Update 6:15 a.m., Jan. 20: It appeared that the majority of the nearly 15,000 Sammamish homes and businesses that were blacked out yesterday have had power restored, but new outages are being reported as people wake up this morning.

Around 5:30 this morning, the utility's outage map indicated that roughly 600 Sammamish customers remained without power, but the number is rapidly rising this morning, with more than 2,000 customers without service as of 6:06 a.m. Meanwhile more than 11,000 Issaquah PSE customers are still affected by the widespread outages.

PSE said its crews, which have been working non-stop throughout the storm, were taking a rest late Thursday night and anticipating improving weather and warmer temperatures, as well as outside help from other utilities, will assist in their efforts today. Still, PSE warned that many areas could be without power for several days.

Update, Jan. 19: Puget Sound Energy said this afternoon that customers who didn't have power as of Thursday afternoon will likely be without service at least until Friday.

In a tweet, PSE said, "Any PSE customer who is without power Thurs evening is unlikely to have electric service restored tonight."

Puget Sound Energy said earliet that it isn't sure how long it will take to restore power to all customers, but that three to four days is a likely scenario. It has requested additional help from outside the area, but faces difficulty with the continuing storm causing trees and limbs to fall, creating danger for line crews.

Meanwhile, the number of homes and businesses affected here seems to have stabilized, with 14,700 affected in Sammamish, and more than 18,000 in Issaquah as of about 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 19. Altogether, PSE says about 230,000 customers are without power. For updates on closures of local businesses, roads, and organizations, please see--and share--in the comments on our road conditions story.

Previous story:

The outages continue to grow in Sammamish, where more than 12,000 homes and businesses are reportedly without power. In Issaquah, the outages number more than 17,000 as of 1:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Dangerous weather conditions and falling trees and limbs are currently slowing efforts by Puget Sound Energy to restore power to 184,000 affected customers. The company said in a news release that it will seek outside help to bolster its efforts here.

Sammamish City Hall is operating on backup generators and is open to residents who need to warm up or recharge batteries. Latest reports indicate QFC, Safeway, and Ace Hardware are open and running on generator power. 

Following is the most recent statement from Puget Sound Energy, though no representative has returned calls to the media line yet today:

Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, 11:00 a.m.

Puget Sound Energy crews Thursday morning are working under extremely difficult conditions. Trees and limbs, weighed down by ice-encrusted snow, are breaking off and damaging power lines, resulting in new power outages to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

Due to hazardous field conditions with falling limbs and trees, some PSE crews on Thursday morning have needed to stay clear from working near trees, impeding damage assessment and repair work. Crews will resume their work as soon as it’s safe to do so.

As of 11 a.m., PSE is responding to 515 outage locations affecting approximately 184,000 customers. Hardest hit areas are in Thurston and Pierce counties and parts of King County. Since heavy snows began on Tuesday morning, PSE has restored power to approximately 51,000 customers in Western Washington.

PSE has requested 140 additional power line crews from other parts of the country to assist with repairs and restoration work, which is expected to extend well into the weekend. There are 75 four-person power line crews, 27 two-person tree crews and 76 servicemen available and assisting with restoration efforts.

We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to repair power as quickly as possible, with safety our top priority.

People who need to report a power outage, should call Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773

Original story:

It's bad out there.

Puget Sound Energy’s outage map shows more than 1,500 customers have lost power in the Sammamish and Issaquah areas. (That includes your intrepid editor Jeanne Gustafson, so I'm filling in temporarily.)

As of about 7:45 a.m., PSE had 70,000 customers without power, primarily in Thurston and Pierce counties, and parts of King County.

And the National Weather Service in Seattle has issued an ice storm warning through noon Thursday for the region, with accumulations expected of two-tenths to four-tenths of an inch that will make travel “dangerous or impossible.” So travel isn't advised.

What's it like in your neighborhood? If you don’t have power but can still get online, let us know in the comments where any outages are. And if you do go out, let us know how the roads are.