Thousands left powerless after wind-storm damage

SEATTLE -- Utility crews scrambled to restore power Saturday to tens of thousands of homes and businesses left in the dark after a deadly storm whipped the coasts of Washington and Oregon.

More than 300,000 homes and businesses were without power at the height of the storm Friday. Only a few thousand customers remained without power by Saturday afternoon.

Officials were hoping to have service completely restored by midnight today.

One death was blamed on the storm in Washington. Cody Allen Brown, 10, died Friday when he became tangled in a downed 7,200-volt power line near his home outside Olympia. Several minor injuries from downed trees and wind-tossed debris were reported.

The storm dumped snow in the Olympics and Cascades, but high wind caused most of the problems. Sustained wind of 49 mph was reported in West Seattle, with gusts to 62 mph. The strongest gust -- 128 mph -- was recorded at White Pass, Wash., in the Cascades.

More scattered rain was forecast over the next week, with snow in the mountains, but with less wind, the National Weather Service said.

About two-thirds of the power outages were reported by Puget Sound Energy. Some of its customers may have to wait until Monday to see service restored, spokesman Tim Bader said.

The storm also brought snow to the Olympics and Cascades with 6 to 12 inches expected at elevations above 5,000 feet.

Meanwhile, California officials issued flood warnings in Napa and Humboldt counties as yet another storm approached that state during the weekend. Heavy rain in the last few weeks has put the top half of the state on flood alert, said Carolina Horne, meteorologist in the weather service's Bay Area office.

"During the last storm, the soil was able to absorb everything," Horne said. "Now the ground is saturated, and the only place for the water to go is the lowest possible area."Meanwhile, California officials issued flood warnings in Napa and Humboldt counties as yet another storm approached that state during the weekend. Heavy rain in the last few weeks has put the top half of the state on flood alert, said Carolina Horne, meteorologist in the weather service's Bay Area office.