Most of the at least 2,300 North Olympic Peninsula electrical customers who lost power Friday because of high winds were back on the grid by Saturday.
The strongest wind gust recorded on the Peninsula was 94 mph at Hurricane Ridge on Friday, according to Gary Schneider, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
The Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) estimated that at least 1,400 customers lost power as winds gusted, reaching a high at Port Ludlow of 46 mph at 6:30 p.m.
“The strongest winds were in the early evening in the Hood Canal area,” Schneider said.
In Clallam County, about 900 customers had lost power by 7:30 p.m., according to Michael Howe, Clallam County PUD spokesman.
Wind was high on the Pacific Coast all day Friday, Schneider said. The central area along the Strait of Juan de Fuca was quiet, he added.
A gust of 54 mph was recorded at Quillayute Airport at 11:57 a.m., while the strongest gust recorded at Sekiu was 41 mph at 6:50 p.m.
Crews in Jefferson and Clallam counties worked throughout the night to restore power after electrical lines were toppled by falling trees and high wind.
In East Jefferson County, crews were still at work early afternoon Saturday.
Power had been restored to areas along U.S. Highway 101 in Quilcene, Leland Valley and Lords Lake Loop, as well as along North Sandy Shore Road, with South Sandy Shore Road expected to be back online later in the afternoon Saturday.
The areas most affected were Quilcene, Cape George and Marrowstone Island.
“This storm has persisted longer than anticipated,” the PUD said on its website at www.jeffpud.org at about 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“It is very difficult and dangerous to assess damage and restore power while a storm is ongoing.”
Several power lines went down in the Quilcene area near Lake Leland, Wildwood Road and off Lords Lake Loop and its various spur roads.
Some outages were restored by 5:30 p.m. Friday, but new outages were reported west and south of Quilcene by about 7 p.m.
Marrowstone Island power was restored by about 8 p.m. Friday. A large outage affecting about 550 customers at Cape George in the afternoon was fixed by 5:30 p.m. Friday.
All Clallam County customers had power restored by 8 a.m. Saturday. Deer Park Road outages were finished at about 4 a.m. after electrical poles were replaced, Howe said.
Power was restored to some 150 customers south of Forks by about 9:45 p.m. Friday after service was interrupted at about 1 p.m., according to the website at www.clallampud.net.
Other outage areas included the Port Angeles area off Deer Park Road — where some 600 lost power — Township Line, O’Brien Road and Blue Mountain Road. Scattered outages were reported in other areas.
Power was restored to Neah Bay and Sekiu areas by 3:50 p.m. Friday.
Forecasters expect dry weather today, with rain moving in tonight.
“It’s not going to be like anything we had Friday,” Schneider said. “Just a typical front.”
To report an outage to the Jefferson PUD, call 360-385-5800.
To report an outage to the Clallam PUD, call 360-452-9771.
