The National Weather Service has issued a warning to Ocean Shores and other coastal communities to be braced for a series of “strong storm systems” that will move through the Northwest Pacific Ocean and possibly into Western Washington late Thursday night, continuing through Saturday night or Sunday.
Forecast models over the past several days have “been showing a significant system giving the potential for strong winds and 20-27-foot waves to the coastline on Friday,” the Weather Service said.
The storm represents the remnants of Typhoon Songda, now near Japan, “giving another round of strong winds and even more energetic 25-32 foot or higher waves Saturday into early Sunday.”
Ironically, the storm warnings come on the 54th anniversary of the Columbus Day storm, which also began as a typhoon.
“While the wind strengths are not expected to be as strong as 1962, it should still serve as a reminder to be prepared for the worst,” said Grays Harbor PUD Communications Director Ian Cope. “This storm has the capability of causing damage and knocking power out throughout Grays Harbor and people should prepare accordingly.”
The high waves and strong winds could be accompanied by low atmospheric pressure and high tides, giving the potential for coastal flooding, with the highest threat occurring by noon on Saturday, the Weather Service said
Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler announced the forecast at the regular City Council meeting on Monday and said the city would be closely monitoring the jetty area where emergency coastal repairs were made last year on a large area that eroded during similar conditions, threatening nearby ocean-view homes, condos and vacation properties.
In an updated warning on Tuesday the Weather Service provided this additional forecast:
• Models continue to show the potential for up 1 to 2 inches of rain over the lowlands and 2 to 4 inches in the mountains. Heavier accumulations of 5 or more inches are possible especially along the south facing slopes of the Olympic mountains Wednesday night through Thursday.”
• Models are also highlighting the potential for a deep surface low tracking northeast onto the North Washington Coast late Thursday/Thursday night followed by a second weaker low during the day on Friday. This will result in the potential for very strong winds especially along the coast and in the north interior. The exact timing, location and strength of significant winds will depend on the track and strength of the surface low which is not certain at this time.
• A second, potentially stronger Pacific storm system will affect the region on Saturday and Sunday. Models continue to show a very deep surface low tracking into the area that may bring heavier precipitation and even stronger winds than Thursday’s system. In addition to rainfall and winds, this system will also bring seas greater than 30 feet to the coastal waters of Washington and the potential for significant coastal flooding.
PUD customers should have an outage preparedness kit ready in the event of an extended power outage. These kits should include:
• A flashlight and batteries
• A battery operated radio
• Candles and matches
• Non-perishable food
• Water
• A manual can opener
Should the storm knock your power out, the PUD has several methods of tracking power outages and following the efforts taking place to bring the lights back on. In addition to local radio and news coverage, outage updates are available on the GHPUD.ORG website, where you can also sign up for outage alerts, sent by both text and email.
The PUD also provides outage updates and PUD information on the utility Twitter account at twitter@GHPUD and Facebook under the name Grays Harbor Public Utility District. If your power is still off once restoration efforts are complete, you are encouraged to call the outage reporting hotline at 360-537-3721 or 888-541-5923 to inform dispatchers that your home is still without power.
