West Seattle snow: Late-night shower, despite downgraded alert

(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge & 1st Ave. S. Bridge cams, more on the WSB Traffic page)
5:31 PM: We are in Admiral, heading south, and it’s snowing, though not too heavily. You?

6:02 PM: Back at HQ in Upper Fauntleroy, it’s very, very light. Moving the bridge cameras from our morning preview to this story for anyone who still has to hit the road(s).

6:18 PM: Steady, still not heavy. Meantime, an update from the city Emergency Operations Center just arrived in the WSB inbox, including:

19 plow trucks with salt spreaders are pre-positioned around Seattle. Snow routes have been pre-treated with magnesium chloride salt brine, emphasizing elevated structures. The department has been working 12-hour shifts for 24-hour operations since 9 a.m. this morning.

(We noticed pre-treatment marks on arterials including SW Thistle when we headed north pre-sunset.) The city also says that so far, Thursday is expected to be “a normal day for garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste collection,” so please have everything out by 7 am.

(Video added 6:53 pm)
7:38 PM: Bigger flakes. Meantime, the city reports it’s closed the EOC until 5 tomorrow morning, at which time it’ll monitor the morning commute.

8:18 PM: Cars are coated in snow up here in Upper Fauntleroy, after two-plus hours of steady snowfall. Yards/planting strips are frosted too. Not the street, so far, but temps are close to freezing. Note that while it’s not so bad around here, to the north and to the south, different story, so if you have to drive into Snohomish or South King County (among other areas) … be forewarned.

9:04 PM: Metro has now announced all its Southwest King County buses are on snow routes. Some of them go through White Center. West Seattle is mostly still on regular routes, though, but keep an eye on the Metro map/list.

9:51 PM: The weather experts are in with their late-night thoughts. About an hour ago, Cliff Mass warned “it’s not over yet.” But the National Weather Service has downgraded the “winter storm warning” to a “winter weather advisory” for Seattle. As you have likely seen elsewhere, there’s been major snow to the north, and to the south, but ours hasn’t amounted to much more than a hearty dusting.

10:43 PM: And suddenly we’re having the heaviest shower we’ve seen all day/night – with some sticking to the road. Perhaps Cliff Mass was right. (video added 10:59 pm)

SJD February 23, 2011 (5:42 pm)

Also in admiral. Nothing happening now but looks like it wants to.

ejones February 23, 2011 (5:46 pm)

It’s snowing lightly on Alki, not sticking yet though!

Caroline February 23, 2011 (5:53 pm)

Nothing yet at 63rd and Beach.

Ken February 23, 2011 (5:58 pm)

precipitation of some sort just started in Highpoint. Might be small sleet.

Quilter February 23, 2011 (5:59 pm)

Nothing at California SW & SW Hinds (by Spiros).

Catherine February 23, 2011 (6:00 pm)

Just some ominous clouds in Highland Park. No snow.

SJ2 February 23, 2011 (6:01 pm)

Nothing in the highpoint area.

Laura February 23, 2011 (6:01 pm)

Steady, tiny flurries at 48th and Beach. Bring on the big fat flakes!

Kevin February 23, 2011 (6:01 pm)

Take a look at selected traffic cams from Lynnwood south. Looks like a LOT of precipitation slowly heading south. Areas south of Seattle still appear to be fairly dry.
.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/
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Rebecca February 23, 2011 (6:02 pm)

just started in High Point…

Kevin February 23, 2011 (6:05 pm)

Just started in Arbor Heights (100th and 42nd)

Catherine February 23, 2011 (6:05 pm)

Tiny little flakes in Highland Park now!

mrsB February 23, 2011 (6:12 pm)

nothing at Admiral and 53rd.

angelescrest February 23, 2011 (6:23 pm)

Fianlly, flakes on Alki!

S February 23, 2011 (6:23 pm)

Its snowing at 35th and Morgan . You can see it falling in the street lights and the U-Haul sign.

Jo February 23, 2011 (6:30 pm)

Yes, angelescrest. FINALLY snow at Alki.
I chose to work from home today so I could beat the horrendous snowy-traffic (smirk), but really to be able to watch the beautiful snow from my nice warm home.
I’ve been waiting, and watching, ALL DAY, and Nada.
So, now that it’s dark, it’s snowing.
Better than not at all, I guess.
Enjoy everyone.

Erskine February 23, 2011 (6:32 pm)

It’s snowing pretty steadily on Erskine west of 7-11, but it’s a light, wet snow. It’s only sticking on parked cars, nothing on the ground. So it’s basically normal Seattle winter rain. :)

angelescrest February 23, 2011 (6:34 pm)

But, Jo, they’re so fleeting! We have to search for them. Ha.

Trileigh February 23, 2011 (6:36 pm)

Finally! Just started about 15 minutes ago down here by Lincoln Park, the air full of little flakes drifting down. (That is, as opposed to the driving, drumming graupel of a couple of days ago.) Been waiting ALL day for this!

Jo February 23, 2011 (6:39 pm)

Yes, angelescrest, I DID notice that the snowflakes are fleeting, but snow is snow is snow. Right?
As I peer out my window right now towards the streetlight (which is the only place that I can see the snow in the dark) it’s really coming down.
Not fleeting at all.
THERE IS A SNOW GOD!

ad February 23, 2011 (7:08 pm)

It’s sticking to tops of cars and roofs here. But it’s really lame, wet snow. C’mon Mother Nature, surprise us!

Admiral935 February 23, 2011 (7:15 pm)

yeah it’s sprinkle-snow wet by the time it hits-the-ground here at the moment. Heck, I just put more fresh garlic on my chicken than the snow in Admiral+Cali!

WSB February 23, 2011 (7:27 pm)

NY Vinnie! We’re all kind of in the “just one last visit with winter and then we’re ready for spring” mode … eight inches of snow might be a bit much but one more two-inch snowfall might be fun.

BB February 23, 2011 (7:35 pm)

Finally snowing in Fauntleroy by the Ferry!!

WS fan February 23, 2011 (7:36 pm)

Just north of Lowman Beach Park and it’s snowing lightly AND sticking on the cedar deck planking and driftwood in the garden!!!

Bob Loblaw February 23, 2011 (7:36 pm)

72 and sunny skies in Fairmount Springs area. This is really weird.

WSB February 23, 2011 (7:38 pm)

That’s Palm Springs, not Fairmount Springs, BL …

WS fan February 23, 2011 (7:38 pm)

Hey Bob, I’m coming over!

lil' wash February 23, 2011 (7:51 pm)

Whiteout conditions on 509 with slush. Sticking pretty good in Burien on 1st.

westbird February 23, 2011 (7:55 pm)

Yay for snow!

Michelle February 23, 2011 (8:05 pm)

Snowing heavily in Highline Park!

shed22 February 23, 2011 (8:12 pm)

more, please.

transplantella February 23, 2011 (8:30 pm)

I just walked home from Thriftway and there was a pretty good snow going on until I got downhill from the Kenney where it mostly petered out.

—

But up at Morgan Junction it was an honest-to-goodness snowfall thick with swirly flakes.
I love snow.

Paul February 23, 2011 (8:53 pm)

this snow is lame.I want big puffy sticky flakes not this little wet stuff, not even sticking to the road boo!!!

SJD February 23, 2011 (8:59 pm)

Light snow in N Admiral. It better start dumping if we’re going to get a snowday. But I fear there will be work and school awaiting us all in the morning.

Monosyllabic Girl February 23, 2011 (9:02 pm)

Bar hopping around the Alaska Junction tonight, singing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like St. Patrick’s Day.”

nwryan February 23, 2011 (9:09 pm)

Seriously. The roads are only wet. Spring Hill was shutting early because of snow…west Seattle…you are stronger than that.

miws February 23, 2011 (9:39 pm)

NY Vinnie! We’re all kind of in……

Wondered where Vinnie’s comment was! ;)

https://westseattleblog.com/2011/02/west-seattle-weather-watch-update-now-its-snowing#comment-774557

Mike

WSB February 23, 2011 (9:40 pm)

The comment screen has the danger of me replying to the wrong comment. Hasn’t happened before, though!

ad February 23, 2011 (9:47 pm)

Cliff Mass posted another update…

WSB February 23, 2011 (9:50 pm)

Yeah, I was just about to link that. He says it’s not over yet. Though I also am checking on a report that the Weather Service has downgraded its alert…

Rower February 23, 2011 (9:59 pm)

what a non event

WSB February 23, 2011 (10:01 pm)

Looked promising for a couple hours.

Whitney February 23, 2011 (10:12 pm)

Nude jogging is not advised on beach drive tonight. Cold enough for snow but mostly slushy stuff at the moment.

cjboffoli February 23, 2011 (10:21 pm)

Myriad reports on Twitter of big road troubles north and south of us. I guess we got shadowed out of our last good chance for real snow before the spring hits.

elisabeth February 23, 2011 (10:42 pm)

Snowfall has started up again in the Junction.

austin February 23, 2011 (10:51 pm)

I like pie.

whitestuart February 23, 2011 (10:59 pm)

now it is really coming down,big flakes, and sticking to roads…near the junction

Admiral935 February 23, 2011 (11:00 pm)

dime-size flakes coming down steadfast @ Admiral+Cali. Slightly sticking to the sidewalk and maybe a little on the roadway. Certainly a dusting on the cars…..developing

charlabob February 23, 2011 (11:05 pm)

Must be very localized — nothing happening @admiral/47th :-)

Junctionite February 23, 2011 (11:10 pm)

Snowing heavily in the Alaska junction, it’s pretty :)

Admiral935 February 23, 2011 (11:19 pm)

tapering off into white-rain. 1/8″ accumulation from before in some choice spots, at best. Roadway – wet. Feels like 45degrees. Not like it’s gonna freeze hard or anything. If we get the blast though, then big ice! Doesn’t feel like any kinda blast right now. Heck, I even feel like hauling out the BBQ.
Admiral+Cali

d February 23, 2011 (11:21 pm)

All is white in Highland Park. That didn’t take too long, once it got a good running start.

The magic is here. Enjoy!

SJD February 23, 2011 (11:27 pm)

Lightly snowing in N Admiral. Sticking to the cars and ground. It’s going to have to do better than that for a snow day tomorrow….

HelperMonkey February 23, 2011 (11:28 pm)

coming down steady in Arbor Heights. sticking on the roads, too. I bet though since Admiral is reporting nothing we’re due for it to end soon too. :(

hopey February 23, 2011 (11:35 pm)

Did you notice that the 99/West Marginal camera appears to be covered with snow? :)

Nothing much happening here in my part of Admiral though. (Near Madison MS)

Erica February 23, 2011 (11:35 pm)

Does anyone know how the W. Seattle Bridge is?
Will there be any updates?

WSB February 23, 2011 (11:48 pm)

Hi! We’ll take a couple hours off in the middle of the night (we are always on call at 206-293-6302 24/7) – and be monitoring things again in the 4 am hour, when Metro will make its route decisions etc. As for the bridge, check the live cam atop this story – obviously hard to tell the difference between “wet” and “iced” but it’s been pre-treated and there is no report of any problem. We monitor Twitter, FB, police reports, etc. and will have word for the early am commute and beyond of any problems. Do you have to drive it in the next few hours ?

ummm February 23, 2011 (11:52 pm)

We have a good few inched at Juneau and Fauntleroy and it’s still coming down. I haven’t noticed any cars being especially slow or careful, so I’m thinking it may be wet but not too icy. This is what it looks like, anyway.

shed22 February 23, 2011 (11:59 pm)

WSB . . . when do you rest?

WSB February 24, 2011 (12:16 am)

Remember, there’s two of us on the team fulltime … I usually stay up really late and the other half gets up really early … and there are a lot of other amazing folks who help out .. not to mention the awesome community members who text or call when there’s breaking news …