Batten down the hatches. The wind is on its way.

The National Weather Service Forecast Center in Seattle has issued a high wind warning for parts of Western Washington including all of Kitsap County.

High winds are expected to hit the area between 4 and 6 p.m. Thursday and could extend even later into Thursday night and early Friday morning. Winds are expected to be from 30 to 40 miles an hour with gusts to 65 miles an hour. The strong winds are expected to gradually taper off after 4 a.m. Friday.

Weather forecasters said south to southwest winds will cross the interior of Puget Sound with the strongest winds expected to be along the shorelines. The winds will be strong enough to topple big trees, officials said.

Possible power outages also are anticipated, due to the fact that the soil is saturated from heavy rain and falling trees will bring down power lines.

According to Ray Lane, spokesman for Puget Sound Energy, PSE’s employees across the entire service area are making preparations for an expected busy night.

“There’s the potential for widespread power outages and wind damage,” he said. “PSE has already increased staffing in key operations areas throughout the company.”

Overnight Wednesday, at least 30 crews from other utility and power companies arrived in the area to help with restoration efforts where power went out Wednesday evening. Crews include three to four workers, with the team manning a lineman’s bucket truck and support vehicles.

Lane said Kitsap County is among the areas where crews are being staged for possible problems Thursday night.

He asked customers to be prepared for outages:

Make sure to have emergency supplies on hand, such as extra batteries, flashlights, and food

Have a battery-powered radio ready to go

Charge phones and mobile devices in case the power goes out

“Never touch downed power lines,” he said. “Always assume they’re energized.”

To report outages, call PSE at 888-225-5773.

Kitsap County activated its emergency operations center Thursday afternoon. Experts will be available to manage first-responders responding to wires and trees down, blocked roads and power outages.

“We’ll be prepared for it and make sure we have enough folks on the ground in order to respond to the needs of the public,” said Mike Gordon, the agency’s director.

The county’s severe weather shelter, at Bremerton Foodline, will also be open Thursday evening for those who need overnight shelter from the storm.