The National Weather Service reports that the wind will not be as severe as the storm that hit Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but be prepared for gusts up to 45 mph as well as heavy rain throughout the rest of the day and night Thursday
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
Area schools were back in class on Thursday, a day after that fierce windstorm caused power outages and road closures, leading to many districts to shut down schools for a day.
Reports say a little more than 100,000 Clark Public Utilities customers were affected by outages from early Wednesday morning through Thursday. Most customers had their power restored on Wednesday.
As if 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Clark Public Utilities is reporting less than 2,000 customers are without power, in areas such as Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield, north and east Clark County. More than 4,300 customers recently had their power restored.
In the meantime, heavy rain is forecast for the rest of Thursday. The region could get as much as 2 to 3 inches of precipitation on Thursday, which would break a daily record.
While the winds might not be as strong as Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) does have a wind advisory for Southwest Washington through 7 p.m. Thursday, with gusts up to 45 mph.
The NWS also has a flood potential advisory through the weekend. Beware of landslides in areas of steep terrain. Beyond rivers, flooding can occur in urban and low-lying areas, the NWS warns, and creeks and streams.
The City of Camas posted on social media that NW Lake Road was reopened Thursday morning. Portions of SE Crown Road (SE Strong through NE 3rd Ave) were still closed Thursday morning.
Other municipalities and law enforcement agencies that posted updates on the severity of the windstorm on Wednesday have not posted about the storm, nor its aftermath, on Thursday by 11:45 a.m. The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency also has no new posts regarding the storm Thursday morning.
No news is good news, it seems.
Still, residents of Southwest Washington should be prepared for heavy rain for the rest of Thursday with strong winds.
Also read:
- Washougal High School students restoring native habitat on campus
Students in the Washougal High School Green Team are restoring the campus courtyard into a native habitat learning space with support from local grants and community partners. - Letter: ‘HSD needs to give a detailed line-item accounting of where the last levy went, and of how they plan to use this one’
Randall Schultz-Rathbun urges Hockinson School District to provide detailed, transparent accounting of past and proposed levy spending before asking voters for additional funds. - Rep. David Stuebe sponsors bill to strengthen enforcement of auto insurance laws and protect Washington drivers
Rep. David Stuebe has introduced HB 2308, a bill aimed at strengthening enforcement of Washington’s auto insurance laws and increasing accountability for repeat uninsured drivers. - See Brush Strokes In Motion this week at RedDoor Gallery in Camas
RedDoor Gallery in Camas is hosting multiple live art demonstrations through January, featuring local and regional artists working in paint, clay, and mixed media. - Letter: Interstate Bridge Replacement’s Park & Ride insanity
Bob Ortblad criticizes the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s proposed Park & Ride garages, arguing the costs are excessive and unlikely to receive federal funding. - Opinion: Vancouver councilors responsible for stoking irrational fears in the community
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance sharply criticizes a Vancouver City Council declaration on immigration enforcement, arguing it fuels fear, undermines law enforcement, and lacks supporting evidence. - Kaiser Permanente employees volunteer at Clark County Food Bank on MLK Jr. Day
Kaiser Permanente employees volunteered at the Clark County Food Bank on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, inspecting and repacking food as part of a regional day of service.
