Batten down the hatches: Storm's coming

As anyone who has been within earshot of a local television newscast knows, a big storm is poised to hit Western Washington tomorrow, bringing plenty of wind and rain. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for our area, and is warning ratepayers to expect power outages:

VERY STRONG...POSSIBLY DAMAGING...SOUTH WINDS MAY DEVELOP ALONG AND BEHIND A COLD FRONT ON FRIDAY...OVER PORTIONS OF INTERIOR WESTERN WASHINGTON. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE EXACT TRACK AND DEPTH OF THE ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW MOVING NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF WASHINGTON. AT THIS TIME...THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO WOULD GENERATE SOUTH WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH. HOWEVER...IF THE SURFACE LOW DEEPENS MORE THAN EXPECTED...WIND SPEEDS COULD REACH CLOSE TO HIGH WIND CRITERIA. THEREFORE THE HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL DETAILS ARE MORE CERTAIN.

THE VERY STRONG WINDS COULD RESULT IN SOME POWER OUTAGES ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING DUE TO POWER LINES BEING DAMAGED BY TREE LIMBS. SOME OF THE REGION'S TREES HAVE BEGUN TO LEAF OUT ALREADY...WHICH COULD ADD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR WIND DAMAGE TO OCCUR. RAIN SOAKED GROUND COULD ALLOW TREES TO EASILY TOPPLE OR BECOME UPROOTED.

Extremely powerful gusts could also force the Washington State Department of Transportation to temporarily shut down the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and the mountain passes. Commuters and travelers should keep themselves apprised of conditions before setting out to go anywhere tomorrow.

And it wouldn't be a bad idea to get out flashlights, a portable radio, and extra batteries out tonight to prepare for the storm. Just in case.