West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Weather Watch: Thunderstorms moving through

(Thanks to Linda for photo of storm moving eastward over the Sound)
1:26 PM: Seriously stormy weather blowing through West Seattle – we heard thunder a few minutes ago, and the wind’s kicked up. The National Weather Service has issued a “short-term forecast” alert that also warns hail is possible.

1:44 PM: And after all that, a sunbreak. But more might be on the way later.

5:17 PM: We’ve noted this on today’s traffic roundup (always linked from the sidebar), but it’s worth reporting here too – if you are headed south of West Seattle, you should know a tree’s come down on the southbound lanes of Ambaum:

That’s the tree on the left side of the photo, just south of SW 116th, in north Burien. Equipment to help clear it away was arriving when we were there, but if it’s not clear yet, you’ll be detoured.

Skies Over West Seattle update: Northern Lights tonight

If there’s a break in the clouds – or if you decide to drive to somewhere you can find one – our Skies Over West Seattle contributor Alice Enevoldsen says the Northern Lights should be out there somewhere:

A big solar wind “gust” just passed over the Earth, so tonight is prime aurora viewing. Check spaceweather and softservenews but it could even be worth driving somewhere out from under these big clouds.

West Seattle scene: Shimmering sunset; breezier weather ahead

Thanks to Debra Salazar Herbst for sharing tonight’s shimmering sunset view from Alki. The weather’s had a little of everything, but the forecast says it’ll get stormy before we see the sun again – breezy, up to 25 mph, later tonight and tomorrow. P.S. You can always check the forecast, current trends, sun/moon phases, tides, and extended outlook by going to the WSB Weather page; we’ve had a few requests to add pollen counts, but so far we’re not finding any suitable web widgets along those lines – sorry!

West Seattle Weather Watch: Alert for rainy, windy days ahead

It’s NOT predicted to be a major deluge or windstorm, but you should know the National Weather Service has a “special weather statement” out for our area, just to make sure everyone knows it’s going to be rainier and breezier than usual for the next few days. Here’s the alert. (Right now, it’s foggy as well as rainy.)

West Seattle weekend scene: Summer-like Alki traffic

Today was gloriously similar to summer – minus ten degrees or so – all the way down to the photo just shared by Debra Salazar Herbst, sunset traffic along the beach. P.S. Debra is co-founder of the Facebook page Alki Beach Daily Sunsets, and with the sunsets headed back north, the views there keep getting better.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Icy shower

2:52 PM: We’ve heard that other parts of West Seattle have had off-on hail/graupel/sleet etc. this afternoon, and it’s finally arrived here in Upper Fauntleroy. Ground-covering, even! Photo in a moment.

2:58 PM: And now … it’s sunny!

3:34 PM NOTE: This might not be the end of the unstable weather – the National Weather Service renewed the alert just before that icy shower hit. (Still sunny as we write, though.)

West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind advisory and – possible snow?

Might get windy tomorrow – the National Weather Service has a wind advisory in effect for our area from 9 am to 11 pm, with wind out of the southwest that might gust to 45 miles per hour. Rainy too, tapering off in the afternoon, when thunderstorms are possible. If that’s not wild enough – check out the outlook for Thursday, the forecast says rain and snow showers are possible – with a snow level around 500 feet, the elevation of Seattle’s highest hills (including the Myrtle Reservoir area).

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Last day of winter

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: Spring arrives early tomorrow. Today’s major traffic alert so far: Drainage work is planned on the high bridge 9 am-3 pm, today and tomorrow.

6 PM UPDATE: It’s raining, and it’s a problematic evening commute – Nicole sent these alerts:

UPS truck vs. car at Fauntleroy and Edmunds. Fauntleroy backing up heading toward bridge. Not quite enough room to go around.

Two cars (that I could see) eastbound on bridge right around 4th Ave exit. Two fire trucks had left lane closed down.

(added – thanks to BB for the photo of the UPS truck crash – no serious injuries reported:)

But – thanks to the tip in comments – there’s one bright spot; the Phase 1 zone of the Delridge repaving project is now open again, Trenton to Henderson, both ways – we took this photo near Henderson a short time ago:

Thistle-to-Trenton Phase 2 work is scheduled to start tomorrow – providing the weather doesn’t get too bad.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Rainbow & golden glow

So beautiful tonight just before sunset – if you looked west, golden sunlight started to overtake the clouds, as a misty shower passed through, and looking northeast, you might have seen the view above, a rainbow over downtown along with the golden glow. Thanks to Stephen Bergenholtz for sharing the photo, taken outside Marination ma kai (WSB sponsor) at Seacrest. Might have a chance for sun/showers mix again in the days ahead, judging by the forecast.

West Seattle scene: Sun’ll set later after Daylight Saving Time arrives Sunday morning

(Click image for larger view)
WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams caught the sunset scene tonight at Lowman Beach. It’s an excuse for us to remind you that Daylight Saving Time is just days away – at 2 am this Sunday, we’ll spring forward an hour, which means the sunset’s later (and sunrise too, for a while) starting Sunday night.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind advisory, late tonight through tomorrow

2:55 PM: More wind is on the way – and this time there’s an official alert: The National Weather Service has announced a “wind advisory” for our area, from 11 pm tonight until noon tomorrow. Gusts could reach 50 mph after rising to 15 to 30 mph out of the southwest, according to NWS. See the full alert here. (Thanks to WSB commenter “Meteorologist Patrick” for the heads-up!)

5:24 PM: The advisory is now extended through 4 pm Monday. The revised advisory also says gusts could reach 55 mph.

West Seattle scenes: Sunset, shining on the water

Thanks to Toni T. for sharing the gleaming downtown view from tonight’s sunset. That gives us the opportunity to add three photos received Friday night but put on hold because of semi-breaking news:

That photo and the next one are by Annika Bowden.

And here’s one by John Hinkey (who also contributed the swimmer/boarder view in today’s calendar preview), with a Bremerton ferry rounding southeast Bainbridge Island:

Rain’s on the way back, per the newest forecast.

West Seattle scene: What the inversion looked like from above

It’ll probably be quite a while before we forget what it was like to be UNDER all that stagnant air – but, courtesy of Long Bach Nguyen, we can see now what the inversion OVER West Seattle looked like, just before it went away earlier this week. As for the weather ahead – though we’re seeing some sunshine now, the forecast says rain will return tonight.

What West Seattle’s frosty weather has in common with Mars

If you look closely, you’ll see another dimension to our frosty, foggy weather. Jason Gift Enevoldsen shares his photo, and this explanation:

A result of the recent slow freezes in WS this week, thin ice crystals (needle ice) lift up small rocks, dirt, and plants in unusual arrangements. It has been fascinating looking for these miniature landscapes and watching how they change from day to day.

And in a larger context, Jason adds:

My wife, Alice (alicesastroinfo.com), and I disagree about whether this should be properly called frost heave, needle ice, or soil creep. But in any case, she found that there’s evidence for a similar process (soil being moved by ice formation and thaw) on Mars:

(NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
The origin of this feature is not known for certain, but it resembles Arctic features on Earth called pingos. A pingo develops when ice lifts part of the ground, making a giant frost heave. This image, about 4 km wide, is part of image P15_007033_1915_XI_11N045W taken by the Context Imager (CTX) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The orbiter’s website, by the way, is showing even more wintry imagery right now.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Snow and ice, one year ago

(January 19, 2012, photo by Meredith, taken from North Admiral)
Mired in the fog as we are, some WSB’ers have suggested a trip back in time … to the snow/ice that hit one year ago. James wrote today, “We are one year removed from Snowpocalypse 2012!!! Quite a difference a year makes. Might be fun to look back … ?” Kathleen e-mailed the same suggestion last night. Back on Tuesday, we asked “Think we’ll see snow this year?” (consensus: “no”) on the WSB Facebook page, while revisiting January 15, 2012; but an archive check reminds us the snowy, icy weather lasted for several days, with stories including these:

1/16/12: Photo roundup
1/18/12: Downhill skiing, Gatewood to Lowman Beach
1/19/12: Ice-storm warning
1/19/12: “Snow bird” photo gallery

But fog is the only “white stuff” we’ve dealt with this week, and it’s not expected to go away before Tuesday. Snow fans, don’t lose hope yet – the record for latest snowfall in Seattle is April 17, 1972, and that’s still three months away.

West Seattle Weather Watch: The burn ban is back

The off-and-on burn ban is BACK ON as of 4 pm today: Stage 1 burn ban for King County (see for yourself here). That means:

No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.

No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

West Seattle Weather Watch: ‘Dense fog advisory’ in effect

We took that photo two hours ago, looking toward Hiawatha Playfield from the West Seattle High School parking lot – and the fog’s intensified since then. So much, that the National Weather Service has issued a “dense fog advisory” (read it here), warning of low visibility through tomorrow morning. Slick roads, too, we can verify firsthand.

West Seattle weather update: No more burn ban

The burn ban has just been lifted for King County – so that means you can use your fireplace (etc.) again, even if it’s not your main source of heating. It also means beach fires are OK again in the Alki Beach fire rings, so Seattle Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter says they’re planning to remove the no-fire signage. The weather forecast still hasn’t changed much, but “light wind” is now predicted, which means relief for the air-stagnation problem.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Burn-ban change

There’s still a burn ban in effect, but as of a few minutes ago, it’s lowered to Stage 1, from the original Stage 2. This still means you’re not supposed to use your fireplace unless it’s your main source of heat, and beach fires are still off-limits (even in the Alki rings), but it means pellet stoves and EPA-certified woodstoves and inserts are OK now, says the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

West Seattle scenes: Midwinter night’s dreaminess

(Photo by David Hutchinson)
In case you were nowhere near the outdoors or at least a window this evening … WSB’ers have contributed images of this evening’s spectacular sky show – mostly the sunset, but here’s the moonset:

Photo by Emily Austin)
And before the sunset turned pink … a golden view from Anchor/Luna Park:

(Photo by Don Brubeck)
While some took a sunset stroll – others were out for a sunset paddle:

(Photo by Eileen McHugh)
Tomorrow’s forecast – dry but cloudy and cold.

Followup: Cleanup plan for Alki slide that’s blocked 55th for 5 days

(WSB photo from last Wednesday)
Another followup: We just checked back with SDOT about the status of the slide blocking 55th SW a few blocks inland from Alki Beach; neighbors’ tips brought us first word of that slide last Wednesday. SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner tells WSB today, “SDOT Street Maintenance crews plan to clean it up tomorrow (January 15), and expect to open the road by late afternoon.” Did they work out whether it was the responsibility of the city or the slope’s owner (who has it listed for sale) to pay for the cleanup? Turner replies, “The question of who pays has not been resolved at this point.”

West Seattle Weather Watch: Chilly week ahead

After a chilly weekend with beautiful sunsets like the one Michael Copeland photographed, we’re expecting a chilly week – daytime highs mostly in the 30s, according to the newest official forecast – check the current temp near you here. Some clouds expected today, too.

Thanks to 13-year-old Harrison for the downtown-skyline photo from Jack Block Park. Stay warm!

P.S. If you’re looking for the forecast, the current conditions, the tides, the sun/moon times/phases, even the UV index – stop by the WSB Weather page, any time.

West Seattle weather: Burn ban just announced

(Evidence of how cold it is: Mark‘s icy photo from Alki)
With cold, dry weather and stagnating air, a Stage 2 burn ban has just been announced for King County – and that means no woodburning unless you have no other source of heat – no beach fires, either. Details:

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 2 burn ban in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties to protect residents from worsening air quality. The bans are effective at noon, Sunday, January 13, 2013 and remain in effect until further notice.

Overnight, many areas around the Puget Sound reached air pollution levels of “UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS”, especially in areas where wood burning is common. Agency forecasters expect the current cold, dry, and stagnant weather conditions to extend well into the week. The Clean Air Agency will continue to closely monitor the air quality and weather situation.

During a Stage 2 burn ban:

No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).

(Note: The Seattle Parks Department prohibits beach fires at Alki and Golden Gardens during the burn ban.)

West Seattle Weather Watch: Be careful – icy night

(Photo by Karen Fejta)
Beautiful sunset, but now, a treacherous night – it’s already below freezing just after 8 pm, and the National Weather Service still has a special weather statement out about the cold weather. So far we’ve heard of at least two trouble spots for drivers/riders – the hill down to Harbor Avenue from the north end of California SW, and a few patches on the bridge. Anywhere the icy spots from last night/this morning melted, it wouldn’t have taken them long to re-freeze tonight. Let us know if you know of any other spots that people should be warned about.

West Seattle Weather Watch: A bit of snow

9:52 AM: We’re getting widespread reports of light snow – and we’re seeing it here in Upper Fauntleroy, too. The “special weather statement” from the National Weather Service early this morning had continued to warn of possible “spotty lowland snow.” Seems to be moving north to south at the moment – we heard from Delridge and The Junction before seeing flakes here.

10:09 AM: “Spotty” may be just the right term. We have only had flurries, and there’s a big patch of blue sky headed this way.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Alki mudslide closes road

“Woke up to neighbor pounding on our door…landslide,” wrote a resident along 55th SW in Alki, where, as you see in our photo, the slide pushed a van across the road. 55th is closed at Alki SW as a result:

SDOT is out checking the slide scene – we’ll check with them later to see what the plan is. Here’s a closer look at the mud that came off the slope:

Neighbors are particularly concerned because they say sloping property in that area has been up for sale – we’re looking into that.

4 PM UPDATE: From SDOT’s Marybeth Turner: “SDOT is consulting with the Department of Planning and Development to determine who should clean up the slide.” Meantime, real-estate listings confirm that two parcels on that side of 55th are for sale, the one described as having “a relatively gentle slope” for $235,000, the other for $290,000; the listings say the site is in the process of being subdivided – though that is not evident in the DPD online records for the property. The zoning is for single-family housing.

West Seattle weather: Wind advisory extended, gusts up to 50 mph

The wind has just started kicking up in earnest at WSB HQ east of Lincoln Park, and the National Weather Service has just extended the current “wind advisory,” now in effect until 4 am. The NWS warns that gusts up to 50 mph are possible, so it’s a good time to make sure everything’s charged up. Here’s the full text of the advisory.