** 1/20, 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. **
** 1/20, 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. **
** 1/20, 6PM: Snoqualmie Parkway is open. PSE may need to reduce lanes for repairs, but it IS accessible. **
** 1/20, 4:45PM: Video of aerial view of Snoqualmie Ridge and storm damage from Komo Air 4. **
** 1/20, 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.**
** 1/20, 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 the area for overnight and tomorrow. **
** 1/20, 3:50PM: The National Weather Service just issued a Wind Advisory for the Snoqualmie Valley. NOAA 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.” **
** 1/20, 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.”
** 1/20, 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. **
** 1/20, 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. **
** 1/20, 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. **
There is a reason Highways 18 and 202 were closed during yesterday’s powerful ice storm. Check out these storm damage photos courtesy of my friends at Komo News. If your power is out, you can watch their live newscast on your smart phone here. A reader reports that Puget Sound Energy is telling North Bend residents to expect NO power for another 2 – 3 days.
Washington State DOT says they didn’t expect Highway 18 to re-open before noon today. There is NO estimate when Highway 202 between Snoqualmie and Fall City will re-open. Snoqualmie Parkway is still closed at Fairway. There are numerous trees down in the median of Snoqualmie Parkway and between Snoqualmie and Issaquah on I-90. These trees are not blocking traffic. There is a large mudslide by the Preston exit.
Comments
Thank you so much for the many updates today! I was one of the unfortunates cut off from the rest of the Ridge by the downed power line near Fisher. Glad to read the road is open again, a little bright spot and the hope this is almost over.