More rain and heavy surf are forecast for the North Olympic Peninsula today as the first storm series of the season continues its way through the region.
The weekend storm brought 60 mph winds to the coast and heavy rains to some areas. No flooding was reported Monday on the Peninsula.
“We’re not saturated yet, so it hasn’t resulted in much of an increase for us,” said Bob Hamlin, Jefferson Department of Emergency Management program manager.
“That’s not to say that we won’t get saturated in the next couple weeks, but right now, we’re fine.”
The first autumn storm — more are coming this week — blew onto the Peninsula from the Pacific, and the ocean coast took the brunt of the force.
Winds churned up 30-foot swells in the Pacific Ocean, prompting the Coast Guard to close most harbor entrances — including the Quillayute River — up and down the Washington and Oregon coasts because of dangerously high waves.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Petty Officer Stephen Flemming said the closures will remain in effect today.
A 31-foot swell was reported off Cape Elizabeth on the Central Washington coast Monday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Allen Kam said.
Kam said the waves were uncommonly large.
“That was one of the bigger swell events that we’ve had,” Kam said.
Gale and high surf warnings remained in effect for the entire Pacific coast of Washington, the Weather Service said.
Kam predicted more rain and west winds along the Strait of Juan de Fuca today.
“It [the storm] is beginning its waning effort, but it will take awhile,” Kam said.
“As far as winds go, the pressure gradients generally have been starting to weaken.”
Kam predicted a normal onshore weather pattern and cool temperatures for the North Olympic Peninsula today.
A small craft advisory was in effect for the central Strait of Juan de Fuca. Wind waves are expected to build to 4 feet today.
The Weather Service forecast an 80 percent chance of rain with highs in the mid-50s in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Sequim.
Forks’ forecast had a 100 percent chance of precipitation, the Weather Service said.
Ken Stuber, an official at the Coast Guard command center in Astoria, Ore., said the high swells are likely to continue after the winds subside. No ships have required help during the storm, Stuber told The Seattle Times.
The National Weather Service reported 3 inches of rain in Forks on Monday.
Since Sunday night, Port Angeles approached a half-inch of rain, Sequim reported 0.17 inch, and Port Townsend had 0.47 inch.
A 33 mph wind gust was reported in Forks on Monday. It gusted to 28 mph in Sequim, 26 mph in Port Townsend and 20 mph in Port Angeles.
Jamye Wisecup, program coordinator for Clallam County Emergency Management, said there were no reports of flooding or other weather-related damage Monday.
“We haven’t gotten any calls,” Wisecup said.
Wisecup and her colleagues monitored stream gauges, but none of the rivers approached flood stage, she said.
A winter weather advisory will remain in effect for the Olympic Mountains above 3,000 feet until 6 p.m. today, with significant precipitation, thunderstorms, rain and snow in the forecast today.
Olympic National Park officials expected 2 inches to 4 inches of snow Monday night, and another 2 inches to 4 inches in the higher elevations today.
The snow level was 5,700 feet Monday but expected to drop to below 4,000 feet today.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
