Hello PNW forum.

I am seeing tell tale signs of a storm brewing down in Grays Harbor. First I see an eery calm, where the back yard is very still, and the next thing I know I see the sky is completely different, and trees are blowing and bending way to far in all directions. As I watch, one tree is beginning to be a real concern. It may come down on a small building, but it does not create a threat to neighbors or people, thank heavens. Hope all stay safe.

I'm up in northern Snohomish County and not seeing anything untoward. Overcast, a bit windy, no rain, about 58 degrees. The wind IS coming from the south which is not our prevailing northwesterly wind. My cousin is about half hour south of me and right on the Sound, she's getting much more blusters and was out of power for a bit. Good idea for a thread to check in with 'real time' reports. Thanks, Laurie.

So glad to hear your feeling safe Deb. Both my sons are up in Everett, so I appreciate news from up north so much. One has some trees belonging to PUD he is concerned about enough, he is staying at his brothers tonight. We are a little overly cautious, I realize.

Just back from a trip to the feed store - heavy dark clouds over Camano and Whidbey but sunny with rainbows in downtown Stanwood. I did see 2-3 small trees toppled over, but they were young and likely didn't have a strong root system yet. Still not too windy although my windchimes are starting to sing a bit. Getting a bit of flickering on the computer. The weather gurus estimate it will hit my area between 7-9 this evening. We've got the flashlights, kerosene lamps, and firewood laid by - will just ride it out.

Kind of a bust here in Lake Stevens, I was prepared for a big windstorm, this has been very routine! I planted some things from pots the other day, the rain was just what they needed.

Yep, we got passed by as well. A bit of high wind around 8-9 last night was about the highlight of this storm. A couple dumpings of rain, but nothing real unusual for this time of year. No loss of power, just a few flickers now and again.

I too, escaped any real damage. A few things are knocked about in the yard, and small branches are here and there, but all in all, the power just blinked off a few times. All the candles and blankets are going back in the cupboards, gratefully unused.

We got enough wind on the east side of the Cascades to make a mess from our willow tree, but that's about it. It rained really hard all day yesterday, and the river is up a little bit this morning.

All issues that can be a danger. So glad the storm was not as big a concern as predicted.

I don't know if any of you have thought of this, but power outages used to be the norm up here in the mountains. There are no appliance repairmen up here and even with surge protectors at each appliance ... which should be replaced after a few outages ... a good hit can take them out ... you can lose appliances and any other electrical equipment.

The best insurance is to install a whole house surge protector which does not require replacement. For me, it cost about $200.00 which is less than any of the appliances it protects.

Since getting new appliances up here is impossible and cost includes travel time for delivery and hook-up as well as disposal for the old appliance, it's worth the cost.

The whole house surge protector is installed at the electrical box. To me, it was very much worth the investment.

Just a thought.

I've never heard of that before Lyn. Sounds like a good preventative measure.

Deb .. I just did a Google search. There is a lot more information online, now, than when I installed my surge protector.

I learned about it from some of the folks at church. I had never heard of a whole house surge protector before I moved up here, either.

A friend had lightning strike the power line going to his house. A television "exploded" and caught fire!


I think they had had issues with that line before, like missing insulation that the power company only replaced AFTER reducing one appliance to smouldering pieces. (That was in Connecticut, decades ago.)

Storm? What storm?

We had enough power outages to reset my alarm clock, but the wind didn't even blow bags of empty plastic pots off my porch.

We had a power outage at work that lasted long enough for me to decide to go home.

We have had some wind kicking up here. Mostly up in Bear Valley and Lower Hillside - supposed to have gusts up to 80mph. The most my little weather station recorded at my house downtown was about 18mph. Blew the cover off my deck chairs, tons of leaves and such into the pond, along with a 30" round flower pot (empty). Fish are all hiding out in their caves. Wont' see them till next April.

Wow, FISH hiding from bad weather!?! That must be pretty bad.

Now that is just too cute. Well, don't know if it is hiding from bad weather or they just know they are going to sleep and don't want to do so out in the open so to speak. Kind of like pulling the covers over your head.

I never knew any fish "hibernated"! Cool!

Yup. Their respiration slows wayyyy down. Believe it or not, they still grow over winter. Many are noticeably larger when they come out of dormancy. Weird.

When I kept fish, it was advised to stop feeding them when the water got below 50 degrees and to not start up again until it was over 50. I actually didn't feed them very regularly anyway, they seemed to find plenty to eat on their own, and I also dumped in 'real' pond water now and again. And, yes, they kind of disappeared during winter. I often worried about them freezing (my pond was small and not real deep) but come spring there they'd be. Interesting critters.

Less worried about the big kahuna now. He came out of the cave so I know he can get in and out. Also saw one or two small ones. The pond is iced over now so I won't see them again unless they swim under the small open water part of the pond kept ice free by the pumped water lofting into the pond to help aeration.