OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Many Olympic National Park roads and campgrounds have been closed until an expected storm blows over.
The National Weather Service forecasts a strong front coming into the North Olympic Peninsula today. It is expected to bring high winds and lowland rain and mountain snow through this evening.
High winds and heavy rain can lead to such hazardous conditions as falling limbs and trees, high surf and coastal flooding, said Barb Maynes, parks spokeswoman, in a news release.
The closures are to ensure that visitors and employees are not injured or trapped by falling trees or branches, she said.
Areas and facilities will remain closed through at least Monday morning, she added.
Park staff will work to clean and repair areas so they can be reopened as soon as possible once the storm passes, Maynes said.
The following roads and campgrounds are closed:
■ Hurricane Ridge Road was closed at dusk Saturday and remains closed today.
■ Heart O’the Hills Campground was closed as of 9 a.m. today.
■ Sol Duc Road was closed as of Saturday night.
■ Mora Road and campground are closed.
■ Ozette area was closed as of 9 a.m. today. The campground is already closed due to flooding.
■ Kalaloch Campground was closed as of 9 a.m. today.
■ Hoh Road and campground was closed as of 9 a.m. today.
■ North Fork Campground is closed.
■ Staircase Road and campground was closed as of 9 a.m. today.
Olympic Hot Springs Road and Graves Creek Road are already closed because of storm and flood damage sustained earlier this winter.
In August, the entire park was closed to visitors after trees fallen in a windstorm blocked roads and prevented some campers from leaving the park.
It the first time in recent memory that the entire park had been closed.
Since then, park officials closed most park areas in November in anticipation of a storm.
For more information, contact the Olympic National Park visitor information line at 360-565-3130, or the park’s road and weather hotline at 360-565-3131.
