Winds arrive to storm-weary Northwest

SEATTLE (AP) — Winds have descended to the storm-weary Pacific Northwest and thousands of people remain without power after a snow and ice front left a tangle of fallen trees and damaged power lines. More than 200,000 customers remain without electricity as of Saturday morning, reported Puget Sound Energy, one of the region’s largest utilities. The utility says that they have restored power to more than 250,000 customers. On Saturday, gusts of up to 50 miles per hour arrived in much of the region, which could combine with the remaining snow to bring down more trees. Puget Sound Energy says that the winds will slow down some of the restoration and doesn’t expect some areas in western Washington to have power until Monday or Tuesday. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.