West Seattle, Washington
26 Sunday
WSB contributing photographer Dave Gershgorn got that aerial photo from Arbor Heights, looking north, around sunset tonight – that’s Fauntleroy Park in the foreground, with the Barton Standpipe [map] just past it, at center. The sky, you’ll note, is mostly clear, and a sub-freezing low is predicted tonight, which is why a Cold Weather Advisory is now in effect through 10 am Thursday. The forecast is flake-free until after that.
(Last Wednesday morning’s snow – photo by Janelle Otterholt)
With delays and cancellations in Seattle Public Utilities customers’ solid-waste-pickup service last week, SPU published this reminder today:
We aren’t quite out of the woods yet with the winter weather this week, so here are a few reminders:
Wednesday customers missed last week may set out twice the amount of garbage, recycling, and compost this week at no extra charge.
Any other customers missed last week should report a missed collection as usual.
As winter weather continues, please be sure to regularly check back in on the At Your Service blog for the latest updates. If your garbage collection was missed and there were no collection delays, please use the Utilities Services website to report a missed collection or call our customer service line 206-684-3000.
Though the update didn’t specifically mention Tuesday customers, SPU spokesperson Brad Wong told WSB last Friday that anyone missed on February 4th could call this morning for a special pickup.
No snow expected, but a dangerously frosty wind chill is at the heart of the Cold Weather Advisory alert that the National Weather Service has ordered for our area. It’ll be in effect 6 pm Monday through 10 am Wednesday, with the potential for wind-chill temperatures in the teens to 20s. Forecast says wind will be out of the north/northeast much of that time. (The NWS graphic in this story shows this alert applies to much of Western Washington – light blue on the map.)
9:03 AM: After delays and cancellations throughout the week, here’s where Seattle Public Utilities says things stand as of today, and looking toward next week:
Contractors for SPU Resume Collection for All Customers for Friday, February 7, 2025
(Friday, February 7) — As a reminder, due to winter weather, there is a shift for which all customers are serviced today.
Thursday customers should have carts out today. And regular Friday customers will set carts out for collection by 7 a.m. on Saturday. Transfer Stations are open today.
If your materials are not picked up by the end of the following day, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Customers missed this week (Wednesday customers) will be allowed to set out twice their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.
7:10 PM: After commenters asked about some who were missed on Tuesday, we took the question to SPU’s Brad Wong, who responded:
Thanks, again, for letting us know that some customers in West Seattle did not have their garbage or food waste picked up on Tuesday, February 4.
These individuals can call an SPU customer service representative at 206-684-3000 on Monday, February 10 by 10 a.m. to request a special pick up at the curb of these items on that Monday. There will be no charge for this pickup.
SPU asks customers to report a missed pickup within two business days of their service day. However, we understand that this week’s snow and winter weather disrupted the daily schedules of residents.
(“Live” SDOT camera looking east at 35th/Roxbury)
(Most-recent update 9:41 am, Parks changes, Center for Active Living closure) Welcome to Thursday, February 6! Some snow’s on the ground again this morning, so that’s brought school changes, and we start our morning report with those:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Remote learning again today, but on a regular schedule:
Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, all Seattle Public Schools will be in remote instruction today. Buildings will be closed, and there will be no in-person instruction. Remote instruction will operate on a regular school schedule. Families should expect instructions from your student’s school. Please ensure their SPS electronic device is prepped and ready for learning. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled, as well as all athletic events.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL: 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15 am, classes start 10;30 am, no morning bus service.
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: 10 am start.
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: 2-hour late start.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: 10:30 am start.
HOLY ROSARY: 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15 am.
HOLY FAMILY: 2-hour late start, doors open 9:50 am.
SUMMIT ATLAS: 2-hour late start – doors open 10:20 am, classes start 10:30 am.
(updated 7:57 am) TILDEN SCHOOL: Change in plan – closed today.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Late start again today – 10 am.
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2-hour late start.
VASHON ISLAND SD: 1.5-hour late start.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC HS: 2-hour late start – classes start 10 am.
Please text/call 206-293-6302 with any other school changes – we’ll keep adding.
Also this morning:
WEATHER INFO
The Winter Weather Advisory, with the possibility of more snow, continues until 10 am today … The Cold Weather Advisory alert, for nighttime temperatures possibly into the low 20s, will be in effect 10 pm tonight until 10 am Friday.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro – Check metrowinter.com for changes in our area – as of 6 am, no major routing changes here. …. (Updated 6:54 am) Route 50 is routed off SW Genesee/Delridge because of “road conditions,” so if that’s your bus, check for alerts.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
ALSO OF NOTE
-SDOT’s winter-response map
(updated 7:08 am) -SPU’s solid-waste pickups are CANCELED today – here’s the latest info
(updated 7:08 am) –Seattle Public Library branches are opening late – details here
(added 9:41 am) -Seattle Parks changes, mostly late starts – details here
(added 9:41 am) –Center for Active Living closed, Jazz Night canceled
Any other weather-related info? Text/voice 206-293-6302, or if not urgent, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
(Photo by Marina Clough)
1:12 PM: Another serious snow shower! So we’re launching afternoon coverage. Here’s a snowman WSB’s Aspen Anderson found in Lincoln Park before the second round of snow:
The sun was out for a bit this morning – Chris Frankovich sent this photo:
The Winter Weather Advisory alert remains in effect until 10 am Thursday. And now we have a second National Weather Service alert – a Cold Weather Advisory that’ll be in effect 10 pm Thursday to 10 am Friday, saying temperatures could drop into the teens.
2:31 PM: The sun’s making an appearance right now, and what fell most recently is melting.
5:48 PM: Now a serious hail/graupel/ice shower is moving through – very loudly.
(Lincoln Park path – WSB photo by Aspen Anderson)
Also in from the city, changes in Seattle Public Library and Seattle Parks facilities because of the snow:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Delayed opening:
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, given the present accumulation of snow and ice in Seattle, all branch locations of The Seattle Public Library will open on a 2-hour delay. The Central Library will maintain normal open hours. All Bookmobile stops have been canceled for the day.
Branch locations will be scheduled to open from noon to 6 p.m. or noon to 8 p.m. The Central Library will open with regular hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. View our schedule at www.spl.org/Hours. We may experience other impacts to our schedule, so please check this page again before planning a visit to one of our locations.
SEATTLE PARKS: Various changes to facility operations; most notably for West Seattle, the golf course is closed, and Southwest Pool is on a delayed schedule. Full systemwide info is here.
Here’s the official announcement of today’s cancellation, plus delays for the rest of the week, from Seattle Public Utilities:
Due to winter weather conditions, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle today, Wednesday, February 5, 2025. SPU’s North and South transfer stations will open at 10 a.m. today.
Weather and road conditions permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Thursday, February 6, on a revised schedule — with customers scheduled for pickup today, Wednesday, February 5, collected tomorrow. All remaining residential services will be delayed one day this week. For example, if your regular collection day is Friday, your garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected on Saturday this week. Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.
If your materials are not picked up by the end of the following day, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out twice their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.
(“Live” SDOT camera image near Louisa Boren STEM K-8)
After some snowfall these past few hours, we’ve got news of school changes for today (Wednesday, February 5), and are updating as we get more:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Remote instruction today, 2-hour late start. Here’s the full announcement for SPS:
Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, all schools will be in remote instruction today, Feb. 5, with a two-hour delay. Buildings will be closed, and there will be no in-person instruction. This includes preschool and Head Start. (PreK and Head Start will not have remote learning). Schools will end at the standard early release time. Families should expect instructions from your student’s school. Please ensure their SPS electronic device is prepped and ready for learning. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled, as well as all athletic events.
(updated 6:08 am) VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:26 am) HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: All schools closed today.
(added 5:39 am) SUMMIT ATLAS: Closed today.
(added 6:23 am) HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:43 am) TILDEN SCHOOL: Closed today.
(updated 8:05 am) SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:48 am) HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 6:10 am) OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today, no EDC/ELC.
(added 6:11 am) WESTSIDE SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 8:05 am) BRIDGE SCHOOL COOPERATIVE ELEMENTARY: Closed today; community meeting canceled.
School changes can be texted/called to us at 206-293-6302.
Other snow-related updates:
WEATHER INFO
Winter Weather Advisory now in effect until 10 am Thursday. Up to two inches of snow; temperatures in the 30s.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro – Check metrowinter.com for changes in our area; all buses in East King County zone are now on snow routing.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
ALSO OF NOTE: SDOT’s winter-response map
We already have word of some school changes for Tuesday because of the potentially snowy weather, so we’ll start the list here and update it with whatever else we hear.
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: 2-hour late start Tuesday. No morning, ESC, or half-day preschool; school will start at 10:30 am.
VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: 1.5-hour late start Tuesday; see district website pop-up for other effects.
KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL: 2-hour late start (10 am); see district website pop-up for details.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Late start of 10 am for Tuesday. All classes and activities before 10 am are canceled.
.HOLY FAMILY: 2-hour late start
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 hours late.
Others? Please text or call 206-293-6302, or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The National Weather Service has finally issued an alert after all these days of forecasts with the potential for some snow. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 10 am tomorrow, with the NWS saying we could get up to two inches of snow. As always, we’ll cover the weather plus school and traffic info – 206-293-6302, voice or text, is the best way to let us know what’s happening where you’re at.
The second wave of snow showers was even shorter than the first, but some nearby areas are experiencing – and/or expecting – weather wintry enough that they’ve announced school changes for Monday. Here’s what we have so far:
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district that includes White Center and points south will start 2 hours late on Monday. Full details here.
VASHON ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district with hundreds of students from West Seattle will start 1 1/2 hours late on Monday.
SUMMIT ATLAS: We haven’t reached the school to confirm this yet but a parent says the charter middle/high school in Arbor Heights is starting 2 hours late on Monday.
(added) KENNEDY HS: Also starting 2 hours late.
(added) HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added) SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Just received at 5 pm:
South Seattle College Alert: Due to winter weather, all classes and activities starting at 6 PM or later on Monday, February 3 are cancelled. We will also have a late start of 10 AM on Tuesday, February 4. All classes and activities prior to 10AM are cancelled.
Got a school change or closure? Please text or call us, 206-293-6302.
After a showerless afternoon … the snow’s back, at least here in Upper Fauntleroy. Still no advisories for the city in general, West Seattle or otherwise, but the forecast has snow showers possible in every daypart for the next few days, and temperatures are not expected to get out of the 30s.
(INFOLINKS: West Seattle traffic cams … SDOT’s citywide camera map … SDOT’s winter-response map … Metro advisories)
9:41 AM: Serious snow shower right now in Upper Fauntleroy. That’s what the forecast is suggesting for our area today – still no official weather alert for Seattle, though, and no major accumulation is expected, but this one is heavy enough that the dusting is already sticking on the ground.
And on the roads, at least in the higher areas!
9:56 AM: And elsewhere. Sam from Sylvan Way says drivers are already getting stuck on the hill east of The Home Depot (she sent the photo above). … And moments later, the snow stopped, for now.
10:58 AM: Metro has sent alerts that Route 125 is routed off 16th SW between Austin and Oregon because of road conditions. We’re adding the Metro status link to our infolinks atop this story – though we’re in a break now, radar suggests more on the way.
11:23 AM: Metro says the 125 has resumed regular routing.
9:41 AM: For days now, forecasters have been dangling the possibility of a little snow here in the “lowlands.” And just now, as we started to write a “no sightings yet” story, a flurry showed up here in Upper Fauntleroy. No alerts yet but snowflakes are featured daily/nightly in the official National Weather Service forecast for the next several days and nights, so keep your snow-related gear on standby.
10:21 AM: Sunshine has since shown up too.
12:20 PM: Intense squall moved through Admiral a short time ago and the ground was coated.
12:59 PM: Thanks to commenter Oriana for that photo showing what happened after the ice (not snow) squall went through. We were covering the Washington State Black Legacy Institute event, outdoors, and will add video of how it was so intense, it chased everyone indoors.
(File photo from past ‘king tide,’ by David Hutchinson at Alki)
While most are focusing on the possibility of snow this weekend (no alerts yet!), it’s also of note that Sunday will be one of three days this year with the highest predicted high tide – 12.9 feet – one of the so-called “king tides.” That’s what’s expected at 7:42 am Sunday (February 2), as well as on the mornings of December 6-7. Will that truly be the year’s highest tide? Shore-watchers know that atmospheric conditions can affect what actually happens; you can track the actual water levels via this page, which you can always find linked from the WSB West Seattle Weather page.
Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the photo! We’ve been mentioning all week in the WSB morning weather/traffic roundups that tonight would be the night with the year’s first 5 pm sunset. Looking ahead – the first 6 pm sunset will be on March 5, four days before we “spring forward” an hour, pushing the sunset past 7 pm.
(Photo by Victoria Gnatoka)
Thanks for the photos! In case you didn’t have a southwestward view to see this firsthand … Sunday ended beautifully.
(Photo by Karen Christenson)
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
(If part of the sky stays clear into the night, you can planet-gaze, too.)
Not only did the sun make a grand appearance today, it exited in style, about half an hour ago. Thanks for the photos! Above is from Beth Jackson; below, from Carol Ann Joyce:
And this one’s from John-Michael Bennett III:
The peak splash of pink was just before 5 pm, though the official sunset time was 4:36 pm. (It’ll be 5 pm on January 25!)
(Tan color means “wind advisory”; see the legend for the rest here)
The National Weather Service has expanded its Wind Advisory alert to include our area, but the expected burst of strong wind is not likely to interfere with Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations tonight unless yours is planned to happen VERY late. The advisory will be in effect 11 pm to 10 am, and the NWS says, “A brief period of gusty southwest winds (is) expected Thursday morning. There will likely be a range of peak wind gusts between 30 to 50 MPH. Localized gusts up to 55 MPH are possible.” Otherwise, the sustained winds are expected to be out of the southwest, 15 to 25 mph. If you experience or see wind-related trouble – outages, downed trees, etc. – once you’ve reported to authorities (206-684-3000 for City Light, 206-386-1218 for SDOT if streets/sidewalks/paths are blocked), please text us at 206-293-6302 if you can do so safely; thank you!
Thanks for the photos! Before we head over to the winter-solstice sunset watch (yes, it’s on), the first rainbows of the season (which officially changed at 1:20 am today). The photo above is from Jerry Simmons; this next one, from a texter:
And from KT in White Center:
Thanks for the photos! Wind and other atmospheric conditions pushed this morning’s “king tide” up onto the beach and boardwalk at Alki. The first three photos are from David Hutchinson.
Alki Bathhouse and Statue of Liberty Plaza had been sandbagged in anticipation of this possibility. The next photo was texted anonymously, from further east along the sand:
This NOAA page (linked on the WSB West Seattle Weather page any time you want to find it) shows the high tide water level was actually about a foot and a half higher than the basic projection.
8:34 PM: Check to be sure you have everything charged up – as of the top of the hour, we’re under a Wind Advisory alert, until 4 am: “South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.” Wind out of the south has been the culprit in many local power outages, so you’ll want to be ready.
1:40 AM: A little over two hours left in the advisory period, and – for once – no major wind so far.
5:30 AM: The advisory has been extended until 7 am, Meantime, there’s a 300+-customer power outage centered on Puget Ridge.
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