A fall windstorm knocked out power to nearly 100,000 customers across Washington overnight from Saturday, November 7, into Sunday, November 8, and the rain behind it isn’t done. FOX Weather reports that a series of atmospheric rivers will keep aiming moisture at western Washington through the week, with some areas in line for 5 to 8 inches of rain or more.
The National Weather Service in Seattle issued a Flood Watch on the evening of November 9 for Mason County, running from Tuesday evening, November 10, through Wednesday evening. A second, stronger push of rain is forecast for Friday, November 13, into the weekend.
What happened over the weekend
Wind gusts hit 95 mph near Mount Rainier, 93 mph at Crystal Mountain and 85 mph at Snoqualmie Pass, according to FOX Weather. In the lowlands, falling trees and branches did most of the damage by taking down power lines.
Utility data compiled by FOX 13 Seattle showed about 30,000 Seattle City Light customers out just before midnight Saturday and 21,656 Puget Sound Energy customers on the outage map. Snohomish County PUD and Tacoma Public Utilities also reported thousands of outages. Seattle City Light told FOX 13 it was “sending additional crews to the remaining outage sites and working to safely restore power as soon as possible.” By Sunday afternoon most customers had power back.
No home flooding, injuries or evacuations were reported from the windstorm itself. FOX 13 reported scattered downed lines, trees and streetlights, including lines down on Dexter Avenue, and Capitol Hill had the most outages in Seattle.
Why the next few days matter for homes
The rain is the bigger worry now. FOX Weather says soils are getting saturated after several days of rain, which raises the chance of minor river flooding in vulnerable spots. This isn’t forecast to be an extreme atmospheric river event, but steady rain on wet ground finds every weak spot in a house.
In its Flood Watch, the NWS Seattle office forecast 2 to 3.5 inches of rain on the south slopes of the Olympics and warned that “heavy rain with high snow levels could push the Skokomish River near Potlatch above flood stage.”
For homeowners, the damage after a windstorm and heavy rain usually looks like this:
- Roof leaks where branches lifted or cracked shingles over the weekend.
- Water in basements and crawl spaces as gutters overflow and the water table rises.
- Wet attic insulation that nobody notices until a ceiling stain shows up.
- Food losses and sump pump failures during the power outage.
What to do before Friday’s rain
You have a short dry break before the next round. Use it.
Infographic
Storm break checklist for western Washington homes
- 1Check the roof from the groundLook for missing shingles and branches. Tarp openings before the rain returns.
- 2Clear gutters and drainsDownspouts should push water away from the foundation.
- 3Test the sump pumpMove valuables off basement floors.
- 4Dry within 24 to 48 hoursThat’s the EPA window to keep mold from starting.
- 5Never drive through flood waterOne foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
Stay out of moving water. Ready.gov notes that six inches of moving water can knock you down and one foot can sweep your vehicle away. If you lost power and run a generator, keep it outside and well away from windows and doors.
If water does get in, speed matters. The EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. GPR’s team, led by Efraim Haim, CEO of Green Planet Restoration, recommends checking moisture inside walls and under flooring with a meter rather than trusting a surface that feels dry.
Insurance and documentation tips
Take photos and video of damage before you clean up, and keep receipts for tarps, fans and any emergency work. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner has a step-by-step guide to filing a homeowner claim.
Wind damage and rain coming through a storm-damaged roof are handled differently from rising flood water, which most homeowners policies don’t cover. Ready.gov also notes that a new flood policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect, so buying one this week won’t cover Friday’s storm. Efraim Haim’s team suggests calling your insurer early and asking how your policy treats each type of water before work starts. Our insurance billing team can work directly with your adjuster.
Storm season in older Seattle homes
Seattle’s Craftsman and mid-century houses take this kind of weather hard. Many have basements, single-pane windows and original galvanized or cast iron plumbing, especially around Ballard, Capitol Hill and the Central District. Big trees over old roofs are common too, which is why the weekend’s wind turned into roof leaks in so many neighborhoods. When rain keeps coming for a week, a slow seep through a basement wall can turn into wet carpet and swollen drywall in a few days. Our Tukwila-based crew handles water damage restoration in Seattle from Everett to Tacoma and out to the Eastside. If you see water coming in, call (206) 707-9656 and we’ll be there in about 45 minutes.
Where to get help
For a tree through the roof or a broken window, start with emergency roof tarping or board-up services. For water in the house, see our storm damage restoration and Seattle flood damage restoration pages.
References
- Ahmad, A., & Campbell, S. (2026, November 8). Power outages continue to affect thousands in western WA. FOX 13 Seattle. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/power-outages-wa
- Myers, A. (2026, November 9). Rounds of atmospheric rivers to bring days of soaking rain, gusty winds to the Pacific Northwest. FOX Weather. https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/rounds-atmospheric-rivers-bring-days-soaking-rain-gusty-winds-west-coast
- National Weather Service Seattle. (2026, November 9). Flood Watch: Mason County, WA. GovOneStop. https://govonestop.com/nws/washington-severe-flood-watch-effective-11092026-2136
- Ready.gov. (2024, October 17). Floods. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. https://www.ready.gov/floods
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2026, February 18). A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. (n.d.). Filing a homeowner insurance claim. https://www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-resources/home-insurance/home-insurance-claims/filing-homeowner-insurance-claim
Featured image: Green Planet Restoration photo.
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