The National Weather Service has advised Western Washington, including Kirkland, to prepare for a series of storms expected to hit the region by Wednesday evening and last through the weekend. The storm system is expected to cause powerful winds and heavy rains. Widespread tree damage and power outages are anticipated.
The first of the storms will arrive late Wednesday night and into Thursday. Heavy rains will hit the Washington coast and then be pushed inland. Strong winds are expected along the coast and through the Northwest interior.
The second of the three storms is expected to impact Western Washington late Thursday and into Friday. Heavy rains and wind gusts of up to 40-50 mph are expected. The Southwest Washington coast may experience gusts of wind up to 65-75 mph.
The third storm in the series, expected Saturday, could be the most powerful. It is part of a strong system associated with Typhoon Songda and is expected to bring heavy rain and powerful, damaging winds for all of Western Washington.
The City of Kirkland’s Public Works staff and fleet is prepared to respond to tree damage located on City streets, public right-of-ways, and parks. Residents are asked to call 425-587-3900 (24/7) with any roadway concerns. Off-hour staffing is available and will respond in order of priority. If able to do so safely, residents are asked to assist the community by removing debris and leaves from storm drain grates. Keeping the drains clear will help prevent surface flooding.
Residents who anticipate flooding can acquire free sand bags at the North Kirkland Community Center (12421 103rd Ave NE) or at the City of Kirkland’s Maintenance Center (915 8th St). Sand can be purchased separately at local hardware stores.
Public Works has advised residents to look around their property for items that could be blown away or tossed around by heavy winds. In the event of a power outage, never use propane heaters or barbecues in a confined space as it may cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
King County urges residents to register for regional public alerts at www.kingcounty.gov/ALERTkingcounty and to frequently check the regional emergency news blog at www.kcemergency.com for a centralized hub of up-to-date information. The City of Kirkland (@kirklandwa.gov) and the Office of Emergency Management (@KirklandOEM) will also use both Facebook and Twitter to keep residents apprised of current weather conditions and local emergency information.
