Power Outage Seattle : Latest Updates After Destructive Windstorm
The Human Impact of a Powerful Storm
A fierce windstorm slammed Western Washington this week, leaving a trail of destruction and triggering a massive power outage in Seattle and surrounding areas. The storm’s fury knocked out electricity for over 175,000 customers at its peak, and despite tireless restoration efforts, tens of thousands remain without power, facing the aftermath of one of the region’s most significant weather events .
The human stories emerged as the winds calmed. In a dramatic rescue near Green Lake, Seattle Fire Department crews cut apart a tree that had crashed onto a vehicle, successfully freeing two children and an adult trapped inside. Nearby, downed power lines posed additional dangers, illustrating the compound risks residents faced .
In Edmonds, the terror hit closer to home—literally. A large tree speared through the roof of a home in the Firdale neighborhood, forcing the family inside to gather their belongings amid the damage. Just miles away, another Edmonds property saw trees topple in both front and back yards. South Sound Fire reported approximately six calls through the night regarding trees and branches crushing properties and blocking streets .
By the Numbers: Assessing the Damage
As of Wednesday morning, at least 31,641 customers across Western Washington still lacked electricity. The table below breaks down the outages by utility provider:
| Utility Provider | Customers Without Power (as of Wed AM) |
|---|---|
| Puget Sound Energy | 66221 |
| Snohomish PUD | 6120 |
| Peninsula Light Company | 28 |
| Seattle City Light | 887 |
| Grays Harbor PUD | Scattered outages |
| Tacoma Public Utilities | 0 |
The storm’s intensity became clear as wind gauges recorded their peak gusts. Coastal areas bore the brunt with Aberdeen hitting 70 mph and Astoria reaching 68 mph. In Seattle and Olympia, gusts still managed a powerful 52 mph, sufficient to topple trees and tear down power lines .
When the Wind Howled: Peak Gusts Across the Region
The science behind the destruction reveals why this storm proved so disruptive. The National Weather Service had issued a Wind Advisory for much of Northwest and West Central Washington, predicting southeast to southwest winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts reaching 35 to 45 mph .
In reality, many locations surpassed those forecasts. The storm formed a meteorological phenomenon known as the “Palmdale Mountain Wave,” which occurs when southwesterly air flowing over mountain ranges is met by an inversion layer that pushes air downward, creating hurricane-strength winds in vulnerable areas .
Storm Safety: Navigating the Aftermath
With damage widespread, safety remains the paramount concern. Mike Stanton, owner of Seattle Tree Service, emphasized that if a tree falls on your home, the first priority is evacuation. “You don’t know how bad it is,” Stanton cautioned. He recommends immediately getting to a safe space away from any other potentially falling trees, even suggesting getting into a car and moving to the middle of the street .
Once in a safe location, call 911 to report the incident, especially if power lines are down and creating additional hazards. This professional advice comes from a company that has been responding to storm damage calls since before sunrise, with Stanton noting that while Tuesday’s storm caused significant damage, it didn’t reach the devastation of November’s “bomb cyclone,” which he described as “probably about the worst damage we’ve seen since 2006” .
Utility companies echo these safety concerns, reminding residents to always stay clear of downed power and cable lines. They also note that emergency management procedures dictate electricity must be restored first before other utility crews can safely begin their restoration work .
The Restoration Process: When Will Power Return?
For those still waiting in the dark, the restoration process follows a meticulous sequence designed for both effectiveness and safety. According to Comcast’s restoration updates, the process unfolds in specific stages:
- First, utility companies must reconnect electricity to network infrastructure
- Power must then be restored to individual homes
- Utilities and road crews clear damage at repair sites
- Technicians begin repairs on the network once sites are declared safe
- Customers may need to restart devices like modems and routers after power returns
This explains why some residents experience delays in service restoration even after their home power returns—commercial power may not yet be restored to the broader network infrastructure in their area .
The communication challenges during such events have prompted utility companies to encourage customers to use mobile resources. “We can send you text alerts with information about service interruptions or tips for restoring your services,” noted one Comcast update, suggesting customers log into utility apps to ensure their mobile phone numbers are registered for alerts .
Looking Ahead: The Forecast and Historical Context
The immediate weather forecast offers some relief. The National Weather Service indicates that the worst has passed, with conditions expected to stabilize. After a blustery period that saw mountain snows continue over the Cascades, the region can anticipate a much quieter rest of the week, with temperatures potentially reaching near 60 degrees by Wednesday .
Historically, October has delivered some of the Northwest’s most notorious storms. On October 21, 1934, a devastating Depression-era storm slammed western Washington with wind gusts up to 70 mph in Seattle and 83 mph in Tacoma—similar to this week’s event. That historic storm downed countless trees, knocked out power and telephone service, blew out windows, removed roofs from buildings, and even collapsed a large smokestack into a Seattle church sanctuary—luckily 15 minutes after services had ended .
Community Resilience in Challenging Times
As restoration continues, the community’s resilience shines through. Schools across the region responded to the outages with closures and delays to ensure student safety. Transportation departments worked through the night to clear fallen trees from roadways, including incidents in Seattle’s Northeast 45th Street area and near East Green Lake Drive .
The power outage in Seattle and Western Washington serves as a reminder of nature’s power and the vulnerability of our infrastructure. Yet it also highlights the preparedness of utility crews, first responders, and residents who face these challenges with determination. As the region continues the recovery process, the focus remains on ensuring everyone’s safety until the last light flickers back on.