Powerful Winds Topple Powerlines and Trees, Disrupting Oregon Schools Wednesday

On Wednesday, powerful winds swept through western Oregon, causing significant disruptions across the region. The high winds brought down power lines, tree limbs, and entire trees, leading to widespread power outages.

Impact on Schools Due to Wind Damage

Numerous schools were forced to close, particularly along the coast and in the Cascade foothills. In the Astoria and Seaside areas, all schools were shut down due to the outages caused by the winds.

• Pacific Power reported over 23,000 customers without electricity as of 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
• Columbia County saw school closures in Clatskanie and Rainier.
• Changes to bus routes were implemented in St. Helens.
• Clark County closed schools in Battle Ground and announced late starts in Hockinson.

Delayed Openings and Outages

In the Estacada district, schools started two hours late due to ongoing power issues. Although Portland-area residents reported various outages to PGE, no schools in the metro area experienced closures.

Some schools in the Tigard-Tualatin and Lake Oswego districts faced delays. Residents are encouraged to check local resources for the latest school closure information.