Whidbey Island Hit Hard by Winter Storm, Strong Winds
By: KOMO News
WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — A powerful winter storm brought strong winds and hazardous conditions to Whidbey Island on January 9, 2024. KOMO News’ Paul Rivera reported on the aftermath of the storm, highlighting the impact on the community.
Severe winds blew driftwood onto West Beach Road near Oak Harbor, causing crews to spend much of the day clearing the debris. The strong winds also knocked out power to thousands of people across western Washington.
Despite the chaos, the wind created near-perfect conditions for kite surfers on Whidbey Island. Stewart Sykes, a kite surfer from Seattle, and his friends took advantage of the weather to enjoy their sport. Sykes noted, “Anything more than this, you’re getting into hurricane kind of stuff so, this is close to my limit. I’m just trying to go as high as you can. It’s a lot of fun. We’re all trying to jump higher than our friends. It’s pretty surreal when you’re in the air, you’re just floating and everything goes silent.”
However, the storm’s impact was not all fun and games. Michael O’Malley from the local fire department shared a photo of a tree that had fallen on a house at Hastie Lake Road, emphasizing the damage caused by the gusty winds.
Island County Emergency Management reported that some roads along West Beach Road received water damage, but the extent of the damage was still being assessed.
The storm surge also impacted the shoreline, with waves hitting the coast near Fort Casey. One resident expressed the power of nature, stating, “I was just out there watching the wood and the waves. It’s quite impressive. Can’t be out there too long. It’s nature and it’s powerful.”
The aftermath of the winter storm serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous conditions that can arise from extreme weather events. As the community works to recover and assess the damage, residents are urged to remain cautious and prepared for any further challenges that may arise as a result of the storm.