West Seattle snow: Thursday morning commute, school info

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(TOPLINES, UPDATED 8:41 AM: City says it’s getting crews out to handle icy Fauntleroy between Morgan & Triangle; some schools closed/starting late, see below)

(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge & 1st Ave. S. Bridge cams, more on the WSB Traffic page)
ROADS: No reports of major problems in our area so far. An overnight commenter says The Bridge was fine, even after the biggest round of snow. From SDOT:

Most city streets are bare and wet this morning. Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation are treating major arterial streets to guard against the formation of ice in advance of the morning commute period. Snowfall last night was highly variable around the city. Beacon Hill, southern Rainier Valley, and higher parts of West Seattle appear to have had the most snow.

Via FB, though, we have one report “48th SW is a sheet of glass” in Admiral – so street conditions may vary. Via e-mail, SW Edmunds between California/Fauntleroy is reported to be treacherous. Fauntleroy Way between Morgan Junction and The Triangle also is reported to be icy and dangerous. (8:41 AM UPDATE – SDOT just told KING 5 they’re sending crews out to take care of that.) The arterials near WSB HQ, California/Thistle, are both bare, though the feeder side streets have some snow coverage – here’s a video look from just before 7 am:

Please let us know via comments (or e-mail) what it’s like where you are. Photos appreciate, too. (8:41 AM – Here’s one from Rebecca on Charlestown Hill heading down toward Alki:)

BUSES: Some Metro buses are on snow routes; here’s the current list.

SCHOOLS: (latest update 7:24 am)
South Seattle Community College is opening LATE at 10 am, according to schoolreport.org
Holy Rosary School is opening LATE at 10 am, per Twitter
Seattle Lutheran High School in West Seattle is CLOSED (update) per its Twitter feed
Our Lady of Guadalupe is CLOSED, per its website
Holy Family School is CLOSED
Hope Lutheran is CLOSED
EuropaKids preschool reported CLOSED
West Seattle Christian Preschool reported CLOSED
Kennedy HS in Burien CLOSED
Seattle Public Schools were already closed for midwinter break, but an SPS online note adds that West Seattle Elementary enrichment programs are closed today because of the weather.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Update from the City of Seattle, which just deactivated the Emergency Operations Center (8 am) but says SDOT is still on snow/ice patrol:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is following normal schedules and operations. Seattle Parks Child Care Winter Break Camps are operating today as scheduled. The Amy Yee Tennis Center is Open for business. Community Centers, Pools, and Environmental Learning Centers will open at their regularly scheduled times today.

Jamie February 24, 2011 (5:50 am)

has anyone driven down 35th yet? Is it driveable?

WSB February 24, 2011 (6:12 am)

Jamie – Kera posted on our FB wall that 35th is OK but of course, be careful.

coffee February 24, 2011 (6:06 am)

Its SO beautiful outside! Too bad it only lasts for a short time. I am glad I have to be up at 4 AM for work so I can enjoy the most of it!

Fauntleroy February 24, 2011 (6:07 am)

Just returned from a roundtrip Fauntleroy/SeaTac. No problems, roads in good shape:

Barton
Roxbury
509
518
Ramps to/from Airport are slushy and compact snow

Jennifer Hess February 24, 2011 (6:11 am)

FYI – Blazing Trails at Pathfinder has decided to close today due to snow, icy road conditions on our hills and the prospect of an additional inch or so.

StaceyD February 24, 2011 (6:15 am)

I am interested to hear how the roads are if anyone drives to South King County – Kent, Auburn or Federal Way. Thanks!

ca February 24, 2011 (6:19 am)

delridge is okay then and the on ramp to bridge?

karen February 24, 2011 (6:20 am)

has anyone been down Avalon yet?

Rachel February 24, 2011 (6:39 am)

Anyone know about Highland Park way??

Darren February 24, 2011 (6:42 am)

What is 35th like ? What about downtown, has anyone been down there yet ?

Andrea February 24, 2011 (6:45 am)

Highland park is bare and wet…just walked down from othello to check.

CJ February 24, 2011 (6:51 am)

How is Delridge and the bridge?

Another Seattleite February 24, 2011 (6:51 am)

The road is covered with a sheet of ice on 41st Ave SW, near the Junction.

Steph February 24, 2011 (6:52 am)

Enjoying my vacation but wishing I could be in W. S. monitoring snow. It is 0 degrees at Schweitzer in Idaho.

Kelly February 24, 2011 (7:05 am)

YMCA childcare facilities are now closed today…

karin February 24, 2011 (7:06 am)

West Seattle Christian Preschool is closed today, per their website.

rob February 24, 2011 (7:10 am)

just got to work in sodo about 10 minutes ago. drove from arbor heights up 35th to roxbury, roxbury down the hill to 509 and then across the 1st ave s bridge and up 1st ave. no problems at all. very little traffic too.

JasonG February 24, 2011 (7:15 am)

Hope Lutheran School is also closed today.

WSB February 24, 2011 (7:22 am)

Thanks, Jason, I thought I’d added that – principal Kristen e-mailed a while ago – it’s in our copy here now too – TR

carefull February 24, 2011 (7:16 am)

Not many problems this moring however I saw sliding occur on Fauntleroy by Alaska. Seemed a stretch of Fauntleroy between California and Alasak was worse than the rest of it.

Bridge and 1st avenue were fine.

redblack February 24, 2011 (7:31 am)

someone left a bold tag open! :)
.
the missus reports that fauntleroy south of alaska is icy, but that from the triangle on, fauntleroy, the high bridge, and the viaduct are all smooth sailing.

jiggers February 24, 2011 (7:31 am)

I’m in Vancouver,Wa and we got at least 4 inches and it’s still coming down thick here as of my posting. Winds are supposed whipp up from the Columbia later today..Brrrr……

toddinwestwood February 24, 2011 (7:39 am)

Has anyone gone up Madison to the hospitals yet? I would like to assume they pre-treated the roads up there. THanks.

Max February 24, 2011 (7:42 am)

Fauntleroy between California and Alaska is a sheet of ice. Oddly the stretch between the ferry and California is fine. Does the mayor live there? Long backup as well getting to the bridge. I turned around.

WSB February 24, 2011 (7:47 am)

Thanks for the updates. Current mayor doesn’t live anywhere near West Seattle; one city councilmember, one county councilmember, and the King County Executive do live here, but none of them are along that stretch.

s February 24, 2011 (7:46 am)

Madison up to the hospitals is clear.

John February 24, 2011 (7:47 am)

Took the bus in this morning from the Junction to downtown. No problems. Metro seems to be running pretty much on schedule.

ca February 24, 2011 (7:48 am)

delridge, on ramp to bridge, and bridge, westwood area all clear. good luck everyone, just take it slow…though i was going speed limit :) i work in U dist and doesnt even look like snowed last night!

toddinwestwood February 24, 2011 (7:51 am)

Thanks S!

lucky chick February 24, 2011 (7:51 am)

35th from Myrtle to the bridge is fine!

TB February 24, 2011 (7:55 am)

My wife says Admiral Way is “clear as a bell, clearer than the WS Bridge” at 7:45

Jiggers February 24, 2011 (8:01 am)

It’s far worse down here than in Seattle.

Parker February 24, 2011 (8:03 am)

No snow on Alki

sillygoose February 24, 2011 (8:11 am)

Seems all the roads are just wet! Seattle always seems to over react to snow!!

redblack February 24, 2011 (8:22 am)

max: SDOT most likely favored clearing california from morgan junction to alaska junction, then alaska to fauntleroy, since that route serves more metro riders.
.
so you can’t blame them for being too liberal with the salt, sand, and taxpayers’ money.

Julie February 24, 2011 (8:25 am)

Of course, as always, Tilden School is open and on time for students and staff who can get there safely.

WSB February 24, 2011 (8:37 am)

SDOT spokesperson Peg just said on KING 5 live phone interview that they’ve sent a truck to respond to those reports of icy Fauntleroy – so hopefully being handled now, or before long – TR

wantsnowday February 24, 2011 (8:30 am)

Got into downtown about 30 minutes ago on a 21 Express. Running on time thru Arbor Heights (no snow shuttle needed). Came from Arbor Heights (SW 114th & 35th SW), bus slipped a bit from SW 114th to Roxbury, but after that no problems. Really light traffic today.

Findlay February 24, 2011 (8:37 am)

Took 35th to WS Bridge to I-5 S to S 200th. Lots of icy roads, but safe to drive as long as you keep to the speed limit. Side streets around S 200th very icy…go slow…watch out for the other guy!

HelperMonkey February 24, 2011 (8:39 am)

35th is bare and wet – Morgan is bare and wet – California is bare and wet. Side streets all look treacherous though!

Fabulousem February 24, 2011 (8:43 am)

At about 7:30 I drove from Trenton down 35th to the WS Bridge, then I5, I90 and 405 to Bellevue and everything was clear. Trenton was even plowed, which didn’t happen during the 2008 storm until 3 days after the last snow fell. Overall, I think SDOT has done a great job this time around.

MB February 24, 2011 (8:48 am)

Went from Highland Park (near the school) to Mt. Baker neighborhood via Delridge about an hour ago and aside from our immediate side streets, all was well. Got to work quicker than usual in fact…no traffic! Right before I left my house, a plow drove by…I’ve never seen that on a little residential street. I think he was headed to HP Way. Way more snow in Highland Park then there was down near the Delridge Community Center.

RJB February 24, 2011 (8:54 am)

Saw SDOT trucks on Fauntleroy about an hour ago but none since then, seems like the road is getting better but folks…ya need to SLOW DOWN!!!!

austin February 24, 2011 (9:04 am)

replaced today by a snow frenzy hangover from winter dreams that never were and the awkward acknowledgement of overeager and ultimately unfulfilled love.

Orogenic February 24, 2011 (9:05 am)

I-5 South West Seattle Bridge to Tacoma- all lanes in good shape except for the Car pool lane. Some exits along the way definitely have some abandoned cars…

snowwatch February 24, 2011 (9:23 am)

Light flurries starting again in Gatewood at 500 ft.

lucy February 24, 2011 (9:42 am)

Icy hills and roads near Delridge and 16th ave sw

Laura February 24, 2011 (9:43 am)

The drive from Alki to Renton was pretty decent. FYI For anyone headed south near SouthCenter or Renton – be aware that there is quite a bit of snow down here and not all the roads are clear. Saw several cars on the side of the road or getting stuck on small inclines.

hmac February 24, 2011 (10:07 am)

I went from Admiral to Kent at 8. I-5 was dry. A couple of accidents where people may have hit the shoulder. At the airport/Southcenter the roads got a little worse, but were fine. I took the Orilla road exit down to 72nd and 212th. It was icy from the exit on, but people were being careful for the most part.

Lola February 24, 2011 (10:18 am)

I left my house at 6:00 AM went up Alaska St to the Junction. Was expecting more snow. Went down Alaska St. to Fauntleroy then onto the bridge. Seemed to be fine to me nobody slipping and sliding. Bridge was fine, took I-5 South no problem. Got off at Southcenter and roads were slushy. Got to my work fine over by Renton.