People stop to look at a tree that fell on a home in Snohomish on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

People stop to look at a tree that fell on a home in Snohomish on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County crews clean up from bomb cyclone as more wind to come

While not expected to be as fierce as Tuesday’s storm, an incoming weather system could hamper cleanup efforts.

EVERETT — As Snohomish County residents climb out from Tuesday’s bomb cyclone, more wind and rain are expected Thursday night.

Thankfully, according to the National Weather Service, it won’t be near as destructive as Tuesday’s memorable storm.

At the most, it’s expected to hamper cleanup efforts from the storm that roared into Western Washington on Tuesday evening, uprooting trees, damaging homes and knocking out power to 135,000 Snohomish County and Camano Island residents at its peak.

As of 3:55 p.m. Thursday, nearly 20,000 customers of the Snohomish County Public Utility District remained without power.

PUD crews, augmented by mutual aid, worked through Wednesday night to restore power, according to a message on its outage map.

“Outages are scattered throughout the service territory,” the message said, “and the damage we’re finding is often significant and requires complex repairs.”

On Thursday morning, five crews were focused in Lake Stevens, with other crews scattered throughout storm-damaged areas of Snohomish County.

Crews were set to start days of work clearing large trees blocking miles of road in the Lake Roesiger, Lake Bosworth, Three Lakes and Chain Lake areas. The trees are blocking crews from making repairs.

A fallen tree covers the entirety of a home in Snohomish on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A fallen tree covers the entirety of a home in Snohomish on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Damage from the storm included an estimated 120-year-old elm tree slamming into a historic home in Snohomish. The towering tree uprooted during the storm and collapsed onto the two-story house, built in the 1890s. Neighbors and passersby gathered Wednesday to view the tree’s rootball resting on the street and much of the tree leaning against the house. The owner, who wished not to be named for privacy reasons, joked he woke up in the middle of the night with his wife on one side of him and the tree on the other.

Thursday’s system, expected to produce 45 mph easterly gusts in the Cascade foothills, could produce similar smaller gusts in Lake Stevens, Cook said. The system will include low to moderate rain that should peak by Friday morning’s commute.

Snohomish County PUD crew members work to repair a broken crossarm along North Machias Road on Wednesday afternoon in Lake Stevens. (Photo provided by Krysta Rasmussen / Snohomish PUD)

Snohomish County PUD crew members work to repair a broken crossarm along North Machias Road on Wednesday afternoon in Lake Stevens. (Photo provided by Krysta Rasmussen / Snohomish PUD)

“Winds aren’t expected to be as strong as Tuesday evening’s but conditions could make clean up efforts more complicated for already wind-beaten areas,” the weather service said.

Even so, the weather service advised residents to secure loose items on their property and be prepared for possible additional outages.

The bomb cyclone forced many schools in Snohomish County to close or delay classes. In the Snohomish School District, Cascade View Elementary, Central Emerson Elementary, Dutch Hill Elementary, Machias Elementary, Riverview Elementary, Centennial Middle School, Snohomish High School and the Parkway Campus were closed Thursday.

In Lake Stevens, most schools reopened Thursday, with the exception of Cavelero and Sunnycrest. Lynnwood High School also remained closed due to a power outage.

Michael Henneke: 425-339-3431; michael.henneke@heraldnet.com; X: @ihenpecked.

Eliza Aronson: 425-339-3434; eliza.aronson@heraldnet.com; X: @ElizaAronson. Eliza’s stories are supported by the Herald’s Environmental and Climate Reporting Fund.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Daron Johnson, who runs Snohomish County Scanner, stands next to his scanner setup on Tuesday, April 1 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves

The plan for civilian police scanners to go dark pushed a host to shut down his popular breaking news feed.

Richie Gabriel, 1, jumps off the bottom of the slide as Matthew Gabriel looks down at him from the play structure at Hummingbird Hill Park on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds residents show up for Hummingbird Hill Park, Frances Anderson Center

After a two-and-a-half hour public comment session, the council tabled its votes for the two comprehensive plan amendments.

Students Haddie Shorb, 9, left, and brother Elden Shorb, 11, right, lead the ground breaking at Jackson Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett district breaks ground on Jackson Elementary replacement

The $54 million project will completely replace the aging elementary school. Students are set to move in by the 2026-27 school year.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Another positive measles case identified in Snohomish County

The case was identified in an infant who likely contracted measles while traveling, the county health department said.

A Tesla drives along 41st Street on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations

The Trump administration’s attempt to roll back numerous vehicle pollution standards has left states wondering what’s next.

A person walks through the lot at Kia of Everett shopping for a car on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘The tariffs made me do it’: Customers move fast on cars

At one Everett dealership, customers move fast on cars ahead of Wednesday’s expected announcement on tariffs.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

Will Geschke / The Herald
The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located.
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.