A powerful windstorm blew through the south King County region Monday night, Feb. 24, 2025, knocking down trees and power lines and leaving nastily 800 Seattle City Light customers without electricity in the Burien area.
The storm, which brought gusts exceeding 50 mph, moved through the region late Monday, causing scattered power outages, downed trees, and hazardous road conditions. Seattle City Light crews worked overnight to restore service to affected customers.
City Light reports that as of Tuesday afternoon, there were still 127 outages in its overall coverage area, affecting 4,229 customers.
The Burien area saw some of the most significant impacts, with nearly 800 homes and businesses left in the dark. Outages were reported in other parts of King County as well, though most were restored by Tuesday morning.
Authorities urge residents to prepare for potential future outages, keep emergency supplies on hand, and report downed power lines to Seattle City Light or emergency services.
Pacific Northwest Weather Watch Update
Gusts topped 85 mph along the Washington coast and reached 60 mph at Boeing Field, causing widespread outages and disrupting travel. Many areas, including Everett, Tacoma, and Olympia, saw sustained winds over 40 mph for several hours.
“This storm hit like a freight train,” said Michael Snyder of Pacific Northwest Weather Watch, who recorded 58 mph gusts at his Normandy Park home. “It was a major wind event across the region.”
Here’s Snyder’s recap video:
Power Outages and Damage
Utilities across the state struggled with mass outages, and at its peak, more than 160,000 customers in Washington and Oregon were in the dark.
Long Beach, Cape Disappointment, and other coastal towns were among the hardest hit.
“It takes a lot to knock the power out there, and we saw some gusts up to 85 mph,” Snyder said.
In Seattle, tree limbs fell on power lines, and multiple missed approaches at Sea-Tac Airport disrupted flights as strong crosswinds battered runways. Reports of trees falling on vehicles and homes surfaced throughout King and Pierce counties.
Warnings and Storm Aftermath
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a High Wind Warning, which verified successfully, according to Snyder. Winds began subsiding early Tuesday, but forecasters warned of lingering gusts east of the Cascades and hazardous surf along the Washington and Oregon coasts.
High Surf Warnings remained in effect for the coast, with waves reaching 34 feet, prompting safety advisories for beachgoers. Winter Storm Warnings were also issued for the mountains, where snow levels dropped to 3,000 feet, affecting travel through Snoqualmie Pass.
With winds easing, Snyder said a break in stormy weather is expected for the rest of the week, though more systems could bring rain and possible snow to the region in March.
Authorities urged residents to use caution when venturing outside, report downed power lines, and prepare for potential future storms.
