OLYMPIA – Clam diggers have a green light to proceed with an evening razor-clam dig that starts Friday, Dec. 3 at Twin Harbors and expands to four other ocean beaches the next day.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig after marine toxin tests confirmed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.

Twin Harbors, which has the highest number of clams available for harvest, will be open for digging Dec. 3-6. The four other beaches – Copalis, Mocrocks, Long Beach and Kalaloch – will be open for two days of digging, Dec. 4-5.

No digging will be allowed before noon on any of the five razor-clam beaches.

The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within the Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at the other beaches. 

MONTESANO, Wash. - The forecast from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center has been right on target for 2010-2011. They are 2 for 2 so far with a significant weather event occurring in both October and November. The Climate Prediction Center is predicting at least one major event, (flooding, high winds, snow and ice storms, extreme low temperatures), for every month during late fall, winter and early spring until April 2011.

La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean have provided the environment for the severe weather events to occur this year.  So far there have been high winds and huge 30-35’ surf conditions along the coast on October 22-24 and the ice, snow, and extreme low temperature days of November 22-25. Long range forecasting models are showing above average precipitation and an increased chance for colder than average temperatures over the next 3 months. These predictions are consistent with La Nina impacts on the Pacific Northwest. The Cascades and Olympic Mountains could see more significant snowfall this winter. This will affect Grays Harbor County during the warmer spring rainy season, when rains assist in mountain snow melt which impacts the river levels bringing an increased threat for flooding.

ABERDEEN, Wash. - A 27 year old man was stabbed in the parking lot of the Aberdeen Wal-Mart yesterday afternoon. Aberdeen Police Report the victim was shopping with his mother when he confronted a person he believed had stolen his cell phone. The suspect's 20 year old friend got involved and the victim was stabbed in a scuffle. The victim's mother used her vehicle to block the suspect's car, Both the 18 and 20 year old fled on foot, but were tracked to a nearby home and taken into custody without incident. The victim was transported to Community Hospital.

GRAYLAND, Wash. - A crash on Highway 105 between Tokeland and Westport knocked a power pole across the roadway and took out power for over 500 customers for almost 12 hours. The Washington State Patrol reports the 1987 Toyota 4-Runner, driven by a 29 year old Aberdeen man was traveling Southbound on 105 when it passed another vehicle in a no-pass zone around a blind-corner. The vehicle lost control and left the road, striking the power pole and shearing it, causing the pole and live wires to fall into the roadway. 105 was fully blocked for over 5 hours last night as PUD crews worked to replace the pole. The driver was transported to Community Hospital with injuries, and cited for Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence. Power was restored just before 1 o'clock this morning.

video provided by Rocky Pratt

HOQUIAM, Wash. - A Keen nose for smoke alerted a Hoquiam mother to a fire in her bedroom yesterday morning. The mother of two attempted to smother the small fire on her bed and bedsheets before she grabbed her two children and left her home located in the 400 block of "O" Street just before 9 Thursday. The Hoquiam Fire Department reports the fire could have been a lot worse; there was no working smoke detector in the home. With the damages mostly limited to the bedroom the power had to be shutoff displacing the family for the rest of the day, the Red Cross was contacted to assist with temporary housing. The Department reports the home suffered an undetermined amount of damage to the bedroom, and minor smoke damage throughout, the cause of the fire was the portable heater's proximity to flammable materials.