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ASSOCIATED PRESS
A woman clutches to her belongings as she waits to cross the street in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Gusts of over 60 mph were reached in parts of Seattle, temporarily closing the 520 bridge and knocking out power for more than 100,000 customers. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Lindsey Wasson) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; SEATTLEPI.COM OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This photo shows Highway 520 Bridge being slowly reopened to traffic in both directions after temporarily being closed due to high winds on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Seattle. Gusts of over 60 mph were reached in parts of Seattle, knocking out power for more than 100,000 customers. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Marcus Yam) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; SEATTLEPI.COM OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
SEATTLE >> A blustery November storm moving through the Northwest knocked out power for more than 100,000 customers today and led some drivers to abandon their vehicles on a bridge.
Puget Sound Energy said Saturday afternoon that it had 95,000 customers without power in various parts of western Washington as officials dealt with downed trees and limbs. Seattle City Light had another 40,000 people impacted.
High winds also temporarily closed the state Route 520. Trooper Chris Webb of the Washington State Patrol said drivers in about 50 cars abandoned their vehicles on the bridge for a period of time.
The National Weather Service issued a wind warning for much of Saturday covering coastal areas in Washington and Oregon. Forecasters said wind gusts could be up to 65 mph. Slightly weaker winds were expected in areas like Seattle to the mountains.
Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said equipment on Destruction Island off the western Washington coast recorded a peak gust of 72 mph on Saturday morning. Burg said the storm was not unusual for this time of year in the Northwest.
"We’re getting some pretty good winds, but nothing catastrophic right now," Burg said. "We’re not looking for any big, widespread destruction."
Burg said forecasters had been watching for a slight risk of flooding, but they don’t expect that to be an issue anymore. About half an inch of rain was expected at lower elevations.
As the storm moves through, elevations above 2,500 feet were expected to get more than half an inch of snow.
