A combination of a winter storm, high tide, rain and snowmelt from last week’s storms caused very high waters at La Push on Sunday, while Port Angeles saw more icy conditions and Jefferson County returned to a normal pattern Sunday.
In La Push, the rising waters threatened to cover roads at about noon, as water came at the low-lying village from every direction and winds gusted to 60 miles per hour.
“It’s pretty ugly,” said Gene Harrison, La Push assistant harbormaster. “The boats are really knocking around.”
The National Weather Service’s Sunday morning warning of high wind, high surf and coastal flooding is typical for storm for the Clallam County coast, he said.
11 feet predicted
Harrison said he had seen worse, but the added rain and snowmelt pushed it over the edge from “normal” to a situation of some concern.
The 11-foot high tide predicted for Sunday morning was not unusual during a storm, but damage to the south jetty at the mouth of the Quillayute River during a storm two weeks ago increased the chances of coastal flooding at La Push, said Jeff Michalski, an NWS meteorologist in Seattle.
“The U.S. Corps of Engineers are watching it,” Michalski said.
Harrison said he had not yet been out to check on repairs that had been made to the jetty, but they seemed to be holding.
The Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COPT) Sector Puget Sound in Seattle announced the closure of multiple river bars, including Quillayute River bar, Sunday.
River bar closure
The bar closure applies to all vessels, and any request to transit the bars prior to reopening must be approved by the COTP, Sector Columbia River.
The bar could potentially be closed through Tuesday, said Petty Officer Michelle Mosley, the situation unit coordinator at Coast Guard Puget Sound.
Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16, Sector Columbia River by telephone at 503-861-6211 or Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001 for further information or to request crossing.
The Coast Guard will re-evaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will reopen the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves.
Icy surfaces
Port Angeles residents woke up to another icy morning Sunday, as melting snow froze as sheet ice in many locations, while West End residents prepared for a more typical winter storm.
Streets and sidewalks became instant ice arenas as temperatures in Port Angeles dipped to 30 degrees overnight, resulting in slick conditions.
PenCom supervisor Carl Hatton said there had been a handful of possibly ice-related wrecks Sunday morning, along with injuries due to pedestrian slips and falls on ice.
By noon, temperatures had warmed to 38 degrees, melting off the worst of the ice in lower elevations.
Hurricane Ridge was closed Sunday due to a winter storm in the mountains, only two days after the rope tows were opened Friday.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
