The Hood Canal Bridge was closed to traffic at 8:15 p.m. Thursday when wind gusts reached 67 mph in what forecasters were calling the fiercest storm since 1993.
The state Department of Transportation said it had no estimate when the 1-mile floating bridge would be reopened.
Motorists can phone toll-free 800-419-9085 to learn of the traffic status of the bridge, where sustained winds of 58 mph were reported Thursday night.
Highway closures and other traveler information is available by phoning 5-1-1 or visiting the state Department of Transportation Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov.
Information about Washington State Ferries sailings is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.
Elsewhere along the North Olympic Peninsula, public agencies, school districts and private businesses prepared for the storm, the brunt of which was expected along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet overnight.
The Clallam County Public Utility District, which provides electricity to all of the county except the city of Port Angeles, made plans on Thursday to have four people taking telephone calls regarding outages today at 360-452-9771, Ext. 1, if necessary.
Power outage information also will be posted on the district’s Web site at clallampud.net.
Outage information for the city of Port Angeles will be available by phoning the city’s Public Works Department at 360-417-4800.
At William R. Fairchild International Airport, Kenmore Air Express canceled its final two Thursday flights between Port Angeles and Seattle following the 2:30 p.m. departure.
Company dispatchers were to decide at 4 a.m. today if this morning’s scheduled 6 o’clock flight out of Fairchild Airport would be canceled. Phone 800-543-9595 for updated information.
Olympic National Park closed access to the Elwha Valley at the entrance station on Thursday.
The road to Rialto Beach and the Mora Campground also were closed.
Park information is available at 360-565-3131.
For information about possible changes in school schedules:
* Port Angeles School District, 360-457-8575, portangelesschools.org.
* Sequim School District, 360-582-3260, sequimschools.wednet.edu.
* Cape Flattery School District, 360-645-3228 or 360-963-2324.
* Quillayute Valley School District, 360-374-6262 and choose option 4.
* Crescent School District, 360-928-3311. If the answering machine doesn’t come on, power is out at Crescent School and classes are canceled.
* Port Townsend School District, 360-379-4500, Ext. 4600, for the transportation hot line, or 360-379-4501 for the district office.
* Quilcene School District, 360-765-4183 or 360-765-3015, or log onto schoolreport.org.
* Brinnon School District, 360-796-4646.
* Chimacum School District, 360-385-3922, or log onto csd49.org.
