Winds in excess of 20 mph have triggered two small power outages in Clark County today, according to Clark Public Utilities.
The largest affected 400 customers in the View area, said utility spokesman Mick Shutt. Power has been restored there.
Clark Public Utilities customers should call 360-992-8000 to report a power outage. Clark has long maintained an aggressive tree-trimming program to avoid power outages.
An outage in the Battle Ground area had 32 customers temporarily without power as of about 1 p.m.
Blustery, winter-like weather has triggered sporadic wind, hail and rain throughout the region. Gusts as high as 24 mph have been measured at the National Weather Service’s automated station at Pearson Field.
The Weather Service forecasts the winds to continue this afternoon, with gusts possibly reaching 45 mph in the Willamette and Columbia River valleys.
Elsewhere in Washington, 40 mph winds blew down tree limbs in Western Washington then kicked up dust storms in Eastern Washington while adding another dash of snow in the mountains.
Power outages were reported early Monday at Seabeck in Kitsap County and in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle. An outage canceled classes at Green River Community College in Auburn.
Blowing dust closed Highway 281 between Quincy and George. Grant County Emergency Management advised people not to travel.
The Yakima County sheriff’s office also reported roads closed by dust. KNDU-TV in the Tri-Cities reported Prosser declared an emergency because of wind damage.
A winter storm warning remains effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday in the Cascades. The Transportation Department has closed the North Cascades Pass due to avalanche danger.
