West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Just in from Metro: Buses are back to their regular routing after a day on snow routes. Separate from the weather, remember that it’s “reduced weekday” service this week.
If you’re missing some Christmas-lights-viewing time because of the snow and its aftermath – don’t worry, our area’s major displays go through New Year’s! The photos above and below are from Ken and Cora at West Seattle Yuletide, the music-synched lights on 38th SW between Dakota and Genesee; their snowman is Olaf, and that’s who this young visitor waved at:
Find the West Seattle Yuletide schedule here. Meantime … another reader photo, a star over west Admiral, shining from the 5000 block of SW Grayson:
Before the snow, we were thinking of featuring several star displays last night, for Christmas Eve. Maybe next year! But this star comes with its own story – the anonymous reader who sent the photo explains that “(an) arborist installed a hand-built, homemade, lit star on wood frame, high in a birch tree.” Other stars to see around West Seattle include the ones at Providence Mount St. Vincent (35th/Edmunds) and Nucor (Avalon/Andover). Thanks again for all the Christmas-lights tips this season – the ones we’ve showcased are archived, newest to oldest, here.
Thanks to WSB reader photos, we’ve been able to show you many views of this first West Seattle “white Christmas” in nine years – but none like these! Trileigh Tucker photographed these jewel-like closeup views of snowflakes last night.
That snowflake was caught on a strand of spider web.
Beautiful – but when not glimmering on the shrubbery, it’s potentially treacherous, since night is falling, with a forecast low below freezing, so what’s left on the roads and sidewalks is likely to turn to ice. Hope you can stay home, cozy, safe, and warm.
(Fauntleroy Park, photographed by Jamie Kinney)
11:57 AM: Thanks for the photos and video! The snow just stopped, again, with more than 2″ officially on the ground, 20 hours after the first flakes, and it’s time to take a good long look before the great meltdown (already four degrees above freezing where we are). Here’s an aerial view:
(Admiral area, photographed by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
A view from the water, passing Alki on a ferry to Bremerton:
@westseattleblog 40 seconds of a snowy West Seattle from the 8:30 ferry to Bremerton pic.twitter.com/v8pzb7swMC
— Ravenna Blog (@RavennaBlog) December 25, 2017
(Video tweeted by Rebecca @ravennablog)
Back on land, first chance in a while for some serious snowman-building:
(Photo by Ann Limbaugh)
And contemplation of peaceful scenes, like this one in Morgan Junction:
(Photo by Maggie)
And in North Delridge:
(Photo via text)
Along Admiral Way:
(Photo tweeted by @karizma23)
In Highland Park:
(Photo by Deborah Kasperson)
And in Seaview:
That photo was texted by Kevin, as was this:
Maybe if Al‘s cat Star knew there were “snow rats,” it wouldn’t have been such a difficult decision about going outside:
By the way, if you find (or lose) a pet today – or any other day of the year – remember that our West Seattle Lost/Found Pets page is here, and you can e-mail us info (with a photo if you have one) at editor@westseattleblog.com. Same address for snow photos, road info, whatever, or text 206-293-6302 … thank you!
ADDED 4:13 PM: Two more photos – the snow as it fell last night:
(Jefferson Square on Christmas Eve – photo by Ben Hutchinson)
And another snow creation:
That one arrived only with the caption: “52nd Avenue snow.” (Added 5:21 pm) We’ve since learned that’s the skull’s sculptor, Sean Devenney, in the photo.
No holiday for a car thief: Lucy‘s midnight blue Hyundai Veracruz was stolen around 7 am today: “329YTL … with Seahawk emblem stickers and license plate holder. Around Hinds and 42nd Ave SW.” Call 911 if you see it.
(Tiny snowmen built last night by Beveridge Place Pub entrance – photos by Terri Griffith)
Merry snowy Christmas! Some info you might find helpful on this holiday:
(Newest SDOT webcam view of West Seattle Bridge – more WS cameras on this updated WSB page)
TRANSIT: As of this morning, Metro remains on snow routes and a Sunday schedule. Route 22 is not running at all. … Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on a regular weekday schedule … No Water Taxi.
RESTAURANTS THAT TOLD US THEY’LL BE OPEN TODAY/TONIGHT: Go here for the list (note this was compiled long before the snowfall, so that might lead to some schedule changes – please let us know if you find any).
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: The three local Safeways are open 8 am-5 pm. Other West Seattle supermarkets are closed today.
WHERE TO GET COFFEE TODAY: At least eight West Seattle coffee shops are open today, also noted in ourWest Seattle Holiday Guide. (You might find others – if you let us know, we can add.)
ALSO OPEN TODAY: Origins Cannabis (4800 40th SW; WSB sponsor), 8 am-6 pm.
CHRISTMAS DAY CHURCH SERVICES: The list, from churches who shared their schedules, is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
FREE CHRISTMAS DINNER: The Christmas People invite anyone who needs somewhere to go for a free Christmas dinner tojoin them noon-4 pm today at Alki Masonic Center. Details here. And if you can donate homemade cookies – drop them off 9 am-1 pm. (4736 40th SW)
WHERE TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TONIGHT: See the Holiday Guide.
WANT TO GO TO THE MOVIES? Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) has showings of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Coco,” “Jumanji,” and “Greatest Showman” after 3 pm.
TRASH/RECYCLING PICKUP CHANGES: No pickup today or next Monday, so everyone’s schedule slides a day the next two weeks.
Breaking-news tips? Lost/found pets? Traffic alert/road conditions? Snow photos? WSB is 24/7/365 – best way to reach us today is 206-293-6302, text or voice. Have a wonderful and safe day!
(Photo by Cynthia Reid – Charlestown Hill sledding)
Before we move on to Christmas Day coverage – you might be wondering how much snow fell, and whether we’ll see more. The National Weather Service says the official Christmas Eve total measured at Sea-Tac was 1.6 inches.
(Photo by Danny McMillin – near 47th/Genesee)
That would place this at #3 on the NWS’s list of recorded Christmas Eve snowfalls:
1. 2.6″ 2008
2. 2.5″ 1926
3. 1.6″ 2017
4. 1.5″ 1911
5. 0.8″ 1965
6. 0.4″ 1902
7. 0.3″ 1971
The NWS says we could see up to one more inch of snow this morning – the Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10 am. After that? Here’s the forecast: Rain and snow showers possible this afternoon; then a cold, cloudy night; and Tuesday has another chance of snow showers before (relatively) warmer rain returns later in the week.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: Historic!
For the first time in over 120 years of records Seattle had at least 1" of snow on both Christmas Eve and Christmas. Official snowfall amounts for Seattle-Tacoma airport 1.6" on the 24th and 1.0" on the 25th. #wawa #wasnow #whitechristmas2017
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 26, 2017
And we could see a little more Tuesday night.
Hannah hopes someone does, so she can thank him for helping them Christmas Eve in Westwood:
We were involved in a car accident and this kind man gave us hand warmers and a warm blanket for our baby. We would love to send this man dinner to thank him for what he did for our family.
We were coming down SW Barton St and about 23rd and there were two cars in the middle of the road. In order to avoid hitting them, and we were sliding down the street we hit a pole. Baby was in the car and we are all okay. But I am hoping to thank the kind neighbor who gave us hand warmers and gave our baby a big red blanket to keep him warm. Everything was so crazy so we didn’t get a chance to thank him and I would love to bring him dinner or something. I know I probably won’t find him but it’s worth a shot.
He was wearing a light-up Seahawks Santa hat, a Seahawks jersey and had a beard. I’m assuming he lives near Barton and 23rd. if anyone hears about someone helping a family in a crash, please let me know!
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