West Seattle Weather Watch updates: Complete cloudburst

(adding info, pix, video as we get it, scroll down and/or refresh)

(Photo from Alia – thank you! – added 5:16 pm; next, video from outside WSB HQ)

(video added 5 pm, lightning and thunder a few seconds in, amid ferocious rain)
Poured so hard here a few minutes ago, it took down one of our downspouts. If you’re still at work, check everything closely when you get home – haven’t seen rain that hard in a VERY long time. The street outside our house suddenly looks as flooded as if it had been raining for hours. 5:05 PM UPDATE: All the TV stations seem to have sent reporters out this way, although most are reporting by phone because it’s not safe to put up the live trucks’ antennas in thunderstorm weather. Someone on the Eastside on Channel 7 reports a funnel cloud over there. We’re monitoring scanner/online 911 too, so far no serious problems reported. If you have any photos, or reports of any problems, please let us know (editor@westseattleblog.com). 5:30 PM UPDATE: The skies are lightening now (as opposed to “lightning”), though TV radar suggests there’s more nastiness heading this way. Here’s another photo from Alia (we added her first photo at the top of this post, taken as this all was revving up):

ADDED 5:49 PM UPDATE: Here’s another clip from WSB HQ during the height of the storm – the water came down with such force (see the clip above) that it broke our downspout wide open:

Click pic to play video

5:53 PM UPDATE: To quote Junior Member of the Team, “Hey look, it stopped raining!”

6:58 PM UPDATE: Here, belatedly, is the photo to support the above statement.

Just as we were in the process of trying to add that photo about an hour ago, the site went down – please forgive us; as it so happens, we have outgrown our current host and we will be moving to a new one shortly anyway – last time that happened, the 12/3/07 deluge hit, coincidentally. We are also setting up a backup site that we will announce when it’s ready, so that if (heaven forbid) this one ever goes down again, you can find us somewhere else till the problem’s fixed.

7:17 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Lissa in Arbor Heights for this rainbow photo:

hopey August 25, 2008 (4:52 pm)

Pea-sized hail just west-southwest of Fauntleroy park!

Trick August 25, 2008 (4:58 pm)

I had hail too, Arbor Heights.

Amy T August 25, 2008 (5:10 pm)

That was the LOUDEST thunder I’ve ever heard – and I’m from the midwest!

Aim August 25, 2008 (5:14 pm)

Massive downpour in Westwood, coming down in sheets with lightning and thunder nearly simultaneously. Xanax is my friend today, as I’ve been terrified of lightning and thunder since I was a toddler. Yes, I understand how it works (Dad sat me down and read me the Childcraft Encyclopedia entry on storms when I was about 2 and it was storming. It’s one of my earliest memories) Knowing the details doesn’t help, sadly. It still scares me.

And now you all know my kryptonite! :)

JH August 25, 2008 (5:19 pm)

Is it just an urban legend that you shouldn’t be on your computer as a thunderstorm is directly over your house? Uh-oh.

Aim August 25, 2008 (5:20 pm)

power flickering now in South Delridge/White Center/Westwood area.

Alia August 25, 2008 (5:21 pm)

You’re welcome for the photos. I saw on King 5 that the other cloud photo I sent you actually is a funnel cloud formation that is a pre-cursor to a tornado. They had the same shot and were analyzing it.

Peter August 25, 2008 (5:21 pm)

Xanax is my friend everyday! :)

JT August 25, 2008 (5:23 pm)

Sorry Aim. I love this weather! Warning for video watchers, turn the sound off if you have pets. My puppy just jumped out of her skin when she thought I brought the storm inside.

WSB August 25, 2008 (5:25 pm)

Thanks – I am going to add that one, the connections are working slowly (and we have two different types of “broadband” but both are seeming rather narrow at the moment) … TR

GenHillOne August 25, 2008 (5:32 pm)

It’s oddly bright in our neighborhood right now – blindingly white (said while blinking like a mole), like it’s sunny but through the clouds. Can still hear a lot of thunder though.

SS August 25, 2008 (5:39 pm)

Over by Lincoln Park, I just made it in from running errands and there was a loud thunder bright light and pop all power lost.

Anon August 25, 2008 (5:41 pm)

2 cents from Arbor Heights – this was a rather minor storm most anywhere else in the country.

Alia August 25, 2008 (5:44 pm)

RE: “Is it just an urban legend that you shouldnâ€™t be on your computer as a thunderstorm is directly over your house? Uh-oh.”

You just reminded me… A few years back my computer hard drive was fried during a lightening/thunderstorm. I lost EVERYTHING. Supposedly my surge protector failed. I bought the most expensive surge protector for my new computer but…I’m going to power down for a while. BYE!

Aim August 25, 2008 (5:47 pm)

My computer is unplugged, and on wireless, so I’m good. However, I had a few moments of concern about our wireless router. I figure it’ll survive, and if not we get it replaced. Those are cheap.

Now it’s sunny… what the flock?

RickB August 25, 2008 (7:01 pm)

I guess the weather explains why my cat was hiding under the bed when I got home! He usually comes out to greet me when I come in the door…

-Rick

Creighton August 25, 2008 (7:24 pm)

See that guy on the motorcycle with the yellow helmet? That’s me, driving in the rain. Stayed dry, thanks to my gear, but man did that thunder pound through my helmet! Love it, actually.

Chris August 26, 2008 (2:44 am)

It’s just a storm folks…..get a life…….

JT August 26, 2008 (8:13 am)

Exactly Chris, and it’s often neighborly to discuss the weather especially when for Seattle, this is unusual, therefore interesting. What’s the harm? If we don’t have exciting enough lives for you to add a friendly comment, why not move on instead of insulting?

Alia August 26, 2008 (10:47 am)

Chris,
I had a blast watching the storm roll in at my new house, it was an exciting, quick, powerful storm. You don’t have to think so- I don’t tell others how to live and I don’t judge as you do.

GenHillOne August 26, 2008 (1:21 pm)

I thought it was very entertaining (since no one was hurt, of course)! I set myself up with my laptop, a view out the window, and the tv flipping between the Seahawks and DNC. Thank goodness the Olympics were over or my head would have been spinning :)

Sorry, comment time is over.