The storm that hit the Pacific Northwest on Saturday is being called the region’s most powerful summer storm on record, and as of Monday evening, the North Olympic Peninsula was still cleaning up fallen trees while some power customers remained in the dark.
Winds that approached 90 mph on the Peninsula’s Pacific Coast and more than 50 mph in East Jefferson County dropped trees on cars and power lines, closing Olympic National Park roads and cutting power to more than 14,400 customers in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
By Monday, most park areas and attractions had reopened, and service had been restored to most power customers.
Park closures
Olympic National Park workers Monday continued clearing trees and branches from roads and campgrounds and removed hazardous trees and snags to reopen more parts of the park, which had been completely closed immediately after the storm Saturday.
“We do plan to have everything open in time for Labor Day weekend,” Rainey McKenna, park spokeswoman, said Monday.
Hoh Valley, Hoh Campground, Beach 1, Beach 6, Lower Queets Valley Road and Quinault-area roads and campgrounds reopened Monday, and a small landslide on Camp David Junior Road was cleared, McKenna said.
As of Monday, the Kalaloch, Mora and Lake Ozette campgrounds remained closed, and Mora and Hoko-Ozette roads were closed at the park boundary, she said.
McKenna said Kalaloch Campground is expected to reopen today, and campers are expected to be allowed to begin camping tonight.
Hurricane Ridge, Staircase, Elwha Valley, Sol Duc and other popular park areas reopened Saturday night or Sunday.
Lights still off
At its height, more than 14,000 North Olympic Peninsula power customers were in the dark — 2,400 in Clallam County Public Utility District areas and about 12,000 in Jefferson County PUD areas.
The Jefferson County PUD reported that 600 customers remained without power Monday in remote areas where lines service only one or two customers.
The remaining outages are scattered across the county, and all were expected to have power restored by this afternoon, said Jim Parker, general manager of the Jefferson PUD.
In Clallam County, the PUD had restored service to all customers by Sunday night, said PUD spokesman Mike Howe.
‘Historic’ storm
Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, called the storm “historic” and “a ‘perfect storm’ that would bring respect during November” in his weather blog, www.cliffmass.blogspot.com.
“As far as my research has shown, there has never been a summer storm even close to this one for western Washington. The most powerful summer storm ever to hit our region,” he said in the blog.
The storm resulted in severe damage across the Pacific Northwest, including two deaths and at least five injuries.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
