West Seattle Weather Watch: Another icy night ahead
No, that’s not an interpretation of how upset people are down in Southern California since a cold snap plunged them into the … 30s. That’s a palm tree near Alki Point’s Constellation Park, next to a frozen-in-place fountain, photo shared by Lisa. The latest forecast? Here you go – still a possibility of snow starting tomorrow night – “light” snow, then followed by a mention of snow possibilities in every daypart through Monday. Meantime, tonight’s expected to go down into the teens yet again.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Burn ban expands to King County
No cozy fire in the fireplace today/tonight: The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has just expanded what was a Snohomish County-only burn ban into King County too. It’s a Stage 2 ban, which the agency says means:
* No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. 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.
* Even if your fireplace, pellet stove, or wood stove is your only adequate source of heat, no visible smoke is allowed.
* 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.
Update: Power restored in Highland Park, White Center
12:36 AM: Just received two reports via e-mail and text (thanks!) that there’s a power outage in Highland Park, apparently coinciding with power flickers in other parts of West Seattle, including here at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. Checking for more info – let us know if it’s affecting you too. One of our HP tipsters, “westseattledood,” says it “looks dark for blocks.” 12:48 AM: Seattle City Light says about 1,900 “customers” – homes/businesses – are out of power in Highland Park and White Center. Sounds like they haven’t traced the cause yet, either, as the recording asks anyone with information on what might have triggered it to stay on the line to talk with a dispatcher. 1 AM UPDATE: SCL projects the outage might last till 4 am but still doesn’t have word of its cause. 2:09 AM UPDATE: We have one report of power coming back on, at 16th/Myrtle. 2:33 AM: City Light has taken the outage info off its hotline – haven’t confirmed yet if that means everybody’s back on or not. 4:35 AM: City Light confirms everyone’s back on (although the time mentioned in their online update doesn’t entirely synch with what people were telling us earlier this morning) and says the outage was caused by a “cable failure.”
West Seattle Weather Watch: Snow flurries
8:39 PM: First flakes of the year reported. Got ’em where you are?
10:30 PM UPDATE: As noted in the comments, looks like it’s over for now. We just drove back from downtown – there’d been some snow reported on the other side of the bay – nary a flake. Newest forecast update says there’s still a chance of “snow showers” overnight – breezy too (we felt the wind starting to pick up) – and cold for pretty much the entire week (though mostly dry) – some nights going below 20. By the way, did you catch tonight’s sunset? Got this photo from Colby – showing a bit of the amazing pink that swept across the sky.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Morning road conditions
(Photo by Stephen Hughes-Jelen – “frost flowers” on a High Point pickup hood just after midnight)
Just drove from West Seattle to SODO, where we are covering the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s annual “Christmas Shopping Spree” event. Cars along the street are seriously iced (and were by midnight last night), but the roads are not too bad – at least the main arterials and The Bridge, which looked glazed, but LG – who drove before 6 am – has an opinion on that:
Back from airport drop-off and I-5 (south), 509 (north) completely bare and dry! The bridge does seem to be treated because it looks wet and if it weren’t, we would have been slipping all over the place.
Sidewalks and parking lots are another matter – be extra careful there – today’s temps are projected to stay fairly low, so melt-off may be a while. If you’re going to the Eastside, beware – one volunteer here who came from Redmond says, “We saw spinouts all over the place.” As for the forecast – the overnight update begins with a big bold warning, COLD THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. All should be well for tonight’s tree lighting in The Junction – just bundle up. 8:47 AM UPDATE: Just came back to West Seattle via The Bridge – the outside lane is coned off over the high rise in both directions – city crews are working right now on the eastbound lanes.
West Seattle Weather Watch: “Snow” falls into the forecast
Yes, we know various “long-range forecasts” hinted at snow, but the National Weather Service didn’t have the word anywhere until “possible snow showers” appeared in the latest outlook for Saturday night. Would be ideal if that happened after the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (5 pm tomorrow, Marty Riemer, Endolyne Children’s Choir, first drawings in the $6,500 Junction giveaway, be there, Farmers’ Market parking lot). Note the photo at left of the “little” Junction tree, taken by WSB’er Creighton last year in the midst of the Big Snow (this year we’re told they’ll just light the big one to its north). 2:33 PM UPDATE: SDOT says it’s brined the roads in case of ice/snow:
Following the new winter weather response plan, SDOT crews have proactively applied salt brine solution to roads and bridges to address icing concerns and be ready for any possible snow.
In addition to applying the brine solution, which remains effective for several days unless it rains, crews have also been responding to reports of localized ice on side streets formed by groundwater seeping onto roadways.
With possible snow flurries forecast for tonight and early tomorrow, SDOT trucks are being fitted with plows and spreaders, and will be ready if needed. Crews will be on call throughout the weekend. Residents and businesses are reminded, if a storm does occur, of their responsibility to keep adjacent sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Mudslide behind Alki building
Didn’t catch a name, but thanks to the caller who tipped us to this – a mudslide behind a residential building in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW (map). No injuries reported, and the residents we saw told us they had NOT been asked to leave – authorities reportedly showed up, checked it out and left. It took out part of a fence behind the building:
But it’s yet another reminder about potential perils of the soggy season – the city has landslide-awareness info here, including what to do if it happens to you.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Flooding report; more wind tomorrow
Two weather notes. First, a note this morning from Kimber:
I am wondering if there have been other basements flooding in the area. I’ve been up all night trying to stay on top of the foot of water in my basement. Are others having the same problems? I live SW of the Junction on 38th south of the firehouse.
Second, the forecast – sun’s out now and today looks fairly calm, but more rain, with wind gusting up to 40 mph, is predicted by tomorrow night.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Hang onto your hats
The overnight “forecast discussion” calls this a “vigorous” cold front – but the wind, with gusts up to 30 mph, is supposed to ease a bit later. One other change in the forecast overnight – that talk of possible wet snow at 500 feet (which could have included the highest hills here) has evaporated, and now it’s back to 1,000 feet, which lets West Seattle (and the rest of the city) off the hook.
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