Snoqualmie Power Outage Update; Road Closures Update – January 20th

** 7PM:  Snoqualmie Ridge IGA grocery store closed early tonight.  Gateway Gas is out of fuel, awaiting another delivery, but still open for limited groceries.  Finaghty’s Irish Pub is open with limited menu.  **

**  7PM:  PSE says crews continue working around the clock, but 239,000 customers still without power, down from 255,000 this morning.  The weather must be hampering repairs.  **

**  6PM:  Snoqualmie Parkway is open.  PSE may need to reduce lanes for repairs, but it IS accessible. **

**  4:45PM:   Video of aerial view of Snoqualmie Ridge and storm damage from Komo News Air 4.  **

**  4:30PM:  EMERGENCY SHELTER UPDATE:  A 24-hour overnight shelter is open at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA on Snoqualmie Ridge at 35018 SE Ridge Street.  Entry will be allowed until 10pm.  Please bring your bedding, grooming supplies, food and beverages.  The YMCA will remain open tomorrow as a warming center.  More information or directions call Snoqualmie EOC, 425-888-5911.  Snoqualmie YMCA Grand Opening Ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, 1/21, has been canceled. ***

**  4:15PM: NOAA also issued Flood Watch and Flood Advisory.  One deals with area rivers and one deals with flooding potential for local streets.  Here is latest valley weather forecast and all pertinent weather warnings for overnight and tomorrow.**

**  3:50PM:  The National Weather Service just issued a Wind Advisory for the Snoqualmie ValleyNOAA warns, “GUSTY WINDS MAY SNAP TREE BRANCHES AND CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. AREAS WITH TREE AND LIMB DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ICE STORM MAY SEE NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL FALLING LIMBS. BEWARE SNAGS WHICH ARE LIKELY TO FALL WHEN THE WIND INCREASES OVERNIGHT.”  **

**  2:30PM:  From City Officials:  “Residents and business owners are implored to break up ice in storm drains and clear debris. Blockages are causing significant localized flooding. Please use the utmost caution when doing so. Your assistance is greatly appreciated by Snoqualmie Public Works crews.

**  2:15PM:  City of Snoqualmie asking residents to find storm drains on their streets and help clear ice and debris.  Clogged storm drains are causing significant pooling on city streets.  Snoqualmie Y / CC open as warming shelter at least until 4PM.  The need will be reassessed at that time.  North Bend City Hall is open as a warming shelter until 5PM.  **

**  2PM:  Komo News Producer (and Snoqualmie Ridge resident) says Air 4 helicopter sending aerial footage into studio of PSE crews working on Snoqualmie Ridge power repairs.  Air 4 pilot says, “Power’s out here and judging from the looks of it, it’s gonna be awhile.”  The aerial shots must really show the extent of the damage.  **

**  12:45PM:  Highway 18 re-opened from I-5 to SR 164 (Enumclaw exit near Auburn)  It is still closed from SR 164 to I-90 at Snoqualmie.  **

**  12PM:  City of North Bend telling residents to expect power to be out another 2-3 days.  **

**  9:50AM:   According to PSE repair map it looks like repairs are underway for 1500 homes valley homes.  For the bulk, it says “assessment/mobilization” still happeningSnoqualmie Ridge Gateway Gas still has fuel.  Side streets are still very slippery so take it slow.  **

**  8:45AM:  Snoqualmie City Hall open as warming shelter now.   Remember, Snoqualmie Parkway is still closed.  Need to drive around via I-90 to reach it from Snoqualmie Ridge.  Y / Community Center will open at 9:30AM ONLY as another warming shelter.  Bring own blankets and food.  Can charge cell, phones etc.  NO word yet if WiFi will be working.  The number of people using the Y will determine how long it stays openIt will remain open until at least 1PM**

**  8:30AM:  Gateway Gas on Snoqualmie Ridge did get a partial gas delivery last night.  No word on how long it will last.  **

**  8:30AM:  You can check PSE Service Repair Map for repair updates  **

Still no good news to report, Snoqualmie Valley.  This morning PSE spokesman, Andy Wappler, said many PSE customers could be without power “well into the weekend.”  With daylight today, PSE is hoping to get a full assessment of all damage.  They could not fly helicopters in yesterday’s weather to assess remote locations where many high transmission power lines stand.

There are 100 PSE crews working to restore power today, but they are battling trees that are still falling and poor weather.   On top of that, about 500 Western Washington locations are reporting power outages.  Twenty crews worked overnight and did get power restored to about 25,000 customers.  255,000 PSE customers are still in the dark, though, including 5,143 Snoqualmie, 4,019 North Bend and 601 Fall City homes and businesses.

Highway 18 is still closed between I-5 and I-90.  Downed trees are blocking Highway 202 between Fall City and Snoqualmie.  At 9PM last night, Snoqualmie Parkway was still closed due to a downed transmission power line across the road.  Thanks to a Snoqualmie Police Officer for that update.  He was patrolling neighborhoods with flood lights overnight, checking on residents and homes.

Temperatures are expected to gradually rise above freezing today, topping out in the low 40’s.

Leave a comment and let us know conditions in your part of the Valley.

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  • The latest from the City of North Bend is to expect repairs no sooner than 2 or 3 days.

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