STORM WATCH: High Winds Battering Oregon Coast, Rain on The Way

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Image: NOAA

(SALEM) - The National Weather Service has issued a HIGH WIND WARNING for the entire Oregon Coast along with Polk and Yamhill Counties. South winds are expected to increase to 35 To 50 mph along the coast this morning. Peak gusts at headlands and beaches will be up to 85 mph. Winds should begin to decrease by late this afternoon. A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage. Newport and Lincoln City at noon are reporting winds out of the south at 28 mph with gusts to 43 mph. Peak gusts so far today have reached over 50 mph at both locations. The NWS office at Salem’s McNary Field at noon is reporting winds out of the south at 18 mph with gusts to 25 mph. What to do at your home if your power goes out:

1. Check your fuse or breaker box for blown fuses or tripped circuits. If they’re OK, check to see if your neighbors are without power.
2. Call your power company immediately to report the outage. Please call only once so other customers can get through.
3. Turn off all electrical equipment, including your water heater, electric furnace or heaters, stove, washer and dryer, stereo and TV, to help prevent overloading the system when power is restored. (Major appliances can be turned off at the breaker box.) Do however, turn on a porch light and one inside light so you and PGE’s crews will know when service is restored.
4. Listen to a battery-powered radio for outage updates.
5. If your neighbor’s power comes back on but yours does not, call your power company again.
6. If your lights are very dim or bright once power is restored, turn off the power at the breaker or fuse box and call your power company.
7. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food in a refrigerator will last for 12 to 24 hours if kept cool. A full freezer can last for 24 to 48 hours.

• PGE: (800) 544-1795
• Salem Electric: (503) 362-3601
• Pacific Power: (877) 548-3768
• Consumers Power: (800) 827-9036
• Monmouth: (503) 838-3526
• McMinnville: (503) 472-6158
• Canby: (503) 266-4021
• Avista: (800) 227-9187