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Washington Wind Advisory Cancelled as Storm Weakens, Flood Recovery Ongoing

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Advisory lifted as storm loses strength The National Weather Service canceled the wind advisory on Wednesday after the system’s center shifted inland, reducing pressure gradients and preventing the anticipated high‑wind event [1][2]. Gusts peaked at 44 mph in Tacoma and 30 mph in Seattle, well below the original 60 mph watch criteria [1]. By afternoon, no wind alerts remained and temperatures rose into the upper 40s under a southeasterly flow [1].

Residual gusts still pose risk Meteorologists note that gusts of up to 40 mph may still occur across the Puget Sound region despite the advisory’s cancellation [2]. The slight discrepancy between the 44 mph peak reported in Tacoma and the 40 mph forecast reflects localized variations as the storm weakens [1][2]. Puget Sound Energy warned customers to prepare for possible outages due to saturated soils and falling trees [2].

Power outages linger from earlier peak At the storm’s height, roughly 400,000 customers lost electricity; most service has been restored, yet about 50,000 remain without power [3]. Snohomish Public Utilities District expects restoration to take several days, deploying over 30 crews and awaiting additional assistance [3]. PSE’s outage map still shows isolated outages, with crews working through Thursday afternoon and evening [3].

Flood recovery dominates regional response The western Washington area continues to recover from extensive flooding earlier in the month, affecting more than 123,000 sq mi and prompting an emergency declaration covering at least 14 counties [2]. The American Red Cross and state officials coordinate relief efforts across the disaster zone [2]. Officials stress that saturated ground increases vulnerability to wind‑related damage even as winds subside [3].

Short‑term weather outlook remains mixed Scattered showers are expected on Christmas Day, with mountain snow possible, while a later system may bring breezier conditions still within seasonal norms [1]. A high‑pressure ridge should usher in drier weather over the weekend [1]. Residents are advised to stay alert for localized gusts and lingering power restoration updates [2][3].

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Timeline

Dec 5, 2025 – Strong winds trigger power outages across Seattle as a Wind Advisory warns of gusts up to 45 mph and sustained 25 mph winds. More than 10,000 Seattle City Light customers lose electricity, mainly in West and South Seattle, while Puget Sound Energy reports about 7,000 outages in central and south Kitsap and parts of King and Pierce counties. A Winter Storm Warning also covers the Cascades, forecasting up to 18 inches of snow and an atmospheric river that will bring 2–4 inches of rain to lowlands later in the week, raising flood concerns. [6]

Dec 15, 2025 – Crews reduce outages to just over 14,000 customers for Puget Sound Energy and Snohomish PUD, down from more than 40,000 earlier that day. A Wind Advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m., with a second advisory slated for Tuesday‑Wednesday as winds are expected to rise again. Heavy rain forecasts of up to 6 inches this week keep soils saturated, heightening landslide risk across the region. [5]

Dec 17, 2025 – High winds sweep western Washington, pushing outage numbers past 245,000. Puget Sound Energy records 107,278 customers without power, while Grays Harbor PUD, Snohomish PUD, and Tacoma Public Utilities report additional outages. A High Wind Warning predicts sustained 25–35 mph winds with gusts of 40–50 mph inland and 50–60 mph near Hood Canal; saturated soils cause trees to fall, including one that strikes a Tacoma home, damaging power and gas lines. [4]

Dec 18, 2025 – Day‑two outages linger after the windstorm, with nearly 50,000 residents still in the dark (35,000+ on Puget Sound Energy and ~13,000 on Snohomish PUD). At the storm’s peak, about 400,000 customers lost power, and restoration in hard‑to‑reach areas may take multiple days despite more than 30 crews on the ground. A lingering Wind Advisory warns of 25 mph sustained winds and gusts up to 45 mph, while saturated soils from the atmospheric river increase damage risk. [3]

Dec 23, 2025 – The National Weather Service cancels the Wind Advisory after downgrading from a High Wind Watch, though gusts of up to 40 mph may still occur in Puget Sound. “Gusts of up to 40 mph could occur in the Puget Sound area,” meteorologist Ashley Ruiz tells King 5, emphasizing that the earlier 60 mph forecast has been reduced. Puget Sound Energy urges customers to prepare for possible outages as heavily saturated ground raises the chance of falling trees, and the region continues recovering from widespread flooding earlier in the month. [2]

Dec 24, 2025 – Seattle forecasters cancel the wind advisory as the inland‑tracking storm weakens, preventing the pressure gradient needed for damaging winds. Tacoma records a peak gust of 44 mph and Seattle sees gusts near 30 mph, well below advisory thresholds. No wind alerts remain in effect; showers shift northward and temperatures rise into the upper 40s under a southeasterly flow. Christmas‑day showers and scattered mountain snow are expected, while a high‑pressure ridge promises a drier weekend. [1]

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