The Worst is Over as the Storm Crosses Vancouver Island

The latest (8 PM) infrared satellite photo shows the storm now making landfall on Vancouver Island, as the wind begin to ease.  Amazing storm for April.

Here are the maximum winds today.  Some locations on the Oregon and Washington coast gusted to over 70 mph, with most coastal locations getting at least to 40 mph.  40-60 mph gusts in Portland, 35-50 mph gusts around Seattle (with a few getting to the mid-50s.  And 50-60 mph gusts around NW Washington.  At the mountain crests of the Olympics and Cascades, some winds of 90-100 mph were observed.

Destruction Island on the central WA coast got to around 72 knots (83 mph)

Seattle's West Point speed up to 42 knots (48 mph)

And Smith Island, just off of Whidbey Is. hit 58 knots (67 mph)

For Seattle's 520 bridge, winds have climbed to 40-45 mph.

Several hundred thousand people lost power, particularly over Oregon and SW Washington.    An unusual late season event, which will be followed by improving weather over the weekend.

from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2nNnUhX