PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
FOX 12 meteorologists expect strong winds to hit the Willamette Valley overnight in what could be the most powerful windstorm in at least six years.
Gusts of 55 to 65 mph are possible, making it the strongest windstorm since December 2006, or perhaps even January 2000.
People from Salem to Longview should prepare for the possibility of widespread power outages and downed trees. At 11 p.m. Sunday, there were almost 5,000 people without power in the Willamette Valley.
During the 2006 storm, 200,000 PGE customers lost power.
The storm will have passed by daybreak Monday.
No flooding or lowland snow is expected as part of the storm.
A high-wind warning has been issued by the National Weather Service from 6 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday.
"Winds of this magnitude may topple trees and cause damage," the NWS warning said.
For more on the storm, read FOX 12 meteorologist Mark Nelsen's Weather Blog.
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