Staff report

Extreme gusts are sweeping Western Washington.

The Seattle/Tacoma office of the National Weather Service issued a high-wind alert for the region on Thursday, Dec. 20.

In the San Juan Islands, the warning runs through 7 p.m., Dec. 20. Southerly winds could be from 25-40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. Winds should subside as the day continues.

The station reports that gusts reached 37 mph at 9:42 a.m. on Dec. 20 in Friday Harbor on San Juan, and 41 mph as of 7:15 a.m. in Eastsound on Orcas.