West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind picks up, takes down trees

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB – tree down at Oregon/Glenn in The Junction)
As the wind kicks up again tonight – the National Weather Service has just issued a “special weather statement” warning of gusts up to 55 mph – we’re checking out a tree reported to have been blown down in The Junction. (Added: See comments for more. We’re still working on visuals. There’s also a tree down in the Morgan Junction area.)

7:39 PM UPDATE: The “special weather statement” has now been canceled – so the worst is over.

8:41 PM UPDATE: Added that photo, also by Katie, from the tree that hit a house on Holly Place in the Morgan Junction area. The homeowner told Katie they weren’t home when it happened; a neighbor called for help after seeing wires sparking. The damage is not reported to be major.

9:40 PM UPDATE: And now … thunder. Not mentioned in the current forecast, though…

Noelle February 14, 2011 (6:12 pm)

No Joke! its nasty out!

Mn February 14, 2011 (6:22 pm)

Big branch down on 48 th heading towards Lohman
It’s always a bad spot with fallen trees
Partial blocked road

Mookie February 14, 2011 (7:05 pm)

Tree at corner parking strip of Glenn Way SW and SW Oregon is down, partially blocking southbound on Glenn Way. SDOT and SPD have been notified.

AJP February 14, 2011 (7:17 pm)

Yaawrrr, it be the Valentine’s Day storm of aught-11!

JayDee February 14, 2011 (7:34 pm)

The NWS link leads…nowhere: “no active weather statements”…

WSB February 14, 2011 (7:38 pm)

Sometimes those are short term – maybe it has expired … checking … (added) Yup, advisory ended. Good news!

Tony February 14, 2011 (8:12 pm)

That walloping gust blew a large tree down on my neighbors house just south of the Morgan Junction. Fortunately no injuries and the house doesn’t appear to be too damaged.

WSB February 14, 2011 (8:28 pm)

Thanks, Tony, we heard about that one but have been unable to get a photo since it’s apparently pitch-black over there … we need to get a portable floodlight! – TR

cjboffoli February 14, 2011 (8:22 pm)

AJP: Methinks the aughts are over now. It’s just twenty-eleven. No?

Ken February 14, 2011 (10:30 pm)

The worst is over? Not according to what I’m hearing outside right now (10:30PM).

WSB February 14, 2011 (10:34 pm)

Yeah, I should have said “apparently.” The current turbulence was not in the forecast and the “special statement” was pulled, but I’d say the past half-hour or so was crazier than the period during which it was in effect.

bridge to somewhere February 14, 2011 (10:32 pm)

Is it just me, or is West Seattle the windiest part of Seattle?

WS fan February 14, 2011 (11:02 pm)

This is exactly why we must insist that the utility companies bury their cables undergrond. Also this will improve our views, the surrounding landscape and make our community the place we really want it to be.

treelover February 15, 2011 (6:26 am)

And people wonder why some people want to cut down big old trees in their yard.

I love big trees as much as the next person, but have also lived where large trees regularly fell on houses and unfortunately sometimes people.

Jeff February 15, 2011 (7:35 am)

Who do you think will pay for that WS fan? Conversion of existing overhead power distribution to underground costs something on the order of $30000 per house on flat ground with easy access to all lines. This doesn’t include phone or cable, and could easily go much higher in many parts of West Seattle, especially where there are views (aka hills).

nulu February 15, 2011 (11:05 am)

Who do we blame for this terrible destruction of trees?
Was it another greedy developer or homeowner who did not take care of these beautiful specimens?
Why weren’t they trimmed by there owners to reduce wind load.
If these trees had received proper care, would they have fallen?
Should we call Plant Amnesty?

treelover February 15, 2011 (5:14 pm)

I can’t tell if nulu is being sarcastic or not. I hope so…

Nulu February 15, 2011 (6:51 pm)

treelover,
Why do you hope for sarcasm when questioned about responsible tree ownership?
Why should not people be held accountable for not maintaining their trees in a safe manner? If someone had cut down these trees, treelovers all over the blog would be responding with outrage. If those trees were on a hillside, people would be blaming the property owners. If those trees were “topped” treelovers would be outraged, but let the tree fall from lack of maintenance, no problem.

Sorry, comment time is over.