Storm brings rain, gusty winds to region

The most potent winter storm of the season brought more wind than rain to the region today, with an even stronger punch expected this evening.

The National Weather Service has reported gusts as high as 37 mph at Pearson Field early this morning. Gusts near noon were peaking at 26 mph.

Winds that blew trees into power lines were blamed for a number of scattered outages throughout Clark County. Clark Public Utilities was reporting that trees into power lines had at one point in the afternoon knocked out power to 1,165 in north Clark County, mostly in the Battle Ground and Hockinson area.

Winds are forecast to reach 20 mph to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph through 10 p.m. Saturday.

Forecasters had warned of the possibility of cold air funnel clouds today as the cold air moves in. These types of funnel clouds do not usually touch the ground, but they can cause serious damage if they do.

Rainfall totals today are expected to be a tenth to a quarter inch this afternoon, and up to a quarter inch tonight. Up to half an inch of rain is expected Sunday, with continued gusty winds up to 22 mph.