A heavy storm system dumped record rainfall on the area and knocked out power for thousands of residents on Oct. 18.

On Wednesday, a storm system rolled in around 11 a.m., wind speeds increased gradually throughout the day with steady (and often heavy) rain.

Slightly before 4 p.m., the power went out in Montesano and Central Park. According to the PUD, some 5,600 customers lost power. The PUD reported that a downed tree had fallen in the lines in Central Park.

In downtown Montesano, the lights were off and the businesses — Subway, The Beehive, banks, everywhere, were all dark. People stood outside the doors at Montesano Farm and Home. The stop light became a four-way stop where drivers seemed respectful and patient to navigate the intersection.

Gradually, power was restored, first to about 950 lucky residents at about 4:45 p.m., then another 1,300 residents in Montesano by about 5 p.m. At about 5:30 p.m., some 2,500 residents still had no power.

At about 6 p.m., power was restored to Montesano and Central Park. Residents in North Grays Harbor County also lost power, however, fewer residents were impacted.

But the weather system that passed over was no standard weather system.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, saw 2.12 inches of rain at the Hoquaim weather station at Bowerman Airport — the nearest weather station, and only National Weather Service weather station in Grays Harbor County. That 2.12 inches of rain is a new record. The previous record was 1.83 inches set in 1979.

Normally, the Hoquiam weather station receives about .22 inches on a typical Oct. 18, and on the same day last year, the weather station saw only .08 inches.

Grays Harbor County Emergency Management had warned residents that the rain would be coupled with strong wind, and that prediction proved accurate.

Wind speeds at Bowerman topped out at 43 mph, and a gust of 56 mph was recorded.

Trees still have full canopies, Emergency Management warned, and the rain coupled with the wind and full canopies could lead to downed trees resulting in power outages.

By morning, branches were down throughout the area and many trees looked tattered.

Another storm Oct. 21 brought strong wind and heavy rain but few outages.