Thousands of people lost power in Western Washington on Saturday afternoon as high winds, rain and short bursts of hail swept through the Puget Sound region, toppling trees and breaking branches.
Over 10,000 Seattle City Light customers didn’t have electricity shortly before 6 p.m. In nearby Snohomish County, about 6,000 customers had no power.
Crews were expected to restore power to most people within hours.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Michalski said the winds peaked at 45 mph, and the area will see a lull in the gusts until Sunday afternoon.
The weather service predicts predict southeastern winds between 15 and 22 mph for Saturday night with a low of 42 degrees, with more rain on the way.
Sunday’s forecast calls for more rain, more wind and a high of 50.
The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.