Gusty winds expected late Tuesday

EASTERN WASHINGTON -- A cold front moving through the region beginning Monday night is expected to bring more rain and windy conditions to the area Tuesday.

Rain is expected in the morning, with winds picking up through the afternoon and into the evening. Forecasters at the National Weather service are predicting potentially damaging wind gusts from 40 --60 mph peaking between 4 -- 8 p.m., with 60 mph gusts possible locally. A High Wind Watch has been issued for Tuesday afternoon and evening from the Wenatchee area east through the Columbia Basin, Palouse, lower Garfield county and Spokane area, bringing the possibility of power outages, downed trees and difficult travel for high-profile vehicles.

In preparation, Avista Utilities is suggesting customers take the following steps:

• Make sure cell phones and other mobile devices are fully charged

• Flashlights have fresh batteries

• Have water and non-perishable foods on hand

• Use a manual can opener

• Know how to manually open and close any electric garage doors, security doors, and gates.

• Know the operating requirements of your gas equipment. Appliances with electronic ignitions will not work because electricity is needed to ignite the gas and devices such as central heating and gas clothes dryers need electricity to work as well.

Avista and other utilities have made preparations to respond to power outage reports.