Storm Warning for Friday and Saturday

Cliff Mass is sounding the alarm on his blog, about some pretty serious weather incoming from the Pacific:

Starting Thursday, we will enter a period of extraordinarily active weather with the potential for heavy rain, flooding, and a highly dangerous windstorm with the potential to be an historic event. The coastal waters and shoreline areas could well experience hurricane-force gusts, with a lesser but serious threat for strong winds over the interior. Keep in mind that there is still uncertainty in the forecasts, more so for the wind than the rain.

I have no more insight into the likely impact of these storms than the average STB reader, but disruption and delay to all modes of travel in Western Washington seems certain, and the Puget Sound Friday freeway commute, in particular, is probably something you'll want to avoid if you can. On the coasts of Washington and Vancouver Island, rain will be torrential, and wind gusts may approach hurricane force, so nonessential travel anywhere near there should be avoided.

Keep an eye out for updates from the National Weather Service and local agencies (WSDOT, King County Metro, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, Community Transit). My favorite reading in these situations is the detailed local synopsis put out four times daily by the NWS.