West Seattle, Washington
07 Sunday
Back at the keyboard after keeping a looser eye on things the last several hours — so far as we know, all’s relatively well; some photos have come in and we’ll be adding them here shortly while catching up. First of all, from MargL in Arbor Heights:
She explains: “After our snowman fell over we took advantage of the (hopefully) last opportunities for fort building. Didn’t quite get to igloo stage but the snow was soggy and packable which made for quick additions, like the stairs so the 2-year-old could ‘storm her castle’ with ease.” Next – If you heard footsteps on the roof, the latest video posted by NORAD Tracks Santa will explain:
(Including Smith Tower is a nice touch; we have fond memories of our ABCNEWS.com days there at the turn of the millennium.) Next: there’s no love like snow love: Here are Veronica and Jeff, next to what he drew in the snow on Alki earlier this week, “just for me,” she e-mailed:
You may already have heard of those two, who caught a P-I photographer’s eye with the huge snowman they built in front of Veronica’s home on Fauntleroy Way between Lincoln Park and the ferry terminal; copyright keeps us from posting that photo here, but she sent us a different photo to use:
And we conclude this post with a sighting by Creighton, who prefaces: “Went up the Junction for a few last minute things, around 5pm today, and on my way a jogger bounded skillfully around the massive melt puddles at 45th and Oregon! As this walk to the Junction was my only workout in several weeks I was impressed at his dedication. West Seattle HS cross country runner? Santa’s helper late for work?”
Thanks SO much to everyone who has shared photos, stories, information during these challenging, snowy days. We hope to hear from you again even in less-momentous times – something you saw, heard, wondered about, want to know more about, since WSB is truly 24/7, we invite you to contact us any time – here are the many ways to do that.
(Photo courtesy Austin)
Since Snowmare ’08 (or whatever you want to call it) is seguing directly into Christmas, few things really “get back to normal” for quite some time. Metro bus service, for example. Linda Thielke of Metro, e-mailed WSB a little while ago, wanting to make sure the many bus riders in WSB-land know what’s in store:
I’m concerned that your readers aren’t realizing that before this bad weather hit Metro was already planning for holiday schedules between Dec. 25-Jan. 2. Also, we’ve added a few more next week on historically low-ridership days to give us some recovery/repair time for the buses.
I see several comments in the blog about getting buses back to the normal schedule. So, people need to check what the schedules will be in the coming nine days. I think most of the West Seattle service will be fairly normal (barring more weather emergencies), but there are some individual trip cancellations and route cancellations coming up.
Dec. 25 – Sunday schedule
Dec. 26 – partial holiday schedule – this is the schedule we introduced on the day after Thanksgiving and plan to operate on 10 days in 2009. It’s denoted by an “H” in the paper and online timetables
Dec. 27 – Saturday schedule
Dec. 28 – Sunday schedule
Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31 – partial holiday schedule (see above)
Jan. 1 – Sunday schedule
Jan. 2 – partial holiday schedule
Once again, operating these schedules fully will be dependent on road and weather conditions; and how much physical abuse the buses that have been running have taken.
Metro’s website, as you are likely well aware by now, starts here.
We asked the folks at Twilight to send a photo of what’s come in so far for the Treehouse for Kids toy drive they launched to turn something bad — this week’s art theft — into something good. If you’re going to The Junction, drop new, unwrapped toys off at Twilight (west of Easy Street) before they close at 3 pm. They’re collecting nonperishable food for West Seattle Food Bank, too.
(scroll/refresh for latest WSB updates and WSB’er comments – WSB Traffic cams page HERE – links/open-closed list HERE)
We got that photo on Monday, set it aside, and can’t find who to credit. Regardless of how you feel about the snow, it just says “Christmas Eve” to us. So – good morning! If you have early info to share or questions to ask, this is the place. Live updates from the multiple sources we monitor will resume around 5:30. Till then, here’s our list of links/open/closed (and remember, Metro’s put out a service advisory for not just today, but the holiday schedule that follows).
6:29 AM UPDATE: As Sage K was first to note in comments, it’s been snowing about two hours. So if we’re supposed to get up to four inches out of this, that means it’ll be doing so for some hours to come. The early-morning forecast has the “winter weather advisory” in effect till 4 pm. How much snow? Via Facebook, Talani at Stor-More Self Storage (WSB sponsor) says 2″. On TV, someone just said WSDOT has picked up half a ton of broken (or otherwise lost) chains from local freeways. Scott K sent proof of snow-clearing on California SW (past the long-closed Chuck and Sally’s) around 1 am:
7:05 AM UPDATE: Reminder that bridge cams and other West Seattle-relevant road cams are on the WSB Traffic page.
Snow report from co-publisher Patrick‘s first shoveling of the WSB HQ walkway (and we’re 300-plus feet elevation if you’re keeping track): “Wet, pliable, mushy, there’s some holes in the snow, which means there’s some rain mixed in out there.” Not the same as the dry stuff we had during those VERY cold days. Meanwhile, here’s a heartwarming (and bonechilling) story of what happened while you slept: Kevin writes in the WSB Forums about neighbors digging out a stuck bus south of Morgan Junction overnight.
7:41 AM UPDATE: Reports in the comments and via Facebook suggest bus-catching is working relatively well this morning. Thanks to everyone who continues to share stories so your West Seattle neighbors will get first alert when it’s not. Quick update just in from SDOT via Twitter: “SDOT plowing inbound commute roads in Seattle. Arterials are plowed with passable road conditions. Motorists should go slow.” (Twitter is limited to 140 characters per message, if you didn’t already know that.) Weather update – Some commenters report it’s raining. You can hear that toward the start and end of this clip from California/Thistle within the past half-hour:
When it’s light – if you’re home – please remember to check your downspouts and storm drains, to avoid a whole new round of trouble (flooding, puddling, worse) once The Big Melt is in full swing.
7:59 AM UPDATE: “Wintry mix” is our description for what’s happening out there. On the forecast beat, Cliff Mass says this morning that it still appears more rain is in store as a “stronger system” moves in this afternoon. Airport update from TV – “No weather related problems” but parking is tough to come by. Meantime, if temperatures drop again tonight, the issue will be the same as last night – you can get there in the morning but can you get home in the evening? This e-mail just in from Tamsen (e-mail us any time at editor@westseattleblog.com):
I just checked your site and don’t see many reports about the commute this am. But, I am going to wait awhile before trying to go into work because last night I couldn’t get out of downtown Seattle. Three 21 buses passed us up at Seneca and 1st ave from 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Two cabs said they wouldn’t go to WS and then finally one cab driver said he’d take us. Four of us piled into the cab and he took us as far as 35th and Morgon. So, if I go in to work it will depend on if this changes to rain so I can hope to get back home.
8:16 AM UPDATE: The Velvet Bulldog sends a photo of Caffe Ladro barista Leslie making snowmen because customers were few and far between this morning:
8:30 AM UPDATE: As already discussed in comments, there’s a new problem at Sea-Tac – de-icer got into a ventilation system. It’s happening on board a plane at gate N-17, per KIRO. KING says eye irritation is the major problem.
8:35 AM UPDATE: A report from the airport – NOT regarding that problem, but in case you’re wondering what it’s like at the airport in general (NOTE THE PARKING RESERVATION PROBLEM), Brian just sent this:
On plane now, waiting an hour for deicer truck. I’m sure other flights are delayed too. All parking is gone at airport, MasterPark and Thrifty. We had a reservation at Thrifty and they denied it. We literally got one of the last 5 spaces at the airport.
On the bright side, security was fast and friendly.
Bus update from orcmid on Twitter: “08:00 MT #55 and #54 depart Alaska Junction for downtown, seem on schedule.” On TV, Bellevue has switched from rain back to big fluffy snowflakes, in case you have to head that way. But driving is VERY slick – co-publisher P just reported somebody going sideways downhill on Thistle.
8:42 AM UPDATE: The official word from the city on residential trash pickup. None, AGAIN, today:
Residential garbage, recycling, food and yard waste
collection has been delayed in Seattle today, Wednesday, Dec. 24, due to
dangerous road conditions. Wednesday residential customers will be
collected next Wednesday Dec. 31.The city*s collections contractors have been running limited commercial
routes around the clock this week, providing service urgent commercial
accounts where containers are accessible. Service priorities include
hospitals, health facilities, grocers and other accounts with severe
capacity constraints.*The collections crews are working around the clock to reach priority hospitals, health facilities, grocers and other urgent accounts with limited capacity,* according to Hans Van Dusen, solid waste contracts manager for Seattle Public Utilities.
*They have about 35 trucks out today in Seattle with full chains and double crews to reach the vital accounts. However, snow accumulation is still hampering access to streets, alleys and many commercial containers.*
Residential collections were suspended Thursday Dec. 18, through today, Wednesday Dec. 24, due to snow fall and road conditions. Limited commercial routes have been run Monday through Wednesday this week reaching approximately 30 percent of the businesses accounts in the city. Contractors are continually inspecting all neighborhoods throughout the day for service opportunities.
Due to the Christmas holiday on Dec. 25, Thursday and Friday customers will be delayed one day. Thursday customers will be collected Friday, Dec. 26, and Friday customers will be collected Saturday, Dec. 27.
Customers whose collections have been delayed by a week can set out double their normal amount of garbage at no additional charge. When setting out extra waste, customers are encouraged to place perishable food items in their collection containers and set bagged non-perishable items next to the containers. Customers who have had their collections missed two weeks in a row can also take their waste to Seattle*s Recycling and Disposal Stations, where it will be accepted at no charge.
Seattle’s recycling and disposal stations, at South Park and Wallingford, are open today, but will be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and New Year*s Day, January 1.
And remember that if you are among those of us who have been missed for TWO weeks, the city says that’s TRIPLE pickup next week. Here’s hoping this is all gone by then.
8:45 AM UPDATE: Alaska Flight 528 from Sea-Tac to Burbank was the flight involved in the deicer mishap, says Alaska spokesperson on Channel 5. Plane’s been “evacuated.”
8:52 AM UPDATE: If you’re Ballard-bound, beware of a big bus mishap causing traffic trouble there, per our pals at MyBallard.com.
9:13 AM UPDATE: Signs of life in The Junction — Lora at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor, and planning to be open Christmas morning at 8 am) says it’s raining and people are “starting to walk around” – she sends pix, starting with this look south on California SW from outside her coffeehouse:
And looking north (that’s the California/Genesee stoplight in the background):
And a road update from Talani at Stor-More (via Facebook, where you can “friend” us at WS Blog): “”Update on Avalon…cars seem to be traveling without too many problems in a lot of slush, as we have mixed rain at this hour…snow is still piled up in the center lane on Avalon…”
9:27 AM UPDATE: A side conversation on Twitter re: clearing your storm drain led to a reminder from Hopey about a link that might help if you’re looking for yours – we reported it here on WSB almost two years ago as a “cool tool” for researching your home’s history – look up your Side Sewer Card here (the “back” has a list of some of the neighborhood names back in the day).
9:55 AM UPDATE: Words of wisdom from whomever’s sending out the WSDOT Twitter updates: “Be prepared for winter driving conditions, slush is only fun in Slurpees.” Another weather note: It’s getting a bit breezy out there. And yes, it’s yucky everywhere – via Twitter tip, here’s a YouTube link to video of stuck and abandoned cars at 24th/Aloha on Capitol Hill.
If you need to get to a city Neighborhood Services Center to pay a bill or handle something else today, Delridge NSC coordinator Ron Angeles has sent an update on planned hours today – his is open till 6 pm (except for lunch break 1-2 pm), the one in The Junction is closed.
10:40 AM UPDATE: Just got some bus updates and advice from West Seattleite “orcmid” via Twitter: “The 08:09 MT #54 to downtown from Alaska Junction took viaduct and Seneca to 3rd avenue (but not s topping at Seneca) … MT #14 toward Summit from 4th & PIke could not get up to Broadway around 9:20, passengers had to walk … With Metro buses on reroutes and variations of snow routes, always ask drivers about your destination. … At a rerouted destination, ask driver where to find return bus and what markings might be. May not match nos. at stop.” In the “more practical advice” department, the city of Burien has just sent a news release about roofs and the load caused by water-laden snow – it’s not really city-specific so you might want to read it.
10:51 AM FREE CHRISTMAS TREE BULLETIN — Just got a phone call (206-293-6302, call us 24-7) that Holy Rosary Tree Lot behind Admiral Safeway is GIVING AWAY THE REST OF ITS TREES starting at noon.
11:24 AM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick went out on a road-scouting mission and reports that in general, California SW is “bare and wet” – it’s the side roads that are still trouble, with big piles o’snow. Photos should be back shortly. CANCELLATION UPDATE – Just got word that Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation has canceled tonight’s service. We have a running list of previously scheduled Christmas Eve services on the Holidays page; we’ll be checking to see if anybody else has changes/cancellations.
11:51 AM UPDATE: From scootinoldskool via Twitter: “California Ave STILL has a Jersey barrier made of snow… except where there’s a traffic island made of snow.” Meantime, we’re uploading our pix now. Main roads passable but LOTS of people out there. … And in fact, our photos show that “Jersey barrier” – from The Junction, first:
North from The Junction (that’s JF Henry on the left):
SDOT communications director Rick Sheridan is doing a phone interview on TV right now and said they’re aggressively working on secondary roads. Meantime, one more photo from the recent WSB scouting trip – Morgan Junction:
12:36 PM UPDATE: Lari sent this photo of the traffic backup in the Admiral Junction area (eastbound on Admiral, she said it was backed up to at least 49th SW):
12:47 PM UPDATE: Karen sends this photo of a Seattle Public Utilities crew doing some work at Delridge/Myrtle:
We’ve said it before but gotta say it again – GO MAKE SURE YOUR DOWNSPOUTS AND STORM DRAINS ARE CLEAR now that the melt is on – we don’t want to have to be doing flood-crisis coverage next! Also, take care of your neighborhood birds – we just cleared our bird bath – they’re thirsty! Check out this great shot Darren sent from Arbor Heights:
One more note – we’ve checked with West Seattle grocery stores regarding what time they close tonight, since it’s Christmas Eve after all – Metropolitan Market, QFC, Thriftway all say 6 pm — all West Seattle Safeways are closing at 7 pm.
2:31 PM UPDATE: As discussed in comments, the mayor had a media availability within the past half-hour. We didn’t get notice in time to change direction and get over to 7th/Dearborn from White Center (Pho 54, open till 6) in time. Here’s hoping a tv station turns around the “raw” (unedited) video before long. We’ll link any other accounts we find of it, too. HA.org calls the salt/no-salt controversy “Frozenwatergate” and a commenter mentions a new (albeit misspelled) Facebook group.
Weather note: Rhonda Porter (WSB sponsor) just tweeted that Alki just had a 44 mph wind gust – it’s raining fairly steadily out there too – other parts of the city reported flickers early today so be forewarned.
2:50 PM UPDATE: KING account of mayor’s news conference – he gave the response a “B.” 684-3000 is now a city hotline for problems relating to city services — 684-3000, for frozen pipes, flooding, power outages, etc., and it will be answered tomorrow too, 9 am-5 pm, 24/7 otherwise.
3:15 PM UPDATE: On our way back from White Center, brought back a photo of 35th, looking north after turning from Roxbury:
Here’s the link to raw video of the mayor’s news conference. Looks like the Q and A is a separate link (we’re still watching the first one). (Watching it: Hizzoner said he too was “frustrated” but also said that once in a while “Mother Nature will challenge us.” He promised a review, “did you have the tools you needed to do the best possible job? what if we were to get hit by this or something similar in the future? … We’re not Buffalo or Cleveland where we have hundreds of pieces of equipment to deal with this … Those Midwest cities are flat and that means additional flexibility. … (Today) we’ve brought on a private contractor with a road grader and additional pieces of equipment.”)
Several power outages are reported in other parts of the city; here’s the latest list.
3:37 PM UPDATE: The Holy Rosary “Christmas tree giveaway” (mentioned earlier) is over – they’ve closed the lot.
3:55 PM UPDATE: More pix just in – Robert sent this from The Junction’s latest traffic jam:
And Alki slush from Orin O’Neill:
Got a little shopping yet to do? Just got this from WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits, via Twitter: “Customers still coming in, so we’re still open, past closing time of 3pm. But call before heading down to make sure we’re still here-328-9252”
4:10 PM UPDATE: Another Alki Ave angle from Orin, looking west this time, past the bathhouse:
Here’s the newest forecast — still possibly some snow showers ahead. But in general, it’s still mostly melty out there, as evidenced by the “listing snowman” photographed in Gatewood by Jill Schmieder from Altena Photography:
| 3 COMMENTS