After a vigorous night of wind and rain that downed trees and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents, the weather will get closer to December norms for the Seattle area.
Wind speeds reached 50 or 60 mph in Seattle and the surrounding areas early Wednesday. In the Alpental Ski Area, 112 mph gusts were recorded around 2 a.m., and Snoqualmie Pass saw 82 mph wind speeds. At sea level, the strongest gust was 71 mph on windy Whidbey Island.
Winds gradually eased Wednesday morning, with high wind warnings ending around 4 p.m. for most of the southern, eastern and central areas of the state. However, showers will stick around, and snow is expected to begin piling up in the mountains.
Seattle's unusual streak of 12 consecutive days with highs in the 50s should end Wednesday, with a high near 48. With colder conditions, there is a slight chance rain could transition to snow in the area at the end of the week. However, little to no accumulation is expected — just account for more time warming up the car.
Rain will again increase across the region Thursday morning, but many rivers are forecast to peak in minor to moderate flood stage.
There is some good news for ski enthusiasts: Snow is expected at all of the passes Thursday night into Friday, with 6 to 10 more inches at Snoqualmie Pass, over a foot at Stevens Pass, and 18 to 24 more inches at Mount Baker and Mount Rainier's Paradise. Amounts are likely to be measured in feet between the weekend and early next week (getting to ski resorts, however, is a different question, with many roads damaged and closed).
A blizzard warning was in effect in the Cascades until noon Wednesday. Travelers should have a winter survival kit with them, the National Weather Service advises. Prepare for possible power outages, and if you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.
Storms left more than 200,000 customers without power after days of flooding Wednesday. About 100,000 outages remained in the evening: 71,000 Puget Sound Energy customers, including much of Whidbey Island; 22,000 in the Snohomish Public Utility District, including much of Camano Island; and 7,000 in the Tacoma area.
With many residents reeling from floods, danger remains. Flooding and precipitation over the past week have increased soil moisture to high levels across the region, and with additional rainfall, there will be extra pressure on soil instability.
Landslides have occurred in King, Skagit and Whatcom counties. Road closures dotted the region due to slides or downed vegetation. More landslides are likely.
Areas most susceptible to debris flows are steep coastal bluffs, other steep hillsides or road cuts, and recent burned areas. A diminishing threat of landslides will continue for several days after the rain ends.
Authorities downgraded evacuation orders in Auburn and Pacific neighborhoods Wednesday, following levee failures along the Green and White rivers. Still, some riverside residents in both cities remained under GO NOW!" orders as of late Wednesday.
An update from King County warned "river and dam conditions remain dynamic, and levels can rise quickly due to dam conditions, rainfall, and levee conditions.
Chelan County lifted an evacuation order Wednesday in Stehekin, where dramatic floods knocked out infrastructure in the community of about 90 year-round residents, at the northern tip of Lake Chelan.
The Hoh Rainforest is closed to visitors due to floods and the risk of falling trees, according to Olympic National Park.
By Thursday, much of the flooding risk will pass. Rivers will recede slowly, although a higher tidal cycle will increase the risk of floods along the coast. And a few lowland spots may see temperatures close to freezing.
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