West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle scene: The wave of the future?

Wind from the west-southwest combined with high tide earlier this afternoon to send waves crashing over the seawall, fence, and road along Constellation Park south of Alki Point. We stopped for a photo to go with a reminder that another round of “king tides” is on the way – today’s high tide just before noon was just short of 12 feet, and the afternoon high tide is on the wane, but the morning high tide is on the rise, heading for a peak of 13.1 feet at 7:01 am next Monday (January 14th). You’ll recall that the highest “king tide” a month earlier (WSB 12/17/12 coverage here) combined with a storm surge to make history with the city’s highest high-water level ever – inundating many homes along Beach Drive. Too soon to say for sure, but, while Tuesday night and Wednesday look windy, the peak-tide period days later doesn’t look too bad so far. P.S. You can find the tide chart any time on the WSB Weather page.

West Seattle New Year’s Eve 2012: Final sunset of the year

The final day of 2012 began with a glorious sunrise … and made way for New Year’s Eve with a glorious sunset. Thanks to Doug Branch for the top photo, taken from Beach Drive; the photo below was tweeted by Lori Williams:

Anything in particular you’re hoping for in the New Year – simple or grand, neighborhood or personal? We asked the question on the WSB Facebook page over the weekend (just as it turned the odometer to 9,000 “likes” – thanks!) and you can see the replies here; add your own if you have a 2013 wish/hope/dream!

West Seattle New Year’s Eve 2012 starts with spectacular sunrise

Thanks to Lise Thivierge for sharing the view from the West Seattle Water Taxi dock at Seacrest (regular schedule today but no WT service tomorrow, by the way). Beautiful start to the year’s final day.

ADDED: More views! This one’s from Michelle Stathoulis via the WSB Facebook page:

Fittingly, there’s a Sunrise Heights landmark in the foreground of Michelle’s sunrise view! And from Arbor Heights, Debbie Pierce sends this sunrise-watching scene:

That’s Debbie’s pup Austin enjoying the view.

West Seattle weekend weather scenes, and the newest forecast

(Photo by Robert Kristofer Lanier, shared via the WSB Facebook page)
Tonight’s fog is expected to linger into the morning – but the newest forecast says that once it clears, it shouldn’t be back until after midnight tomorrow night; here’s hoping it holds off until the Space Needle’s fireworks show is over (12:07 am or so)! While tomorrow afternoon is projected as cloudy, the National Weather Service also thinks we might see sunshine again on New Year’s Day:

(Photo by Anne Higuera from Ventana Construction [WSB sponsor])
That’s how Lincoln Park’s north shore looked this afternoon. Thanks to Robert and Anne for sharing the photos!

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: A view of the early-morning fog in The Junction, from John Kieltyka:

Also just spotted a Sunday afternoon skyline-with-fog view in the WSB Flickr group – see it here.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Of rainbows and rainfall

Just before sunset on Thursday, north West Seattle enjoyed a beautiful rainbow view. We received two photos from Alki – top, from Russ Walker; below, from Ginny Trethewey:

A few hours later, the Seattle office of the National Weather Service shared some stats on this year’s rainfall:

Today was the 176th day this year with measurable precipitation at Sea-Tac. This is the 8th-highest total on record at Sea-Tac. The record is 194 days in 1950. The least number of days on record at Sea-Tac – 120 days in 1987.

Since October 1st there has been 21.78 inches of precipitation at Sea-Tac. 5th-highest October 1st to December 31st total. The record is 25.06 inches, set in 1955.

And yet it also has been a year with a record dry spell – the longest period in which only .01 inches of rain was recorded – 81 days in late summer/early fall.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Snow no longer expected

(Photo courtesy Jason Grotelueschen)
The “snow” that fell during Hope Lutheran Church‘s Christmas Eve services is apparently the only kind anyone in West Seattle will be seeing this holiday – the forecast has changed. The late-night forecast update from the National Weather Service now only mentions snow as a possibility for our neighbors across Puget Sound – and that’s reinforced by the 3 am “forecast discussion,” which basically says it’s not cold enough.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Chance of Christmas snow?

The mid-evening “forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service still holds the possibility of some Christmas Day snow – the possibility that led the NWS to issue this Special Weather Statement advisory earlier today. Still too far away to say for sure, but they’re saying there’s a chance that precipitation will bump into cold air and result in Christmas snow for the first time since December 2008. We’ll keep an eye on how the forecast evolves!

Welcome, winter! Sun shows up again for Alice Enevoldsen’s winter-solstice-sunset watch in West Seattle

Look what showed up for NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen‘s quarterly solstice/equinox sunset watch in West Seattle – the sun! Two hours earlier, Alice tweeted at us regarding the sudden sun sighting:

While the gatherings are mostly a chance to find out more about the solar-system phenomena from a volunteer expert, actually seeing the sun means a chance to check the alignment of Solstice Park‘s special features. Here are some of the 30 or so sunset-watchers who showed up:

Checking our archives, it seems the sun appeared for last year’s winter-solstice-sunset event, too. This year, Alice had something extra to explain:

In recent months, she became an expert 2012-end-of-world debunker (see her various links/explanations here), so there was an extra note of triumph in the simple fact that tonight’s event did happen as scheduled. (P.S. The solstice moment itself was 3:12 am today. Next up – spring equinox, 4:02 am our time March 20, 2013. Watch for Alice’s event announcement when it gets closer – it’ll be on her website, along with other interesting astronomical updates, at alicesastroinfo.com.)

West Seattle Weather Watch: Early-morning snowfall

FIRST REPORT, 3:54 AM: Though the maps showed Seattle in the “snow shadow” again, snow is falling right now here in Upper Fauntleroy. Just one of the showers mentioned in the forecast? Just went out to check, and it’s fairly wet snow – sticking to the cars, but also audibly melting in the downspout. (Video added above, 4:09 am.) Let us know if you’re seeing any where you are.

4:24 AM UPDATE: It switched to freezing rain after a few minutes – but now flakes are mixed in again – seems to be right in line with the “rain/snow showers” forecast. Photo shows what that first wave left on the car window.

5:04 AM UPDATE: Another serious snow shower’s been under way awhile – more on the car, but not on the road so far. Added the bridge cam view just in case. (You can see more West Seattle and WS-relevant cams here.)

6:55 AM UPDATE: No major problems or changes related to the snow showers.

9:35 AM UPDATE: The winter-weather advisory for the area will expire at 10 am, and the latest forecast says that by afternoon, precipitation will be all rain.

Storm followup: Highest water level ever recorded in Seattle

(1st three photos from Monday, by Nick Adams for WSB)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

We have just learned that yesterday morning’s highest water level – the combination of high tide and “storm surge” – wasn’t just high, it was historic – the highest level ever recorded in Seattle.

The word comes from Seattle Public Utilities, which has to track this closely because of the effects storms and high tides can and do have on their facilities – look closely to see the water coming OUT of this manhole on Beach Drive, instead of going in:

And SPU meteorologist James Rufo-Hill tells WSB it’s likely “a harbinger of things to come.” More from our interview, ahead:

Click to read the rest of Storm followup: Highest water level ever recorded in Seattle…

West Seattle storm aftermath: Pump-station project damage

The King County Wastewater Treatment District says the Monday morning “storm surge” caused some minor damage at the Barton Pump Station expansion project north of the ferry dock. Crews repaired the chain-link fence and concrete barrier blocks, according to a news release:

The storm washed waves and driftwood through the barrier into the construction site. The repaired barrier includes an additional row of concrete blocks to protect against future storm events.

Crew members were on site Sunday to prepare for the approaching storm. All on-site liquids were properly stored and materials from the jet grouting operation were cured. There was no contamination of any materials into Puget Sound.

Crews will continue to monitor site conditions through the winter storm season and will take precautionary measures as needed to protect both the site and Puget Sound.

The construction work is scheduled to continue until late 2014.

West Seattle weather: Early morning snow sightings

1:49 AM: First snow sightings – Westwood, Sunrise Heights, Highland Park. Forecast still does not suggest anything major, though.

6:12 AM: Nothing on the ground where we are. And Seattle is still in the (small) “snow shadow” zone on the National Weather Service map you can see here – meaning no alerts/advisories/warnings right now.

West Seattle storm scenes: Anybody seen a lost dock?

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Anyone seen a dock? After the big-surf day on Beach Drive, Kathleen is missing one from the 5400 block. She says: “I’m certain we are not the only ones, but if you end up with an unfamiliar dock on or near your beach, please post a pic or give me a call at 206-734-5992.”

That’s just one of today’s many storm stories. We covered the high wind, high waves, and high tide as it all unfolded this morning – see our morning coverage here for as-it-happened video and photos – but tonight, we have one more look at a day that won’t soon be forgotten. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams captured the fierce beauty …

… and the hard work:

That’s Rhonda Porter and son Taylor carrying water-pump hoses to a neighbor’s home. It was a day for neighbors helping neighbors, and for the Seattle Fire Department to be called in here and there:

The water caused some electrical trouble here and there.

Eight more photos ahead:

Click to read the rest of West Seattle storm scenes: Anybody seen a lost dock?…

West Seattle Weather Watch: Snow tomorrow? Maybe some

(The Olympics seen Monday morning from Beach Drive, by Nick Adams for WSB)
The mountains today – your place tomorrow? Here’s the latest on whether we might see some snow early Tuesday morning (and beyond). The newest forecast includes the possibility of rain/snow showers after midnight – and pegs the snow level at 400 feet (West Seattle’s highest spot is 512′ by Myrtle Reservoir); the chance of snow showers continues throughout the day, but the snow level is expected to rise to 500 feet in the afternoon.

Weather analyst Cliff Mass just published a late-afternoon update, and says he does not think the lowlands will see much if any – he believes the city will be in a snow shadow. But, as with this morning’s wind, waves, and high tide, we’ll be tracking the weather again overnight and into tomorrow, so stay tuned.

West Seattle storm damage: Lincoln Park pounded

(EARLIER COVERAGE: Our as-it-happened morning storm coverage with video and photos is here)

With all of West Seattle’s west/northwest-facing shoreline getting pounded by this morning’s high-tide/high-wind double-punch, and Lincoln Park has suffered some damage, shown in photos by Trileigh Tucker:

That hole in the top of the seawall was being checked out by Seattle Parks workers while Trileigh was there:

Parks’ media liaison Dewey Potter is checking for us to find out if any damage has been officially tallied in local parks so far. Meantime, Scott Bessho also shared photographs from the north side of Lincoln Park:

That was the most striking view – debris all over the north end of the waterfront trail, just before the park makes way for the south end of residential Beach Drive. We’ll add any information we get later about park damage. we also have another set of photos coming up that shows how it went at Constellation Park – this area’s most-popular wave-watching spot – this morning.

Video/photos/updates: Monday morning’s high tide, waves, wind

(SCROLL DOWN for the newest photos/video)

(Added 8:44 am – high tide swamping Statue of Liberty Plaza)
ORIGINAL 6:06 AM REPORT: So far, no major damage or outages reported in West Seattle in the four and a half hours since the wind started kicking up. We’re starting this new report to track whatever happens – including our usual traffic watch – during the morning commute and beyond.

(The west-facing bridge camera is back! Other cams are on the WSB Traffic page)
VASHON WATER TAXI CANCELED: King County just sent a text alert that the Vashon-Downtown Seattle Water Taxi is canceled TFN because of the wind. There are **no** changes reported to the West Seattle Water Taxi so far, though.

HIGH WIND WARNING: The National Weather Service’s wind advisory has been upgraded to a high-wind warning, in effect till noon. See it here; it mentions sustained wind out of the SW, 25-35 mph with gusts of 60 mph possible until midday, though it’ll still be breezy then, with gusts of up to 40 mph.

SNOW TONIGHT/TOMORROW? We mentioned it on Sunday – and the possibility of snow after midnight is still in the newest forecast.

7:06 AM UPDATE: In our area, two single-customer outages are now listed on the City Light map, one in North Admiral and one in Shorewood, both with “tree” listed as the cause. The ground saturation from recent rain has increased the tree/slide risk. On the WSB Facebook page, KL reminds us that since many in West Seattle have Monday trash pickup, you’ll want to take extra steps to secure your containers since the wind will be gusty for at least a few more hours. Also note that this morning’s high “king tide” – almost 13 feet – is still more than an hour away; (added) Justin took this predawn video from Alki and 53rd around 6:30 – no beach visible:

Further west, Beach Drive Blog is tracking it, including video updates.

7:26 AM: Potential traffic trouble – 3-vehicle crash at Delridge/Genesee. Emergency responders en route.

7:51 AM: Waiting to hear from our crew at that scene. Meantime, now that it’s becoming light, we’re seeing what the mega-high tide looks like – Lise Thivierge just sent this from Seacrest:

Seattle Fire has been dispatched to a home in the 6700 block of Beach Drive reporting water coming into the house.

8:05 AM: Just got this video from Mark Tabbutt near Lowman Beach:

8:29 AM: And from Margot in the 7100 block of Beach Drive – she says this is her “front yard”:

We’ve been to Statue of Liberty Plaza, where water has swamped onto the plaza itself. Photo (also see video added atop this story):

8:41 AM: Mark near Lowman Beach also sent this photo of high water at his neighbors’ house:

And back on the north side of the West Seattle waterfront – the tide, without the strongest wind gusts, is swamping Don Armeni – Carolyn Newman sent this photo:

8:55 AM: Swamped stairway and boardwalk at Alki at highest tide half an hour ago:

A reader texted this photo from near Constellation Park (south of Alki Point):

Thanks to everyone who has shared photos – we have two crews out and will be adding more of their photos too, but your perspective from waterfront homes is unique and appreciated. Hope no one has suffered serious damage.

9:24 AM: Thom, just south of Lowman Beach, shared this video:

He added, “Since that video was taken, the other half of the gate is gone as well as the splash plank.”

10:19 AM: Further north on Beach Drive, in the 5400 block and vicinity, WSB’s Patrick Sand caught the waves and the driftwood logs looming offshore:

Thanks to Lura for letting us come shoot that view. Not far away, at Beach Drive Blog HQ, where they were busy getting word out about all this days ago, Patrick’s video shows them pumping out the water that came in:

(added) Kim sent this view of the waves along the 3800 block of Beach Drive:

We also have photos of tree trouble in Highland Park:

Nora, who shared the photo, says: “Fortunately one car is in the shop otherwise it would have been under the big branch to the left. Damage to carport with a few branches sticking through the roof. No damage to the car beneath.”

11:44 AM: We went to the Alki Bathhouse to make sure the high water hadn’t gotten inside and done damage – it had not, we’re told. But while there, we caught this only-on-a-high-tide sight:

We have LOTS more photos to publish – will update when we either add them here or launch a new story.

West Seattle Weather Watch: The wind arrives

(Short clip of what it sounded like around 2 am – just in case you sleep through the whole thing)
1:57 AM: In the past 20 minutes or so, the wind has arrived in a big way where we are, west-facing Upper Fauntleroy. The forecast remains the same – the National Weather Service has our area under a wind advisory until 4 pm today. If the NWS keeps to its usual timetable, the next likely forecast update will be within the next two hours or so. We’ll be monitoring everything throughout the morning – here’s hoping for no major trouble, but if there’s a power problem, a downed tree, etc., where you are, please let us know (text or call 206-293-6302).

2:25 AM: Some links we’re watching:
**City Light power-outage map (none as of this writing)
**Hourly readings at weather stations (the T column is temperature, SP is wind speed, GS is wind gusts)
**Seattle City Light’s “Wind Watch” animated forecasting

West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind advisory tonight; snow possible Monday night; that erroneous ‘blizzard alert’

(Added 6:38 pm: Rainy Junction evening; photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
3:31 PM: What was a National Weather Service high-wind watch for our area is now a wind advisory, 10 pm tonight till 4 pm tomorrow – see it here. We’ll be updating throughout the night/morning. There’s also a “coastal flood advisory” for “minor tidal overflow” in waterfront areas 7 am-11 am tomorrow, since the wind will coincide with a very high tide (12.9 feet, 8:17 am Monday). And then, the forecast for Monday night and Tuesday DOES suggest some snow on the hills. However, as we’ve already noted via Facebook and Twitter – if you received a “blizzard warning” on your phone, that does NOT involve our area – just the mountains.

5:36 PM UPDATE: Seattle City Light has updated its Power Lines site to say it’s prepared in case of outages, with extra staff. And regarding that “blizzard warning,” KING5.com has the explanation.

West Seattle Weather Watch: 60 mph wind possible

Be sure you have batteries on hand, and check around your house for anything in danger of being picked up and blown around: The National Weather Service has renewed its High Wind Watch for our area – in effect late tomorrow night through Monday morning. See it here; the NWS says it’ll be southwest wind, “rising to 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts to 60 mph.” We’ll keep close watch on the changing forecast, as well as the wind itself if/when it arrives.

West Seattle Weather Watch: ‘Lumpy rain,’ and an alert ahead

10:24 AM: Two weather notes this morning – First, just received a text (206-293-6302 any time) noting “lumpy rain” north of Roxbury. The National Weather Service did warn of “rain mixed with snow” in this morning’s forecast update – increasing winds, too, and we’ve seen them kick up here. The NWS also has a Special Weather Statement out for the region, including our area, about a big storm headed this way late Sunday and into Monday – wind and rain mentioned, not snow, though “snow showers” are noted as possible in the aforementioned forecast. P.S. Could be extra-problematic in waterfront areas if high wind coincides with the ongoing high tides – Beach Drive Blog has a mashup of all that info together.

4:57 PM UPDATE: The Special Weather Statement has since been upgraded to a High Wind Watch for late Sunday night into early Monday morning – see it here.

West Seattle scenes: Morning tide, mountain snow

Thanks to early-rising WSB’ers for sharing photos of this morning’s short-lived sunbreak – which revealed the moon and the mountains, and high tide. Top photo is from JayDee in Upper Alki; next, from Leslie, on Beach Drive:

The water was so high over at Don Armeni, Carolyn Newman reports, launching a boat required extra wading:

And from Don Brubeck, a closer look at the snow-frosted Olympic Mountains in the early-morning light:

Thanks to everyone who shared photos – the sun’s long gone, at least for now!

West Seattle Weather Watch: Alki mudslide reported

Thanks to the WSB’er who shared the photo; after a night of pounding rain, a mudslide behind a building in the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW is reported to have damaged three vehicles, pushing them into each other. We’ll be checking to find out more; the National Weather Service‘s newest forecast says showery, breezy weather will continue today. Any weather trouble where you are? Let us know – thanks!

West Seattle Weather Watch: Possible ‘tidal overflow’ ahead

The National Weather Service includes our area in an alert out tonight – a “coastal flood advisory,” for possible tidal overflow, especially during the high tides the next two mornings. At 6:08 tomorrow morning and 6:41 Friday morning, the high tide will be just under 12 feet – but a “tidal anomaly” may push the water a foot or two higher. So the NWS is alerting waterfront residents and anyone else who might be out on the shore.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Thanksgiving Eve rainbow

A promise that the weather will improve? Forecast says that tonight and most of tomorrow should be calmer. Meantime, WSB’ers have shared views of the rainbow sighting this past half-hour or so – top photo is from Glenn Brooks. Next, from Lise Thivierge, a High Point view:

And from Willie Ellenberg via the WSB Facebook page, a double rainbow!

Thanks as always to everyone for sharing – editor@westseattleblog.com (or other contact channels) any time!

Ready to ski? WS-headquartered Seattle Ski Shuttle heads out tomorrow

Just in from Seattle Ski Shuttle, which is operated by the same folks who bring you Mountain to Sound Outfitters and Alki Kayak Tours:

Crystal Mountain is officially opening on Wednesday, November 21, 2012. The Seattle Ski Shuttle will be running our first shuttle of the season that day. Also, starting Friday, November 23rd, we will be operating our regular schedule to Crystal Mountain (Mondays, Thursdays, & Fridays every week)! We will also be running a shuttle to Snoqualmie Central on weekends once the mountain opens up. For more information and to book a seat, go to: seattleskishuttle.com

West Seattle Weather Watch: Thundershower, and wind advisory too

Wild weather this afternoon! The photo was shared by Carlos H. via Twitter. And though there’s a band of blue sky advancing as we type, you should know we’re under a wind advisory till early evening, too, as the next front literally blows through. Local meteorologist Patrick K. points out that what you see in Carlos’s photo is a “squall line.” Latest forecast says rain/showers are expected to continue off and on all week. If you can, take advantage of the impending break in the rain to clear your nearest storm drain! It’s usually a quick job, since yours probably isn’t THIS imposing:

That’s the Longfellow Creek sluice gate at 25th and Juneau; Lauren has been telling us about it, and shared the above “before” photo, with leaves, sticks and logs cluttering it till cleared – not by city crews (though we’ve seen them out and about all day) but by her husband. If it gets clogged, there’s a risk of big flooding, Lauren explains.

West Seattle scene: Puget Sound spillover on Alki

Thanks to Jenn Padilla for sharing that photo from the Alki boardwalk, where high water from our record rainfall has augmented what was already one of the month’s highest tides, 12 feet, peaking about an hour ago. Jenn texted us the photo (206-293-6302 any time), saying she’d never “seen the Sound so full that it spilled over.” (The peak high tide was 12.6 feet last Saturday.) P.S. From just around the point to the south, here’s high-tide coverage on Beach Drive Blog.