**The newest information is now in the afternoon/evening commute update here – thanks!**
(Latest updates/pix at end of story; also note NEWER news is BELOW this story on the home page. Metro info here. NO Water Taxi, NO trash/recycling, Seattle Public Library branches closing 5 pm, Community Centers closing 4 pm)
(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge camera, looking eastbound, and Junction cam, more on the WSB Traffic cams page)
6:31 AM: Time to start talking about the roads and the schools heading into the main morning-commute hours. Have just added more local schools to our full list of school changes/closures. Been on the road already today? Let us know what you found. Meantime, Metro already has canceled some routes in its system and renews its request this morning to stay home if you possibly can – check here for your route’s status. No West Seattle Water Taxi today. Sound Transit says the 560 is on reduced service. Seattle City Light still has about 400 people out in six pockets around the north half of the peninsula.
7:06 AM UPDATE: Seattle Public Library branches will open at 1 pm today.
7:21 AM UPDATE: From Trevor in comments, regarding The Bridge and The Viaduct: “At 6:30 am, the West Seattle bridge eastbound part of my commute was the easiest! 99 northbound ok but need to go slow… lots of abandoned cars and slush/ice but not too bad.” SDOT is ***not*** reporting any major closures as of right now. Wondering about the forecast? “The snow has ended,” says the new Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service a couple hours ago (in effect until noon), but the temperature is not expected to get above freezing today or tomorrow, so icy roads will be a problem for a few days.
7:36 AM UPDATE: Firsthand report on venturing gingerly outside the house: Compact snow and ice is the word for the walkway and sidewalk, as well as for the two-arterial intersection near WSB HQ (Thistle/California). Saw a couple cars go by, doing OK as long as they went slow-and-steady. The breeze isn’t strong but it truly is bitterly cold. The birds are protesting the snow-covered bird bath, so if you go out later – safely – remember them (we’ll be attending to ours). This is the view looking north on California from Thistle:
Cancellation note from comments: No Rotary Club of West Seattle meeting today. Meantime, we’re trying to find out what’s up with trash collecting (many West Seattleites – including us – have Tuesday pickup). Reminder that county courts are closed today – Amy makes note of that (part of the King County Executive’s “stay home if you’re not absolutely essential” entreaty early today).
7:48 AM UPDATE: A new city update’s in – the Emergency Ops Center reopened at 5 am – but it doesn’t include Seattle Public Utilities, so far. Here’s the word on roads etc:
SDOT night shift crews are operating 15 plow and spreader trucks this morning that are loaded with granular salt (rock salt) for treating all areas that have accumulations of ice or packed snow. SDOT is making progress on Condition Level 1 corridors with crews focusing on trouble spots such as elevated structures and hills. SDOT is also making progress on Condition Level 2 corridors focusing on transit routes and hills. …
SDOT will increase snow response crews for this morning’s commute and transition to the day shift at 8:00 a.m. with 22 plow/spreader trucks being dispatched to continue improving conditions on Condition Level 1 and 2 snow routes. SDOT will focus to open closed streets and assist King County Metro recover stalled buses.
8:01 AM UPDATE: And it’s official: Trash and other solid-waste pickup for today is POSTPONED, according to Seattle Public Utilities, which says if you were supposed to have pickup today, “set out double (your) normal amount … at no additional charge” NEXT Tuesday. (Here’s the full text of their announcement.)
8:15 AM UPDATE: From Jessica, who took the photo “looking north on 35th ave sw and Roxbury. Saw a chained articulated #56 going round the Roxbury corner onto 35th. Sheets of ice though”:
Road condition reports/photos very much appreciated (editor@westseattleblog.com) – especially if you’re on an arterial. (And the comment section is already full of great updates this morning.) Thanks!
8:37 AM UPDATE: This coverage will stay atop the home page – which means NEWER, NON-SNOW NEWS is published BENEATH it for now. If you can get around today, please note the newest story we’ve added – White Center Food Bank needs volunteer help today.
8:54 AM UPDATE: Mayor McGinn was just interviewed on KING 5. He said they’ll be assessing the response – what went wrong, what went right – when the weather problems are over. He declined to grade the response (you’ll recall that’s where his predecessor went wrong in December ’08). He says it seemed like everything was going OK till “mid-afternoon” yesterday. Practical info: He says abandoned cars will NOT be towed or ticketed – unless they are blocking roads. He also mentioned that he’s aware many West Seattleites had a very long commute home. (Asked how he got home, he said he was picked up and driven home via Ballard.)
9:35 AM UPDATE: State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond is starting a KIRO Radio (97.3) interview right now – I-5, where so many were marooned, falls under her wing, so we’ll be listening. In West Seattle, Danny Gawlowski from the Seattle Times (WSB partner) is out and about today – he just tweeted this photo of SW Alaska with the closure sign (always an ice-prone hill) west of The Junction):
A WSB’er who just e-mailed about the 8:45 am commute downtown said The Bridge and The Viaduct were smooth going. Still bus problems reported here and there (remember to check the Metro site AND sign up for their e-mail/text alerts):
Paul spotted that bus, apparently abandoned, at California/Othello in lower Gatewood this morning.
10:22 AM UPDATE: A WSB team member is traveling California by bus checking on things (the 22 “snow shuttle” from here). The bus shown above is still stuck, he reports, with traffic slowly getting around it. In the other direction, at Westwood Village, Michelle took this photo:
She reports, “Thought people may want to know that the Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, and 24 Hr Fitness are all open and it is quiet and icy at Westwood Village. Some of the small shops are closed.” (We’ll be checking on Junction/Admiral – business owners are also welcome to e-mail us again today with news of their status.)
10:53 AM UPDATE: In The Junction, we’re finding business owners, clearing off their walkways and otherwise bustling (two days till Thanksgiving!). Above, that’s Funky Jane’s owner Angela with her kids – and a newly purchased snow shovel. Next, Scott from the Electric Train Store, working on his walkway:
Latest weather-related cancellation: Joe McDermott‘s swearing-in as a County Councilmember has been postponed. (The Elections Department was scheduled to finalize the Nov. 2 results today but that’s been put off.)
11:47 AM UPDATE: Also postponed: The Sofia Goff (Cafe Revo) fundraiser set for today is rescheduled for Saturday. Re: open businesses – West Seattle Cellars says they’re open till 7 tonight and 11-7 tomorrow; Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction will be opening a bit later as its proprietors slog their way in to work; Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) is open and having that sale mentioned last night – gear to keep you warm. And we have more bus trouble. You might have heard earlier about the buses stuck at 44th/Glenn/Oregon on the northwest edge of The Junction – still there, says Katie; here’s one:
Galena spotted this one a short time ago in the 3000 block of SW Avalon Way:
And our roving reporter saw this one on SW Admiral Way around 38th:
Just heard a live TV interview with a Metro spokesperson who says dozens of buses are still stuck in various spots around the county. And to soften the tales of trouble – this was just shared via the WSB inbox – 2 1/2 year-old Violet made “Mrs. Snowman”:
12:10 PM UPDATE: A few more business notes – Allstar Fitness may close early (3-ish); 8 Limbs Yoga canceled all classes.
1:28 PM UPDATE: Preps for the afternoon/evening commute are well under way. Our roving reporter has seen multiple SDOT trucks on West Seattle arterials. And WSDOT has just sent an update, including this paragraph:
“We have all available trucks and crew members out, working day and night,” said Chris Christopher, Maintenance Director for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). “In Western Washington alone, we have 250 trucks and 300 crew members working 12-hour shifts. But with temperatures still below freezing drivers may see ice on the roads for at least another day.”
1:44 PM UPDATE: Seattle Public Library branches are closing at 5 pm – thanks to Wally for the tip. Meantime, we’ve published several new stories you’ll find beneath this one on the home page (until we “unstick” this when we start afternoon/evening coverage in the next half-hour or so – then it’ll fall back into reverse-chronological order) – newest, a look back at the Great Monday Night Walk Home.
1:56 PM: Ron Angeles in the city’s Delridge Neighborhood Service Center has just shared the city’s latest roundup. Note, we have EXCERPTED the information of most relevance to West Seattle and cut out the rest. This was compiled by the city’s Emergency Operations Center, which is apparently closing momentarily and will reopen for tomorrow’s morning commute:
SDOT had crews on the streets plowing and de-icing throughout the night. Approximately 70% of Level 1 and 2 streets have 2 lanes open. Thirty-nine street segments are currently closed due to snow and black ice.
Transit impacts continue from yesterday. Metro buses are chained up and operating on snow routes. Fourteen bus routes have been cancelled (see list below). Metro is responding to 119 buses that are currently stranded. Access para-transit vans are operating on life-sustaining trips (e.g. dialysis patients) only.
All transportation agencies encouraged people to stay off the roads if possible today.
Morning commute traffic was light.Road Closures:
• Olson Pl SW / SW Roxbury to 1 Ave S
• SW Charlestown St / 46th Ave SW to 47 Ave SW
• Highland Park Way SW / W Marginal Way to SW Holden StCanceled Metro Bus Routes:
2 Express, 7 Express, 38, 45, 51, 53, 76, 77, 79, 110, 210, 219, 266 and 310.Parks Facilities and Programs
All community centers will close at 4 pm today.
All pools are closed.
All athletic fields are closed.
All evening recreational programs are canceled.
The Carkeek Park learning center is closed.Twenty SDOT crews are continuing road clearing activities. This morning SDOT crews implemented the Pedestrian Response plan, which includes de-icing pedestrian landings and city-owned stair wells.
3:10 PM NOTE: Please note that we have now launched the afternoon/evening commute coverage – go here – thank you in advance for sharing road reports etc. there.
| 205 COMMENTS