Extreme weather is forecast for Western Washington this week, with heavy winds today followed by extreme cold through the weekend.
The National Weather Service in Seattle issued a wind advisory between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. today for the eastern and western Strait of Juan de Fuca, including Sequim, Clallam Bay, Joyce and Sekiu.
West winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected, NWS said.
Following today’s wind, temperatures are expected to drop with a chance of snow and rain, with temperatures at or below freezing through the weekend.
“Importantly, we’re looking at a period of very active weather with mountain snow, strong winds and much colder temps by the weekend,” said Kirby Cook, meteorologist with NWS in Seattle. “There’ll be a wide range of impacts for folks and they should pay attention to the forecast.”
Several fronts will move through the area, bringing extreme weather with them, Cook said, starting with southerly winds beginning this morning. Those winds will impact communities east of the Olympic Mountains more, but another front of westerly winds will move in soon after, impacting the whole Peninsula, Cook said.
“If you’re in Sequim and Port Townsend, you’re going to see two rounds of wind,” Cook said. “If you’re in Port Angeles you’re going to see just one.”
The south winds should begin early today and the west winds will arrive by this afternoon.
Flood watch
A coastal flood watch is in effect for the Port Townsend area for the duration of the wind, with possible power outages expected. Coastal flood watches also are in effect for the West End.
Daytime temperatures will remain in the mid-40s Wednesday and Thursday with some precipitation, but on Friday, temperatures will drop significantly with daytime highs forecast for the mid-20s. That’s cold enough to turn any precipitation into snow.
Blizzard warnings have been issued for mountain areas above 2,000 feet starting Wednesday. The last time a blizzard warning was issued for Western Washington was 2012, NWS Seattle said on the social media platform X.
“A significant storm system will bring heavy snow and major impacts to portions of the Pacific Northwest beginning today,” NWS Seattle said. “Blizzard conditions are likely in some of the higher terrain where multiple feet of snow may accumulate.”
Cook said higher elevations may receive heavy snowfall, which could impact travel and increase the risk for avalanches. The NWS is forecasting between 2 feet and 5 feet of snow in the Olympics and the Cascades with wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
Parts of the West End received snow on Monday, with the state Department of Transportation posting to X a picture of snow plowing work on state Highway 113 between Forks and Clallam Bay.
Warming centers
Emergency shelters are available in both Clallam and Jefferson counties for the unhoused or those whose homes are not equipped for extreme cold.
Serenity House in Port Angeles, which offers a 24-hour homeless shelter, has emergency shelter services when the temperature drops to 33 degrees Fahrenheit, said operations manager Trevor Breland.
“That’s when we do not deny anybody who has asked to leave,” Breland said.
Serenity House has a shelter capacity of 158 beds, and as of Monday morning, 101 beds were taken, Breland said. The shelter only allows individuals 18 or older.
Olympic Community Action Programs hosts an overnight warming center when the temperature falls to 35 degrees Fahrenheit or lower at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 525 N. Fifth Ave. in Sequim. It is open from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. with soup, warm beverages and blankets. The center is not a full shelter since it does not meet fire code for beds.
The Jefferson Interfaith Action Coalition operates the Winter Welcoming Center in the Pope Marine Building at 100 Madison St. in Port Townsend from 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. seven days a week and longer when the weather is severe.
________
Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
