Big Capitol Hill trees this time of year have a propensity for falling down. Here’s an example from last May when a leaning giant of an elm threatened a $4 million mansion on Harvard after wet soil and wind conspired to knock the 90-foot deciduous over. With the National Weather Service issuing a “Special Weather Statement” for high winds on the coast and windy conditions inland, Wednesday could be a tough day and night for the Hill’s leaf-burdened trees. Here’s more from the statement:

OVER THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN WASHINGTON…STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY
BEGIN WITH A SUDDEN BURST IN THE AFTERNOON. THE INITIAL BURST OF
WIND WILL SPREAD NORTH FROM NEAR OLYMPIA EARLY IN THE
AFTERNOON…REACHING SEATTLE AROUND MID-AFTERNOON…THEN
CONTINUING NORTH TO BELLINGHAM BY LATE AFTERNOON. HOWEVER…THE
STRONGEST AND MOST PROLONGED SUSTAINED WINDS SHOULD OCCUR BETWEEN
8 PM ON WEDNESDAY EVENING AND 6 AM ON THURSDAY MORNING. SOUTHERLY
WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED.

WINDS OF THIS STRENGTH ARE CAPABLE OF CAUSING ISOLATED POWER
OUTAGES…KNOCKING SMALL BRANCHES OUT OF TREES…AND BLOWING LOOSE
DEBRIS…INCLUDING STREET SIDE GARBAGE CANS.

Batten down the hatches and be careful where you park your car.