A widespread Seattle power outage is impacting about half a million residents as Puget Sound Energy (PSE) attempts to restore electricity to numerous homes. An incredibly powerful bomb cyclone storm in the middle of November is hitting the northwestern US, downing power lines with high winds and rainfall in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. Most of the power outages are centered around Seattle, but there are other counties in Washington experiencing outages as well. Here’s when PSE is expected to restore power.
When will Puget Sound Energy fix Seattle power outages?
Puget Sound Energy expects that the Seattle power outage will be a “multiple-day outage” in an official report made by the company on Tuesday, November 20, at 6 AM PT.
Considering that this bomb cyclone storm is projected to pelt Washington until Thursday night or Friday morning, per Accuweather, restoring power in the area could be delayed relative to normal circumstances.
As of 5:20 a.m. on Tuesday, PSE notes that over 416,000 customers are out of power and the company has been fielding numerous 911 calls for emergencies. The PSE outage map at 10:25 am has lowered this figure to about 388,000, while PowerOutage.us reports that 485,000 Washington residents are still affected, so it looks like power is being restored gradually. That said, it is working on repairing “critical needs first” and asks affected customers for their patience.
The 80+ mph winds experienced on Tuesday will likely lower as the storm moves over land and the central pressure of the cyclone rises, but additional power lines could still come down on Wednesday and Thursday. Over the next two days, an atmospheric river over the Pacific continues to provide moisture for the cyclone. The company says that it continues to receive reports of downed lines.
In the meantime, PSE recommends that customers “make alternate plans” for power and reminds residents not to use charcoal, a gas grill, or a natural gas range for indoor heating due to its potential of building carbon monoxide gas. Portable heaters should kept away from flammable materials, and flashlights should be used in lieu of candles.
