Thousands Lose Power As High Winds Return

Sun., Feb. 7, 1999

Staff

Avista power crews scurried throughout the gusty Inland Northwest on Saturday, trying to restore power to thousands of blacked-out customers.

Late in the day, nearly 3,000 people in north Spokane lost electricity when 50- to 60-mph winds helped knock out power.

“The areas of Waikiki, from Whitworth College to Five Mile Road extending to Wandermere, lost power when trees fell into two feeder lines,” said Avista spokesman Rob Strenge.

Wind blasts reached Spokane from the south later in the day, knocking out power in Othello, Odessa, Chattaroy, Deer Park, Loon Lake and Ponderosa, as well as Coeur d’Alene and Mullan, he said.

Earlier, nearly 3,000 Avista customers between Grangeville, Idaho, and Lewiston were without power from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Strenge.

Around Puget Sound, gusty winds sent tree limbs into power lines, leaving more than 27,000 homes and businesses in the dark.

Southwest winds moving at 30 to 40 mph swept into the region late Saturday, with gusts clocked at 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Utility crews worked into the night restoring power in portions of Redmond, Duvall, Woodinville and Bothell in northeast King County.

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