A powerful windstorm struck the Snoqualmie Valley region on November 19th, 2024, leaving behind chaos and significant power outages across the area. Winds began gaining strength around 4 PM, and by late evening, most residents found themselves grappling with darkness.
Reports from Puget Sound Energy indicated the gravity of the situation at 5:20 AM, where 416,488 customers were without electricity. The company's crews quickly transitioned their focus to restoring power for those with urgent needs and public safety. With daylight breaking, PSE crews were out assessing the damage throughout the region, yet they warned residents to prepare for power outages lasting multiple days due to the storm's severity.
Current figures from PSE highlighted the severity of outages across various Snoqualmie Valley communities: Carnation reported 242 customers affected, Duvall had 4,765 outages, Fall City reported 2,124, North Bend was down by 4,659, and Snoqualmie itself faced 4,277 outages. The scale of devastation prompted Tanner Electric to also engage their crews as they dealt with the fallout from PSE's compromised transmission services.
"Be ready for significant outages through the night and possibly beyond, with the Tanner North Bend substation offline," the team advised residents. The harsh winds had managed to cause extensive damage to power lines and local infrastructure, making restorations unpredictable.
Timeline reports indicated swift developments as the storm unfolded. Initially, by 4 PM, the winds had started gusting violently through the valley. Shortly after, Tanner Electric noted trees down on roads, with their crews postponing work once conditions escalated. Traffic disruptions were common, as seen when SR-18 closed completely; the road remained shut down well past 7 AM the following day.
The unexpected gusts also drew the city of Snoqualmie's Public Works crews out to address the havoc wreaked by falling trees on roadways. Residents were urged to call the Stormwater & Urban Forestry Emergency Line to report hazards, but service disruptions complicated communications with their landlines down and cellphone connectivity remaining patchy.
Several schools within the Snoqualmie Valley and Riverview District were closed on November 20th due to unsafe conditions, with after-school activities also canceled to focus on the safety of students and staff. "We appreciate your patience and flexibility as safety remains our utmost priority," officials stated.
Safety guidelines were disseminated widely as residents ventured out amid severe conditions. Authorities reminded everyone to steer clear of downed power lines, which could still be live, and to avoid using gas appliances for heat due to carbon monoxide risks. Emphasizing caution, they recommended using flashlights instead of candles and keeping radios handy for updates.
Mark Davis of North Bend Weather had warned of this windstorm earlier, reporting potential gusts of up to 65 MPH. Preliminary weather data indicated sustained high winds, and he was set to share detailed statistics once his weather station resumed operations post-storm. Those interested could follow his Twitter updates for real-time information.
Overall, as the Snoqualmie Valley continued to cope with the aftermath of the storm, residents were encouraged to report emergencies directly associated with water and power challenges. Phones were provided for various emergency departments, with alerts blasting across local news channels, ensuring those affected remained informed.
With widespread efforts for restoration underway, the community banded together, hoping for efficient recovery from this unexpected test of resilience.
