Thousands of homes and businesses across western Washington lost electricity on the night of November 7, 2026, after a Pacific wind-and-rain system swept through the region and brought down trees and power lines. The National Weather Service tracked hazardous marine conditions west of Seattle, issuing a Gale Warning from 4:00 p.m. PST on November 7 until 7:00 a.m. PST on November 8. Strong southerly winds and heavy rain moved across western Washington. The system damaged trees, disrupted transportation, and hit utility infrastructure. A separate Storm Warning signaled even stronger winds offshore. National Weather Service forecast
By evening, at least 83,000 customers in western Washington were without electricity, according to The Seattle Times. Seattle City Light reported more than 46,000 customers affected at about 9:00 p.m. across 40 outage locations in West Seattle and other neighborhoods. Puget Sound Energy reported more than 27,000 customers without power across 226 locations, including Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, Bellevue, and Eastside communities. These outages reached beyond Seattle, affecting both urban and suburban areas of the Puget Sound service area. Disruptions also hit Silverdale, Mount Vernon, and Ferndale. Whatcom, Kitsap, and Pierce counties saw many trees fall, forcing drivers to find alternate routes.
Storm Impact and Emergency Response
In West Seattle, the storm's strongest winds and rain caused major electricity disruptions. Seattle City Light initially recorded nearly 5,000 customers without power around 8:46 p.m., as reported by West Seattle Blog. Residents described hearing what sounded like a transformer or fuse exploding during the storm. Several streets, including Avalon and West Marginal, closed due to fallen trees and electrical wires. Avalon was blocked near Luna Park Café, where authorities placed warning tape across the road. A resident told West Seattle Blog, "The road is taped off and blocked in front of Luna Park Café." Another electrical hazard was reported near 46th Avenue and Massachusetts Street in North Admiral. Businesses in Morgan Junction saw mixed impacts, with some losing power while others stayed open.
Seattle City Light restored service to some customers during the evening. The utility's reported outage total dropped from more than 40,000 to about 30,000, according to updates from West Seattle Blog. By 11:21 p.m., the outage affecting over 4,000 customers had declined to 1,753. Restoration was also reported in the 6900 block of California Avenue Southwest in Gatewood. Puget Sound Energy's disruptions were spread across 226 locations, showing failures in different areas rather than a single grid incident.
Weather Warnings and Ongoing Hazards
The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for Seattle and nearby interior areas from 6:00 p.m. Saturday, November 7, until 4:00 a.m. Sunday, November 8, 2026. The advisory area included Seattle, Bellingham, the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, western Skagit County, parts of King and Pierce counties, Everett, Marysville, Shoreline, Lynnwood, South Everett, and Port Townsend. Forecast south winds were 15-30 mph, with gusts of 45-50 mph. The NWS warned that strong gusts could move unsecured objects, bring down tree limbs, and cause scattered power outages. The coastal zones received a stronger High Wind Warning, with possible gusts above 50 mph and up to 60 mph in coastal areas. NWS advisory coverage
Forecast guidance for Seattle and other interior western Washington locations called for winds of about 30-45 mph from Saturday night into Sunday morning. National Weather Service meteorologist Kayla Mazurkiewicz described the region as expecting a "wet and breezy night," while coastal areas faced a High Wind Warning with gusts reaching up to 60 mph. The forecast also noted that calm October weather had left more leaves on trees, raising the risk that foliage could clog storm drains and add to power outages. The advisory period for interior areas was scheduled from 6:00 p.m. Saturday until 4:00 a.m. Sunday. The Seattle Times weather report
The storm's effects reached beyond electricity infrastructure. Coverage described rough seas, heavy rain, strong gusts, and widespread disruption across western Washington during the evening of November 7. The affected communities included Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, Bellevue, West Seattle, South Seattle, and North Seattle, showing a broad Puget Sound footprint rather than an isolated neighborhood failure. The weather warnings were set to expire between early morning and 7:00 a.m. on November 8, after the main wind threat passed. Forecasts expected winds and showers to ease on Sunday, though downed trees, blocked roads, and damaged lines could slow restoration after the weather improved.
National Weather Service officials urged motorists to avoid travel during strong winds and to stay alert for hazards after conditions improved. They advised, "Under strong winds, consider delaying travel until winds subside. Once conditions have improved enough to resume traveling, stay alert for fallen tree limbs, road signs, or downed powerlines." The wind advisory and coastal high wind warning were scheduled to remain in effect until 4 a.m. Sunday, November 8, 2026.
