Powerful storm hits area

A powerful storm packing high winds and lightning has knocked out power in parts of Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam.

Sketchy reports, unconfirmed have come in about trees down all over, some across mobile homes in Lakeview Terrace , transformers knocked out in Coulee Dam and Grand Coulee.

Highway 155 from Coulee Dam to Grand Coulee is blocked due to a downed powerline near Pole Park and likely will be for 5-6 hours.

Another line is down at the south edge of the town of Coulee Dam at SR-155 and Grant Avenue, but there is a detour down Stevens Street, where I live.

From my living room, I could see the green-blue flash of electrical arcs across town, possibly indicating more transformers blown.

I’ve lived in that house for 25 years and have never seen winds that strong just below Grand Coulee Dam, which generally shelters the neighborhood from such southerly winds.

One report from Wilbur said a straightline wind reaching 70 miles per hour hit there about a half hour earlier.

That’s all for now. If you have more information, feel free to share it in the comments section below or at The Star Facebook Page.