Pacific Northwest seeing stormy end to 2019

SEATTLE – The Pacific Northwest will ring in the new year with a stormy weather pattern that is expected to bring rounds of heavy rain, gusty winds and snow to the mountains.

Washington Department of Transportation officials temporarily closed the Hood Canal Bridge Tuesday morning because of wind gusts from 40 to 50 mph. Kitsap Transit officials in Bremerton said fast ferry sailings could be canceled in the afternoon because of high winds.

Fire officials near Olympia in Lacey reported at about noon that a tree had fallen into a house, damaging the structure. No injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service in Seattle said windy conditions would continue into Wednesday night with gusts of 35 to 45 mph across much of Western Washington’s interior. Flood watches were also issued with gale warnings for Puget Sound and at the coast.

In Spokane about 3.5 inches of snow has fallen since Monday. The snow was pushing into Idaho, where officials said up to 12 inches could fall in the mountains.

In Oregon, gale warnings and high surf advisories were in effect Tuesday with up to 3 inches of rain expected in places. In the Cascade Mountains in southern Washington and in Oregon total snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches were expected with gusty winds.