Windblown trees block a portion of West Edgewood Drive east of Port Angeles during Friday’s wind storm. (Keith Thorpe / Peninsula Daily News)

Windblown trees block a portion of West Edgewood Drive east of Port Angeles during Friday’s wind storm. (Keith Thorpe / Peninsula Daily News)

Thousands without power as high winds hit Washington, Oregon

Utility companies said thousands of customers had lost power on the Olympic Peninsula.

  • By Wire Service
  • Friday, December 14, 2018 9:15pm
  • Northwest

Associated Press

SEATTLE — High winds toppled trees and power lines, causing thousands to lose power and roads to be closed across Washington and Oregon.

The National Weather Service issued high wind warnings Friday for Oregon and Washington’s Pacific Coast and Washington’s northern interior with wind advisories for areas inland.

As of Friday evening, more than 109,000 customers had lost power in Western Washington.

West of Port Angeles, downed trees and power lines caused the temporary closure of 22 miles of state Route 112. Olympic National Park officials closed the visitor center in Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge Road and the Hoh Visitor Center for the day.

In Oregon, Pacific Power officials said inclement weather caused outages from Astoria to Cave Junction.

Oregon Department of Transportation officials temporarily closed Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon between Pendleton and La Grande after 90 mph winds were reported and at least one truck appeared to have blown over on the freeway.

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