Winds continue to create dust clouds

MOSES LAKE - Winds caused a few homes to lose power, one line to

go down and visibility to be reduced.

Winds reached 23 mph at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Grant County

International Airport in Moses Lake, and 25 mph on Wednesday,

according to the National Weather Service.

In Ephrata, winds reached 24 mph Thursday and 32 mph on

Wednesday.

MOSES LAKE - Winds caused a few homes to lose power, one line to go down and visibility to be reduced.

Winds reached 23 mph at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, and 25 mph on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

In Ephrata, winds reached 24 mph Thursday and 32 mph on Wednesday.

Quincy residents experienced winds up to 24 mph Thursday and 32 mph on Wednesday.

Roughly 500 Grant County PUD users lost power near Royal City Wednesday, according to a PUD spokesperson. The homes and businesses along the south side of Frenchman Hills waited less than two hours for power to be restored.

Vantage was also impacted by the power failure.

Winds blew an unknown object into the power lines near the Jericho substation, causing four circuits to fail, the spokesperson said. Power was rerouted until crews could restore the circuits.

In Moses Lake, wind blew a power line down along West Peninsula Drive, according to Moses Lake Assistant Fire Chief Brett Bastian. There were no injuries or damage reported.

Grant County Emergency Management issued a warning to drivers on Thursday to be cautious when driving. Winds near open fields were moving enough dust to reduce visibility for drivers, according to Kyle Foreman, public information officer.

"One area of concern reported is Dodson Road near Road 3 Northwest, about 11 miles south of Ephrata, where blowing dust has decreased visibility on the roadway," Foreman state.

Several accidents took place on Thursday, but information on their causes was not available before the Columbia Basin Herald's deadline.