Skykomish

The first full week of November brings a winter weather slam down on Western Washington with high winds knocking out power, and snow causing tough driving conditions.

Experts said it will take several years for the burn scar to recover. Washington State Department of Transportation just completed an important step in the recovery, which also helps increase safety along the U.S. 2 Highway.

Labor Day Weekend is approaching and drivers hitting the road could expect some traffic delays. 

More than 700 people were still without power in the areas of Skykomish and Baring Wednesday afternoon. Some of those residents have been without reliable power since before Christmas Eve. 

Skiers and snowboarders are taking advantage of recent, heavy snow at Stevens Pass. The pass was busy Friday with many visitors coming out to play in the snow ahead of Friday night's snowy forecast and the usual Saturday rush. 

Hundreds of residents in Baring and Skykomish were still without power Friday as temperatures plunged.  

Worsening wildfires, brought on from climate change, are causing backlogs of millions of acres of forests that need re-planting. Tech could speed up the process.

Communities that sit in the burn scar of the Bolt Creek Fire continue to worry about rainfall, snowfall and the potential for debris flows that come along with it.

The instruments will help scientists with some groundbreaking research into how much rain will trigger debris slides in burn areas in the Pacific Northwest.

WSDOT says the first significant snow of the season is falling in Stevens Pass on Thursday, and if you're traveling through the pass, they warn it could get "messy."

Emergency officials are telling folks to prepare for days, or even weeks, of isolation due to the threat of road-closing landslides and falling trees this winter.

With a winter weather advisory announced Tuesday, residents from Baring through Skykomish are concerned about snow and potential flash flooding in areas burned by the Bolt Creek Fire. 

The relief many have felt from seeing snow and rain is short-lived for those living in the shadow of the steep slopes and mountainsides burned by the late-season fires.

Much-needed rain will return to the Pacific Northwest this weekend and state officials are urging people to be aware of slides in the areas ravaged by wildfires. 

The Washington State patrol is asking the public to be on the lookout for a suspect and car that drove away from the scene after a deadly shooting in Skykomish over the weekend. 

Transportation officials on Monday again were forced to close US Highway 2 to remove trees that fell onto the road. The highway reopened just before 7 p.m.

US 2 is closing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday near Skykomish so that crews can remove burned out trees from the Bolt Creek Fire.

On Monday, WSDOT officials said US 2 would close at 10:30 a.m. for tree removal and to allow fire crews access.