A Christmas Eve windstorm with gusts of up to 45 mph are expected on Christmas Eve, weather agencies, utility companies, and state disaster preparedness officials said Monday.
They urged area residents to prepare for power outages, noting that the effect of moderate winds could be worsened by tree roots saturated by heavy rains over the last week.
"These winds combined with the saturated soils can result in downed trees and power outages," the Portland office of the National Weather Service said.
The agency urged those with holiday decor up to secure it, and to travel carefully.
"Unlike last week's weather event, meteorologists are tracking a stronger storm system that could bring sustained winds of 20-45 mph with gusts reaching 45-65 mph throughout PGE's entire service area," Portland General Electric said Monday.
The NWS said the timing and location of the storm remained uncertain.
PGE maintains a webpage with information on preparing for outages and staying safe around downed powerlines.
For traffic information, visit tripcheck.com for state highways and wc-roads.com for county roads.
