High Winds Slam Northwest Coast
File photo of a tree knocked over by a storm. (Photo by Dave Einsel/Getty Images)
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SEATTLE (AP) — High winds and heavy rain hit the Northwest coast early Wednesday as the first strong weather front of the fall moved ashore.
The National Weather Service reported peak winds as of 3:30 a.m. in Washington of 41 mph at Hoquiam, 63 at Lopez Island, 48 Bellingham and 48 at Whidbey Island.
A wind warning for the coast of Washington and Oregon is in effect until 9 a.m. for winds of around 40 mph with higher gusts.
Meanwhile, nearly 1.5 inches of rain fell in 2 hours at Forks on the Olympic Peninsula.
Forecasters say an atmospheric river of rain from the Pacific will soak the Northwest in coming days with several inches of rain, mostly in the mountains.
The only flooding is expected on the Skokomish River, which frequently floods.
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