocks of Island Crest Way should remain at home unless there is a life-threatening emergency. Residents who are away should not return to their homes until the city gives further notice, Mercer Island officials said online.

It is unsafe to walk, bike or drive through this section of Island Crest Way because of "significant downed power lines, hazardous trees and dangerous debris blocking the roadway," the city said online.

The city lifted a shelter-in-place notice for residents in the 4200 to 4600 blocks of East Mercer Way on Thursday.

All Mercer Island residents should avoid area parks and open spaces.

Find more information online: mercerisland.gov/emergency-management.

Hopelink service centers and food markets in Bellevue, Carnation, Redmond and Shoreline are open to the public Thursday, according to spokesperson Cade Schmidt.

To view updated open hours of Hopelink’s food banks, visit the website.

Hopelink’s Kirkland location and its mobile market, a truck which delivers boxes of groceries throughout East King County, are closed due to the ongoing effects of the storm’s aftermath.

“Shoppers are encouraged to visit any of the four other markets,” Schmidt said. “We don’t know how many folks we’re going to get today (Thursday), probably a lot.”

Power is back on at Covington Medical Center.

The MultiCare hospital had started diverting some non-urgent patients to other nearby health care facilities Wednesday night after spotty cell service created “issues connecting with staff,” according to spokesperson Scott Thompson.

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, Covington was again taking all patients who arrived at the emergency department.

Thompson said he didn't yet know how many patients were diverted overnight.

The Eastgate Public Health Center in Bellevue is closed Thursday because of a power outage. All appointments will be rescheduled.

While some King County libraries reopened at noon Thursday after a delayed start, some branches remain closed after Tuesday's windstorm.

"We understand that many are still recovering and may be without power, and we will prioritize safety by closing libraries if necessary," wrote King County Library System Executive Director Heidi Daniel in a statement. "Our hearts go out to everyone affected, including our patrons and staff facing the aftermath of this serious devastation. Together, we will navigate this difficult time." 

Here is the list of closures Thursday. Click here for the latest library hours and updates.

• Black Diamond
• Enumclaw
• Fairwood
• Fall City
• Issaquah (closed for construction)
• Kenmore
• Kirkland
• Lake Forest Park
• Lake Hills
• Maple Valley
• Mercer Island
• Muckleshoot
• Newcastle
• Newport Way
• North Bend
• Redmond
• Service Center
• Skykomish
• Woodinville

Mobile service vans are temporary suspended due to damage.

The majority of King County’s Puget Sound Energy customers may see power restored by noon Saturday, the utility provider said on its website.

Pierce and Thurston County customers could get power back by 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Whatcom, Skagit, Island and Kitsap counties could see power restored by 6 p.m. Friday.

“Damage is heaviest in King County, which was hardest-hit and where we are still assessing damage,” the provider said. “We are dispatching helicopters this morning to assess damage to more quickly see the specific needs for our crews. With daylight, and some crews coming off much needed rest, we anticipate making good progress today.”

Read the full story here.

The Northwest Avalanche Center warned those going out into the backcountry that avalanches can be triggered in new snow and early season conditions.

"It's not even December, but it’s avalanche season already," NWAC wrote on Wednesday evening.

The avalanche forecasting service has not issued any formal forecasts for any of the zones it covers, which includes the Cascades, the Olympics and Mount Hood, but has monitored conditions and issued a forecast discussion.

The center advised choosing lower angle terrain and avoiding steep, wind-loaded slopes. It wrote that avalanche activity "likely peaked with the strongest winds Tuesday night."

Still, NWAC forecasters wrote that the likelihood of avalanches may increase on Friday due to additional snow and warming temperatures and urged people to evaluate conditions thoroughly and wait for the right conditions before venturing onto steeper slopes if they choose to do so.

"It’s early season and there are a lot of unknowns, so beware of shallow snow cover and exposed hazards at low to middle elevations," the center said.

NWAC also reported that "large storm slab avalanches" and "small wind slab avalanches" were observed at Mount Hood Meadows in Oregon and White Pass in Washington, respectively, after they were intentionally triggered during control work.

There were also reports of avalanches in the new snow in the backcountry near Crystal Mountain, and there were three partial burials over four days in the backcountry near Mount Baker, according to NWAC. No one was injured, the center said.

The Seahawks arrived at work Thursday without power again at their team headquarters, the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, in Renton.

On Wednesday, the Seahawks fired up generators to install their game plan for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field.

“We just pushed some things back," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald told the media Wednesday. “There’s some things we don’t have in the building. But we’re just fine.”

The Seahawks planned to continue with their preparations as usual Thursday.

Tuesday's windstorm has toppled trees and power lines across the Western Washington area. See images captured by our photographers.

Did you take photos or videos of windstorm damage? How are you faring? Share your images, videos and experiences with us here or by filling out the form below.

King County libraries will reopen Thursday with a two-hour delay.

Libraries that can open will do so at noon, said King County Library System Executive Director Heidi Daniel in a written statement.

"We are committed to being there for our community during this challenging time," said Daniel. "Our hearts go out to everyone affected, including our patrons and staff facing the aftermath of this serious devastation. Together, we will navigate this difficult time."

Mobile service vans are temporarily suspended due to damage. Check the library's website for hours and updates. Libraries will be closed to prioritize safety if necessary, Daniel said. The entire KCLS network was closed Wednesday.

Most Seattle public library branches are operating as scheduled and can serve as warming shelters for those without power. Click here for hours and updates.

In addition to King County and Seattle public libraries, the following warming centers and charging stations are available to the thousands without power in the Western Washington area on Thursday.

• Duvall City Hall at 15535 Main St. N.E. is open as a warming shelter and charging center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sammamish City Hall at 801 228th Ave. S.E. is open as a warming shelter from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Woodinville City Hall at 17301 133rd Ave. N.E. is open as a warming shelter from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• North Kirkland Community Center at 12421 103rd Ave. N.E. is open as a charging station from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Redmond City Hall at 15670 N.E. 85th St. is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Redmond Senior and Community Center at 8703 160th Ave. N.E. is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village at 6505 176th Ave. N.E. is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Issaquah Senior Center at 75 N.E. Creek Way is open as a charging and warming center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Muckleshoot Reservation's overnight emergency shelter is open for tribal members and immediate family members.
• Renton Community Center at 1715 Maple Valley Highway is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Auburn- Gurudwara Sacha Marag at 12431 SE 286th Place will serve hot meals from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More than 317,000 customers in the region are still without power Thursday morning, down from 378,000 customers Wednesday night. 

This includes 280,205 Puget Sound Energy customers, according to PSE's update at 9:10 a.m. Thursday. .

"We are also continuing to keep a close eye on the active weather forecast for our region in the coming days and our crews are prepared and ready to respond should additional power outages occur," Puget Sound Energy said over social media.

In Seattle, 10,319 customers are without power, according to Seattle City Light.

The Snohomish County Public Utility District reported power outages affecting 26,866 customers.

Early appointments until at least 10 a.m. Thursday at Eastgate Public Health Center are rescheduled due to power outages.

The Bitter Lake Community Center on 13035 Linden Ave. N. in Seattle remains closed Thursday due to power and heat outages. The preschool program and other community center programs are canceled Thursday.

The “beast of a surface low” continues to loiter over the Pacific Ocean and is soon to double down and deepen again — but the National Weather Service doesn’t expect its impacts to match Tuesday’s.

It likely won’t meet “the generic definition of a bomb cyclone, where it deepens out really, really quickly,” said Harrison Rademacher, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Seattle.

But we’ll feel its ensuing winds nonetheless.

Read the full story here.

King County District courthouses in Bellevue and Issaquah are closed Thursday because of power outages.

Hearings planned Thursday for domestic violence protection, harassment, stalking and sexual assault protection orders will be rescheduled to 1 p.m. Friday. Click here for the latest courthouse updates.

If this week's massive gusts knocked out your power and you're still waiting in the dark, local public health experts have some tips on how to keep warm and safe.

King County public health officials first generally encourage those who lose power to have a plan to go somewhere else if it gets too cold. Most libraries, malls, shopping centers and day centers are warm options for the public. King County Regional Homeless Authority will also open additional warming centers in some circumstances, though it hasn't yet activated severe weather protocols this week.

If you stay home, wear several layers of lightweight, warm clothing (including hats and mittens), rather than one layer of heavy clothing, according to Public Health — Seattle & King County. Keep your curtains drawn and cover windows and doors with blankets to trap warm air in. Everyone should also try and stay in one room, with the door closed, to conserve body heat.

If your refrigerator loses power, your food will be safe for up to four hours. If the power is out for longer than that, transfer food to a cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure the temperature is 40 degrees or below, and if any food gets warmer than that, don't eat it.

And be careful to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, public health officials warned. Never use charcoal or gas grills, or propane heaters while indoors, and always follow manufacturer instructions when using power generators.

More information about dangers during a power outage is available here.

The “beast of a surface low” continues to loiter over the Pacific Ocean and is soon to double down and deepen again — but the National Weather Service doesn’t expect its impacts to match Tuesday’s.

The system is swirling a couple hundred miles off the coast Thursday, first set to spin showers out of its circulation.

The lowlands will receive up to a quarter-inch of rainfall Thursday, the weather service said.

Rain will turn to snow at around 3,000 to 4,000 feet, bringing an inch or two of wintry precipitation to the higher mountain passes.

Widespread rainfall will then greet Western Washington on Friday morning, along with familiar impacts from the deepening low-pressure system that parallels the coast, the weather service said.

Read the full story here.

Some Seattle-area school closures will extend another day as Western Washington recovers from windstorms that wrecked the region and left thousands without power.

Issaquah, Renton and Bellevue school districts decided Wednesday to keep schools closed Thursday as storm cleanup and power outages persisted. 

Due to downed trees and debris, Issaquah’s Holly Street Early Learning Center will be closed Thursday and Friday.

The Shoreline School District announced early Thursday morning that all its schools except Brookside Elementary, which is still without power, will be open for a regular schedule.

Seattle Public Schools announced Nathan Hale High School and Wedgwood Elementary would remain closed on Thursday.

Enumclaw, Kent, Lake Washington, Mercer Island and Northshore schools are also closed Thursday.

Eatonville and White River schools will be on two-hour late start.

Some schools in Lake Stevens, Snohomish, North Kitsap districts will also be closed.

Read the full story here.

Several road closures remain Thursday morning in the aftermath of Tuesday's windstorm.

King County reported the following road closures as of 8:40 p.m. Wednesday: (Click here to see a map of road closures.)

• 189th Avenue Southeast between house No. 5606 and Southeast 60th Street
•  Sweeney Road Southeast between 212th Avenue Southeast and Southeast Petrovitsky Road
• Tiger Mountain Road Southeast between Southeast 152nd Street and Issaquah Hobart Road Southeast (south) near Highway 18
•  95th Way Southeast 132nd Avenue Southeast and Coal Creek Parkway
• Southeast 128th Way in between 196th Avenue Southeast and 195th Avenue Southeast
• Cedar Grove Road Southeast between Issaquah Hobart Road Southeast and Southeast 146th Street
• 164th Avenue Southeast between Route 900 and Southeast 128th Street
•  Issaquah Hobart Road Southeast between Southeast May Valley Road and Highway 18 north onramp
• Southeast 127th Street between Southeast May Valley Road and 202nd Place Southeast
• 195th Place Southeast between Southeast 174th Street to 196th Avenue Southeast
• Southeast 208th Street between Route 169 and Maxwell Road Southeast
• Cunliffe Road Southwest between Vashon Highway Southwest and the 12100 block of Cunliffe Road Southwest
• Northeast 165th Street B/T 179th Place Northeast and 183rd Place Northeast
• Ames Lake-Carnation Road Northeast between West Snoqualmie Valley Road Northeast and Northeast 52nd Street

Highway 169 at 400th Street in the 12,000-person town of Enumclaw, which was hit by 74 mph winds, the strongest in Western Washington on Tuesday, remains closed Thursday morning, WSDOT reports.

Highway 2 eastbound at milepost 58 at Scenic and westbound at milepost 64 at the summit of Stevens Pass will be closed starting at 9 a.m. Thursday for avalanche control work that is estimated to take anywhere from about 30 minutes to two hours. Click here for updates.

The USDA publishes guidance for food safety during emergencies noting that refrigerators can keep food safe for up to 4 hours after a power outage.

Some quick tips:

• When in doubt, throw it out.
• Keep the fridge door closed. 
• Never taste food to determine if it’s safe; power-outage shelf life varies for different foods.
• Perishables like meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers should be tossed after 4 hours without power — or even less time.
• For instance, meat, seafood and soy meat substitutes should be discarded after being exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees or higher for more than two hours.

For a full chart, see foodsafety.gov.

Read here for more power outage tips.

More than a day after the storm hit, line crews have continued working overnight toward restoring power for hundreds of thousands in Western Washington.

More than 325,000 customers in the region are still without power Thursday morning, down from 378,000 customers Wednesday night. 

This includes more than 285,000 Puget Sound Energy customers. The utility said via social media that crews from other utilities in the state, plus from British Columbia, Idaho and Oregon had joined the effort and worked overnight.

"We are also continuing to keep a close eye on the active weather forecast for our region in the coming days and our crews are prepared and ready to respond should additional power outages occur," Puget Sound Energy said over social media.

In Seattle, 10,624 customers are without power, according to Seattle City Light.

The Snohomish County Public Utility District reported power outages affecting 29,697 customers. The utility said mutual aid crews, including from Tacoma Power, had worked through the night to restore power to 115,000 customers.

"Crews are still finding significant damage that requires complex, time-consuming repairs," the utility said over social media.

As more than 285,000 Puget Sound Energy customers are without power as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the company is warning of the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Follow these tips to help get through a power outage:

• Have a power-outage kit that includes flashlights and batteries, glow-in-the-dark sticks, a lantern, matches, a wind-up clock, a portable radio, a Mylar blanket and a can opener.
• To avoid deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning, keep generators outdoors when they’re running. Make sure the exhaust is not near a window or other opening to the home. Keep the exhaust and muffler away from combustible material.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. Charcoal produces toxic fumes that can kill quickly. Use this multi-language page to help warn your neighbors. 
• Use hot water sparingly.
• Turn off most electrical devices, and unplug sensitive electrical equipment. Leave a light switched on, however, so you’ll know when the power returns.
• Never handle or approach a downed power line.
• Dress in layers and cover your head. Close off unused rooms. Close drapes to prevent drafts.
• Use only space heaters designed for the indoors. Even those need to be adequately vented to avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning. Keep space heaters away from curtains and clothing. Always turn off the heaters before going to bed or leaving home.
• Get fresh air and get help right away if you feel sick or dizzy while using a generator or space heater. Fatigue, nausea or sleepiness are signs of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
• Check on your neighbors.
• Seattle City Light outage hotline, 206-684-7400; www.seattle.gov/light/
• Puget Sound Energy outage reporting, 888-225-5773; www.pse.com/outage/outage-map

Click here for tips for a multi-language guide to how to avoid deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning.

This storm was off the charts.

The bomb cyclone emerged from the middle of the Pacific Ocean and swirled with such intensity off Washington’s coast that it ravaged the region Tuesday night, ripping down trees, toppling power lines and killing at least two.

Each storm like this is unique — with its own personality, said Lynn McMurdie, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington.

“And this one has a lot of personality,” she said.

Read the full story here.

As Western Washington wakes up to the aftermath of Tuesday's bomb cyclone, we're looking for your help. Let us know what's happening near you by sending us your photos, videos and news tips of downed trees, power lines, storm debris and more (if it's safe to do so).

Fill out the short form below with your photos, news tips and storm questions.

To avoid deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning during a power outage, follow these important tips.

Read the multi-language guide here.