By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist
November 19,2012; 4:20PM,EST
The strongest in a train of Pacific storms is slamming the Northwest and producing hurricane-force wind gusts.
The Northwest coastline is bearing the brunt of these powerful and damaging winds.
Naselle Ridge, Wash., holds the distinction of measuring the storm's highest wind gust (through noon PST) when the winds whipped to 114 mph.
Other hurricane-force wind gusts include 101 mph at Megler, Wash., 98 mph at Yaquina Head, Ore., and 74 mph at Astoria, Ore.
The winds have downed trees, caused structural damage and put thousands of people in the dark. People reported seeing the roof of a restaurant peeling back like a banana near Newport, Ore., early this morning.
The same storm whipping up the strong winds has also unleashed heavy rain across western Washington and northwestern Oregon.
A total of 6.23 inches of rain inundated an area near Nehalem, Ore., in 24 hours, ending at 10 a.m. PST this morning. Rainfall amounts have already topped an inch in the corridor from Portland to Seattle.
Rain and wind will continue through tonight across the Northwest and northwestern California as the potent storm pushes inland.
The heaviest rain will shift southward along the coastline and Interstate 5 corridor, while an end to most destructive winds along the coast also comes in a north-to-south fashion.
That does not mean a calmer Tuesday awaits the Northwest.
While not as potent as the storm today, Tuesday's system will be colder and drop snow levels to 4,500 feet in the Washington Cascades.
Even lower snow levels will follow on Wednesday as the train of Pacific storms barreling into the Northwest continues.
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