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SEATTLE - After hundreds of thousands lost power in an overnight windstorm, another round of wet and windy weather could cause disruptions across western Washington on Thursday.
The region continues to deal with river flooding, as two King County levees broke this week, and more rainfall is in the forecast. There's also the potential for additional power outages, with a Wind Advisory in effect.
Keep reading for live weather updates for Thursday, Dec. 18.
5:30 p.m.: I-90 erosion repairs begin
Crews are now working to stabilize a slope beneath eastbound I-90 near North Bend that eroded after recent heavy rainfall.
(via WSDOT)
The two right lanes of the freeway are closed by the North Fork Snoqualmie River, but the left two lanes remain open. Drivers are asked to plan for delays.
Additionally, westbound I-90 is fully blocked near Cle Elum for construction of the Bullfrog Road Overpass.
2:30 p.m.: Widespread rain, gusty winds to linger around western WA
Thousands of homes are without power in western Washington after a one-two punch of severe weather in our area. While minor to moderate river flooding is still ongoing, the worst of it is behind us, and the amount of widespread rain will not be as high as what we have seen recently.
Wind advisories are posted for the coast, inland waters and Puget Sound. Gusts will generally reach 50–55 mph in the North Sound.
This could further complicate efforts for utility crews to restore power. These moderately strong winds, while not as powerful as what we saw Wednesday morning, could perpetuate the risk of fallen trees, downed tree limbs and power outages. In the greater Seattle area, gusts of 45-50 mph are possible this afternoon.
You can read the full forecast here.
7:21 a.m.: City of Pacific updates evacuation map
Some residents in the city of Pacific have been able to return to their homes this week but parts of the city are still under evacuation orders.
Below is an updated map from city officials:
- Green: Unrestricted areas, where residents can return to their homes
- Red: Restricted and evacuation orders are still in place
- Orange: There are limited restrictions and local access only
- X: Road closures
December 28, 2025: Updated restrictions map for the city of Pacific.
6:26 a.m.: Whidbey Island hit hardest by outages
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Power crews continue to restore power on Whidbey Island, WA
Puget Sound Energy said Whidbey Island was hit the hardest by outages. Thousands of people are still without power.
Much of Whidbey Island is still without power after a vicious windstorm knocked it out early this week.
Power crews have been working around the clock to get it back on for thousands of customers.
5:56 a.m.: Some WA school districts delayed, closed
Multiple school districts in western Washington have announced closures and delays for Thursday.
FOX 13 Seattle has an updated list here.
5:48 a.m.: Snowing over I-90 Snoqualmie Pass
Driving conditions over Snoqualmie Pass are bare and wet with snow and slush in places.
WSDOT said traction tires are advised and oversize vehicles are prohibited.
5:32 a.m.: Thousands in WA are still without power
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Thousands in WA are still in the dark
Thousands of people are still without power and crews continue to work to restore it.
Crews are still working to restore power to thousands of customers in western Washington.
Thursday weather forecast
Moderate, widespread rain returns Thursday morning, along with mountain snow. A Wind Advisory is in effect for parts of western Washington with gusts up to 45 mph through the evening hours.
Widespread rain will return Thursday, especially for the morning hours along with more mountain snow. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Flood watches and warnings remain in effect as river levels remain high, though they are continuing to slowly decrease.
River flooding, 500k power outages
Over 500,000 Washingtonians lost power on Wednesday as winds reached up to 70 mph in some areas, toppling trees onto roads, homes and power lines.
No major flooding is projected despite the continued rainfall. King County saw breached levees in Tukwila and Pacific earlier this week, where floodwaters swamped hundreds of homes and businesses.
A blizzard warning was also issued for the Washington Cascades and Olympics on Wednesday. More mountain snow is expected to accumulate through Friday, with drivers urged to use caution on the passes.
Road closures in western Washington
Several roads across western Washington remain closed due to recent weather effects, most notably US 2, where a 50-mile stretch of the highway to Stevens Pass will likely remain closed for months after a washout.
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WA businesses in limbo amid US 2 closure
Transportation officials in Washington are scrambling for solutions, as nearly 50 miles of US 2 could be in limbo for months after floodwaters washed out the highway just east of Skykomish, leaving area businesses empty.
Some roads that were previously closed reopened to limited traffic, including State Route 167 between Kent and Auburn, and a section of State Route 410 that was also washed out.
Additionally, Interstate 90 has two eastbound lane closures near North Bend due to a landslide, and all westbound lanes are blocked near Cle Elum due to construction.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the websites and social media pages of various agencies and emergency management departments across western Washington, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.