137 km/hr winds recorded in Oregon as typhoon remnant storm sideswipes state (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Oct 16 2016, 4:43 am

The power of the rain and wind storm fuelled by the remnants of Typhoon Songda is now apparent in Oregon where the storm is only expected to sideswipe the state.

The storm is approaching the Pacific Northwest from the southwest and is expected to affect Washington State later this afternoon before directly hitting southern Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver beginning late evening.

Winds of 137 km/hr, far above the hurricane force threshold, were recorded at Cape Meares just after 2 pm, according to the US National Weather Service (NWS). Over at Portland International Airport, winds have picked up to approximately 85 km/hr.

Videos of the high winds in Oregon:

Tens of thousands of customers are without power in the state due to fallen trees and wires. Authorities in Portland have issued a public warning to residents to stay indoors and keep off the roads due to flying debris, traffic signal failures, and live power lines on the ground.

Portland’s light rail system, the MAX LRT, is only semi-operational; trains are significantly delayed due to power outages and localized flooding.

Extensive damage has been reported in some areas of Portland.

The NWS says winds are expected to pick up in the Seattle metro region over the next two hours. At Chehalis, Washington, just south of Olympia and about 70 kilometres east of the coastline, the latest readings indicate winds increased from 35 km/hr at 1:15 pm to 63 km/hr at 2:15 pm.

Weather conditions will change quickly: Environment Canada expects strong southeast winds of 60 km/hr to 100 km/hr to develop ahead of the storm in the South Coast late this afternoon, with winds strongest in Metro Vancouver from approximately 9 pm to 2 am. Winds will then shift to southwesterly behind the low.

See also

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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