Due to the high winds and power outages, Grays Harbor Emergency Management is releasing this information to make the citizens aware of the hazards of power outages.
Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas that can kill. Carbon monoxide comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood. Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable:
Only use a generator outdoors and far from open windows and vents.
Never use a generator indoors, in garages or carports.
Never use a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home.
Avoid combustion “space heaters” unless there is an exhaust vent. Never fill a Space Heater indoors!
Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike suddenly and without warning. Physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and fatigue. If you or a family member believes that they could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get out of the property and call 911 immediately from a neighbor’s home.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTH COAST… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM PST THURSDAY.

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE NORTH AND CENTRAL COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. PEAK SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH. WINDS WILL EASE AFTER THE FRONT MOVES INLAND AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHt

In Copalis Beach, no initial reports of major injuries after this happened, last night:

tree house front 3 WEB

tree house close 2 web

Grays Harbor PUD crews are continuing to work to restore power …:

Northwest part of the District north of Hoquiam: 3565 customers impacted. Outage occurred at about 6pm. …

All of Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City: Power has been restored to about 2666 in the Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City areas. Crews are still working to restore power to the remaining approximately 3899 customers in Ocean Shores. The estimated time for restoration of power is about noon today.

Grays Harbor City west of Hoquiam: Approximately 200 customers impacted. Outage occurred at about 9pm. Cause of the outage is a downed power line. Estimated time for restoration is noon today.

Today: Showers. High near 50. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 23 and 29 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tonight: Occasional showers. Low around 41. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 17 and 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday: Rain. High near 49. Windy, with a south southwest wind 21 to 24 mph increasing to between 37 and 40 mph. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday Night: Rain. Low around 45. Windy, with a south wind between 39 and 41 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

I’ll start it off: 9:33 p.m.

I’m probably being an optimist, from NOAA:

Hoquiam, Bowerman Airport
Last Update on 16 Nov 18:30 PST

From Tony Byers, today near Damon Point, high tide:

November Storm tony 1web

County says big wind, big rain, big seas:

As of 2 pm today the following information is forecasted:
1)    The High Wind Warning will be in effect from 6pm tonight until Tues at noon. Winds will be 40 MPH sustained with gusts @ 60 MPH at the coast. Higher gusts can occur on the beaches. The winds will be 25-35 MPH inland with 40-50 MPH gusts.
2)    The rain will be heavy thru the night tapering off during the day tomorrow.

from county Emergency Management:

1) The High Wind Warning expires at noon where a High Wind Watch will take effect. The weather is expected to remain windy today with sustained winds of 25-40 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH. This evening, winds will increase to 40 MPH with 60 MPH gusts.

There has been “talk” about Doppler radar to fill our black hole out here since the December, 2007 storm.

This, several months ago, from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office: (click here for “contact Maria”)

Press Release of Senator Cantwell

Thursday, May 07,2009

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that President Obama’s budget includes $7 million for a Doppler weather radar system for Washington state. This new system will be able to expand coverage up to 165 kilometers off Washington’s coast. For years, Cantwell, Chair of the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee, has been advocating for a better weather radar system in Washington state to be able to provide communities with better information about severe weather and storms that could impact the local economy, businesses, homes, and residents’ safety. Last year, she convened a listening session in Grays Harbor to hear from law enforcement and elected officials regarding the 2007 storms that caused untold millions of dollars in damage.