Whidbey Island will be smacked by high winds — which may cause flooding along the west coast of the island — Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service office in Seattle.

Doug McDonnal, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, said high westerly winds are expected after a cold front sweeps across Western Washington on Nov. 11.

“A strong surge of westerly winds is going to follow the cold front down the Strait of Juan de Fuca and probably across Whidbey Island,” McDonnal said.

The National Weather Service will issue a high wind watch later today, and also a coastal flood advisory, for Friday.

Winds will probably reach 35 to 45 knots in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, are possible on Whidbey.

“That would likely cause some downed trees and some local power outages” on Whidbey, McDonnal said.

The gale-force winds may cause additional trouble for islanders along the west coast, as a high tide is expected at 3 p.m.

“We’re actually concerned that the winds are going to generate big enough waves that will occur around the time of high tide Friday afternoon,” McDonnal said.

Waves from 5 to 8 feet high are possible, and residents along the west side of the island should take heed.

“That could cause some minor coastal flooding along the west side of Whidbey Island,” he said.

High winds are expected from noon to Friday evening on Whidbey, with peak winds near 4 p.m.

McDonnal said Point Partidge (which is just north of Fort Ebey State Park) and the coast of the island south along Admiralty Inlet will be hit the hardest.