Gusts up to 50 mph forecasted through 10 a.m. in Lower Columbia

Gusts up to 50 mph were expected in the Lower Columbia River and Cowlitz River valleys through 10 a.m. Thursday, but the advisory expired about an hour and a half early.

The Portland office of the National Weather Service issued the wind advisory at 5:40 a.m. The office reported southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts from 35 to 50 mph through 10 a.



m., but the advisory ended at about 8:30 a.m.

Kelso police warned online at about 7 a.m. that Old Pacific Highway South between RV Country and Melrose Lane closed due to a downed tree.

More than 800 Cowlitz County PUD customers were without power as of 8 a.m. in the Longview area, while another nearly 200 were without power near Castle Rock, according to the organization's outage map.

Officials advised people to drive cautiously and secure outdoor items like garbage cans that could blow away. A winter weather advisory for elevations above 4,000 feet in the North Oregon and South Washington Cascades — including Larch Mountain and Mount St. Helens — has been extended to noon Friday.

It was originally set to expire at 10 p.m. Thursday.

Meteorologists now expect 4 to 10 inches at up to 5,000 feet of elevation, with winds gusting 35 to 55 mph. There is also a high possibility of avalanches on the west slops of the Washington Cascades through 6 p.m.

Thursday, the National Weather Service reports. Rain is expected the rest of the week at lower elevations in the county. The Daily News, Longview, Wash.

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