FINAL: Sunday Storm stirs issues with bridge, ferry, roads, power outages

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The wind storm that blew through Jefferson County on Sunday, March 13 caused problems, but not as many as the wind storm of March 10-11.

One of the largest issues was closure of the Hood Canal Bridge at 3:53 p.m. due to high winds; it reopened at 6:45 p.m. High winds also canceled the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route most of Sunday.

For a time Sunday afternoon, U.S. Highway 101 was closed between Brinnon and Quilcene, the floating bridge was closed, and the ferry was out of service.

There still may be some traffic hazards associated with downed trees, learning trees, mud, water, etc.

As of 7:20 p.m. March 13, Jefferson Public Utility District crews have resolved a lot of the power outage issues but an estimated 900 customers remained without electric service. Check the PUD OUTAGE MAP for your area.

Below is the timeline from today's storm-related activity.

UPDATE 7:10 p.m.

Traffic hazards continue to emerge: Lines in the road, 3151 Center Road, by Country Meadow Road and Egg and I Road.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.

The Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route is back in service.

UPDATE 6:36 p.m.

The Hood Canal Bridge has reopened to traffic. It was closed about 3:53 p.m. due to high winds.

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.

Dirt, tree blocking westbound lane of SR 20 (toward Port Townsend) on the Eaglemount hill.

UPDATE 6 p.m

Fire District Area Command terminated, which implies the worst is over in terms of wind damage. Now, it’s about clean-up, and watching for weak trees that may still topple. And, still waiting for Hood Canal Bridge to reopen.

PUD reports that large circuit powering West Valley, Anderson Lake Rd, part of Port Hadlock and Chimacum is back up.

UPDATE 5:47 p.m.

The PUD reports outages at  Bolton Peninsula, Coyle, Throndyke Rd, South Point, Bywater Bay, parts of Port Hadlock, Chimacum , West Valley Rd.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m.

Hwy 101 over Mt. Walker is open, Hood Canal Bridge is still closed, Port Townsend ferry still out of service.

UPDATE 5:12 p.m.

5:12 p.m. - Wind Speed 23 mph, gusts of 34 mph on Port Townsend Bay. Near Hood Canal Bridge, wind 17 mph, gusts of 34 mph. Bridge still closed to vehicle traffic.

5:09 p.m. - The Port Townsend 5:15 pm and Coupeville 6 pm sailings are cancelled due to high winds, reports Washington State Ferries.

UPDATE 5 p.m.

PUD reports that downed tree that caused the transmission line issue has been removed and power restored to most of Kala Point, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Marrowstone Island.

Hwy 101 at milepost 311 south of Brinnon is reopening, as of 4:48 pm.

Oak Bay Road remains closed at Andy Cooper Road.

UPDATE 4:37 p.m.

PUD restored some distribution from Irondale Substation near Four Corners, including the county's Emergency Operations Center. No longer on generator power!

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.

The power out from Kala Point south to the Coyle Peninsula. Much of the outage may be due to transmission line issue near Four Corners.

Wind speed on Port Townsend Bay, 27 mph with gusts to 40 mph. At WaWa Point near Quilcene, gusts of 15 mph. Unable to check wind speed near Hood Canal Bridge as power outage has knocked the Weather Underground reporting stations offline. Bridge remains closed to vehicle traffic.

UPDATE 4:10 p.m. HOOD CANAL BRIDGE CLOSED

Hood Canal Bridge closed due to High Winds until further notice on SR 104, as of 3:53 p.m. Sunday.

We have the Trifecta: The wind storm has closed the Hood Canal Bridge, cancelled the Port Townsend ferry, and blocked US Highway 101 on Mt. Walker. 

UPDATE 4 p.m.

Washington State Ferries has cancelled the Port Townsend 3:30 p.m. sailing and Coupeville 4:15 p.m. sailing due to high winds, the route is out of service until conditions change.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.

3:55 p.m. – Neighbor guy is concerned the power may go out before the end of today’s NASCAR race....

3:50 p.m. – Paradise Bay Road, south of Andy Cooper Road, a tree and lines blocking. Old Fort Townsend Road near SR 20 just outside of Port Townsend, 6 trees on power lines.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.

3:43 p.m. – Tree in power lines, Adams & Lawrence streets in Port Townsend.

3:40 p.m. – Jefferson PUD had to turn off the Irondale Substation circuit to Chimacum and Port Ludlow substations to remove tree in transmission line.

3:35 p.m. – Power line down milepost 1.7 on Anderson Lake Road.

3:31 p.m. - Power outages have been reported in West Valley, Beaver Valley, Dabob, Coyle. Please call in your outage to Jefferson PUD at 385-5800.

UPDATE 3:10 p.m.

3:10 p.m. – Wind at 35-41 mph, gusts at 66 mph on Port Townsend Bay. Near Hood Canal Bridge, wind 11 mph, gust to 31 mph. Bridge is open to vehicle traffic.

UPDATE 2:53 p.m.

U.S Highway 101 is blocked at milepost 301 between Brinnon & Quilcene due to power line, tree damage, 2:53 pm. Also, two downed lines are blocking Bee Mill Road off Hwy 101 on the Brinnon side of Mount Walker.

UPDATE 2:12 p.m.

Wind speed 2:10 p.m. Sunday – 22 mph gusts near Hood Canal Bridge. Port Townsend Bay, gusts of 34 mph.

Wind speed 12:50 p.m. Sunday: 9 mph gusts near Hood Canal Bridge. Port Townsend Bay, gusts of 26 mph.

Wet snow fell Sunday morning up the Dosewallips River Valley; turned to slush as temperatures warmed.

ORIGINAL STORY 11 a.m. March 13

The National Weather Service Sunday morning announced that the wind storm predicted to arrive today, Sunday, is moving faster than expected.

Peak winds – gusts of up to 60 mph - are expected here early to mid-afternoon Sunday, March 13. Winds gradually ease into Sunday evening. Motorists: be alert to windblown debris, power lines, mud, water, etc. on roadways. Avoid traveling during peak winds, if possible.

There is a chance the winds could disrupt the Hood Canal Floating Bridge, and the Port Townsend ferry schedule. The Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry already has a 12:30 p.m. departure from PT cancelled due to low tides.

Here are direct links for the FERRY and the HOOD CANAL BRIDGE and for Jefferson Public Utility District 1 to check on power outages.

For mariners, a Storm Warning is in effect off Port Townsend until 5 a.m. Monday, March 14.