SEATTLE— The first wind storms of the fall season don’t have to be the first strongest of the year to cause the most damage.

At this time of year, when the trees are still fairly fully leafed (and some branches have been naturally weakened by the dry and hot summer months), it doesn’t take much wind to bring down a branch or two.

That’s why early fall storms are called “Mother Nature’s tree trimmers.”

We have already had some stormy October days, including last weekend. However, the approaching storm for the last Friday of the month could become even more intense.

While most of the Puget Sound region will enjoy a mild Friday afternoon with highs rising well into the 60s, communities closer to the Cascade foothills will notice something going on by mid-day.

An area of ​​low pressure will deepen over the Pacific Ocean, and as it gets closer it will begin to suck air into it like a giant vacuum in the sky. This will coax the easterly ‘Cascadia’ winds to flow over the passes and towards the deepening Pacific storm.

Easterly “gap” winds will then move into cities like Maple Valley, Snoqualmie and Gold Bar at 20 to 35 miles per hour during the afternoon. The lowlands of the eastern Puget Sound will howl by lunch hour, while the towns closer to the I-5 corridor will remain mild, calm and quiet!

That large, strengthening low will continue to move toward the British Columbia coastline Friday evening. Once the corner moves into Canada and Puget Sound is no longer protected by the Olympic Mountains, the winds will also start howling closer to sea level in Seattle and Everett.

A wind advisory is in effect for part of Washington’s northern coastline and interior northwest areas, including Whidbey Island and the San Juans, underscoring the likelihood of southeasterly winds of 20 to 45 mph.

Some forecast models are even predicting wind gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour near Friday Harbor and Oak Harbor. Damage to trees and downed power lines are likely there after dark Friday and early Saturday morning.

From Mukilteo south towards Olympia, lighter winds of 30 to 55 km/h are more possible, but a stray gust of 65 to 70 km/h is possible.

Either way, this natural ‘tree trimmer’ of a fall storm has the potential to knock out our power just about everywhere, so make sure you have the candles and flashlights ready and the cell phones fully charged by Friday evening.