Wind moving into Western Washington

If you haven't started preparing for today's windstorm, now is the time:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
11::55 AM PDT THURSDAY OCT 18 2007

AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM 130 MILES OFF THE WASHINGTON COAST IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST NORTHEAST REACHING THE NORTHERN OLYMPIC PENINSULA LATE THIS AFTERNOON. THE LOW WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK NORTHEAST INTO THE INTERIOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THIS EVENING. THE STRONGEST WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE ANTICIPATED ALONG THE COAST AND NORTH INTERIOR TODAY. LESS INTENSE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ELSEWHERE IN WESTERN WASHINGTON AT THIS TIME. WINDS WILL DECREASE THIS EVENING ACROSS THE AREA AS THIS SYSTEM EXITS THE REGION.

SOUTHWEST INTERIOR-EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-EVERETT AND VICINITY-SEATTLE/BREMERTON AREA-TACOMA AREA-HOOD CANAL AREA-LOWER CHEHALIS VALLEY AREA-EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-

WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING.

WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER MOST OF THE LOWLANDS THIS AFTERNOON, RIGHT AHEAD OF THE INCOMING WEATHER SYSTEM. SOUTH WINDS IN THE 10 TO 20 MPH RANGE WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH BETWEEN 2 PM AND 8 PM. STRONGER WINDS MAY OCCUR ACROSS HOOD CANAL WITH SPEEDS AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. THE WINDS WILL DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER 11 PM.

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP SMALL TREE BRANCHES...TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES...AND CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES. MOTORISTS...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES...SHOULD ALSO BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN...STRONG CROSS WINDS.

You can check out Pacific Northwest Portal's special Winter Preparedness section for links, tips, and instant forecasts.