Residents along the Interstate 5 corridor experience wind and those in the Cascade Mountains get snow. / Image from National Weather Service
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – More wind is coming our way, on the heels of a rainstorm that inundated some city streets and drove the Cowlitz River over its banks in East Lewis County.
The National Weather Service this morning issued a wind advisory that’s in effect until dinner time.
The Southwest Interior could see southerly winds from 15 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, according to the weather service.
Forecasters expect winds to increase late this morning and peak in strength during the early and mid afternoon hours. They should diminish quickly this evening.
Today’s weather could cause downed tree limbs and even local power outages, according to the National Weather Service.
Minor flooding occurred overnight along the Cowlitz River around Randle. The river crested at 1 o’clock this morning at 18.69 feet.
The city of Centralia declared a local emergency for a few hours yesterday afternoon because of the results of the heavy rainfall, offering sandbags to citizens.
The weather service warns that the rain has increased the risk of landslides.
“Property owners in steep slope areas should keep an eye out for changes such as ground cracks or downslope movement of plants and soil,” NWS stated. “If you see signs of a landslide leave the area immediately if it is safe to do so.”
The overnight change off of daylight saving time is also ushering in the first significant snowfall of the season for higher passes and mountain highways.
Four to eight inches of snow is expected to accumulate at White Pass today through tonight.
A winter storm warning for the west slopes of the Cascade Mountains remains in effect until 11 a.m. tomorrow.
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The link for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “Weather Alerts, forecasts”
The link for the National Weather Service’s river level observation and forecast for Western Washington can be found here and also always on the right hand column of this page, labeled “River levels”
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter