Troopers and DOT remove trees that fell on Interstate 5 overnight / Courtesy photo Trooper Doug Pardue
This news story was updated at 11:50 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Strong winds overnight toppled trees onto Interstate 5 south of Vader blocking all the southbound lanes.
One lane remains closed this morning for a work zone as authorities prepare to deal with partially uprooted trees they’re concerned could fall onto the roadway, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The first of the trees came down about 11:40 p.m. last night near milepost 54 and the Tootle River Rest Area. Trooper Doug Pardue estimated between eight and 12 trees fell.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Burke called it a “squall line” that blew through the area.
“Short duration of strong wind,” Burke said. “A line of thunderstorms moves through rapidly and brings the wind up.”
A detour was put in place overnight using exit 57 at Barnes Drive and exit 52 north of Castle Rock.
State Route 507 at Bucoda remains blocked this morning in both directions from power lines over the roadway.
Firefighters from Bucoda and Tenino responded to the call about 1 o’clock this morning. First responders were still waiting about 11:15 a.m. for Puget Sound Energy to clear the scene. As of 11:50 a.m., alternating one-way traffic was getting through.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area at milepost 10 near Sumner Street, according to DOT.
Winds blew very strong around midnight in Centralia sending responders to one downed power line on lower Cooks Hill. A roughly 20-foot section from the top of a tree snapped and dropped onto a parked passenger vehicle on the 300 block of M Street, according to Centralia police.
At the Chehalis-Centralia Airpot at 11:55 p.m., winds were measured at 21 mph with a gusts up to 35 mph, according to the weather service.
In Napavine “It was raining sideways and crazy blowing at the station,” District 5 Lt. Laura Hanson said.
A tree fell on top of a house in Mossyrock, but no one was injured.
Lewis County Fire District 3 Chief Matt Hadaller said it happened about 1 a.m. on the 100 block of West State Street. The roof of the single-story home was damaged, he said.
Firefighters this morning returned to cut up the Douglas Fir.
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DOT says motorists in both directions should expect slowdowns and delays of up to 20 minutes between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. this afternoon on Interstate 5 near the Tootle River Rest Area in north Cowlitz County when workers drop a 100-foot-tall tree.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter