PORT ANGELES — Only one campground and one trail remained closed in Olympic National Park on Tuesday, three days after a windstorm tore through the region.
Winds approached 90 mph on the Peninsula’s Pacific Coast and raced at more than 50 mph in East Jefferson County on Saturday.
The summer windstorm — so unusual for a region that generally sees such storms in the fall that it was termed “historic” by Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington — prompted the closure of Olympic National Park and cut electrical power to an estimated 14,400 customers in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Kalaloch and Ozette campgrounds were cleared Tuesday, and the Mora Road was cleared to Rialto Beach, although crews were still working to reopen Mora Campground, said Rainey McKenna, park spokeswoman.
Cleanup continued Tuesday on the Sand Point and Cape Alava trails, but both are open and are expected to be cleared of large debris by the end of today.
The Spruce Nature Trail in the Hoh Rain Forest remained closed because of fallen trees and debris.
Park officials hope to have it open by this coming Labor Day weekend, McKenna said.
McKenna said the most severe damage was at Mora Campground, on the north side of the Quillayute River.
The Lake Ozette area also was hit hard, she added.
“There are a lot of downed trees and damage to the boardwalks in the Ozette area,” she said.
All other park roads and campgrounds closed due to the storm have been reopened.
In East Jefferson County, where some 12,000 lost power Saturday, the 50 Jefferson County Public Utility District customers who remained without power Tuesday morning were expected to be back on the grid by that night, said Jim Parker, general manager of the PUD.
All Clallam County customers had power restored by Sunday, said PUD spokesman Mike Howe.
National park visitors are urged to use caution when traveling through the park, obey posted closures and watch for debris, workers, equipment and traffic control devices.
Information about current trail conditions is available on the park’s Facebook page and the website at www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm or by calling the park’s visitor center at 360-565-3100.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
