Severe Windstorm Causes Widespread Disruption in Kitsap County

A major windstorm that swept through the region late Tuesday night has left significant disruption across Kitsap County, Washington, leading to power outages and the closure of schools and roads on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The storm has particularly affected Bainbridge Island and other parts of the county, with schools being forced to either delay or cancel classes for the day.

Following the storm, which brought high winds overnight, the Bainbridge Island School District announced the cancellation of all classes for Wednesday due to widespread power outages affecting the island. Similarly, the Central Kitsap School District, North Kitsap School District, and Olympic College‘s Bremerton campus reported delayed openings by two hours. Additionally, Gordon Elementary in North Kitsap remains closed for the day, while Olympic College’s Poulsbo campus is scheduled to open at 3 p.m.

Power outages have been reported extensively across Kitsap County, with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) estimating thousands of residents affected, primarily in Bainbridge, North Kitsap, as well as the Illahee and Brownsville areas of Central Kitsap. PSE warns that some outages might last for days due to challenges posed by fallen trees and other damage from the storm.

The National Weather Service documented high wind gusts reaching 61 mph in Port Townsend, 63 mph on Camano Island, and more than 70 mph in places like Enumclaw and Mount Rainier. A wind gust of 55 mph was recorded at Sea-Tac Airport. Although showers are forecasted to continue, no further high winds are expected for the remainder of the week.

In response to the adverse weather, Washington State Ferries advised commuters to anticipate bumpy rides and potential service disruptions. Meanwhile, Kitsap Transit cancelled two of its early morning ferry routes from Kingston to Seattle, and officials have noted the potential for further disruptions if high winds persist.

Adding to the disruption, Kitsap County announced the closure of at least 12 roads due to fallen trees or power lines. Roads affected primarily include areas in North Kitsap, with at least one incident noted in South Kitsap. By late morning, county crews had managed to clear several key roads, including Hansville Road and Nels Nelson Road in Central Kitsap.

City offices on Bainbridge Island planned to operate on a two-hour delay while assessing damage and clearing roads. The overnight storm has also impacted delivery services, with the Kitsap Sun reporting possible delays in newspaper deliveries.

Bev Redmond, Chief of Staff for Seattle Public Schools, noted in a communication to families that updates regarding power restoration would be provided as soon as possible.

This situation is developing, and updates are expected as more information becomes available throughout the day.