(NEW WEATHER ALERT: Wind advisory in effect starting at midnight)
(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
12:50 PM: Just back from touring part of the peninsula, tweeting photos along the way.
(Looking south on 35th from Myrtle Reservoir Park vicinity)
The weather is dicier now than earlier – fog has rolled in (at least on the south side), and the rain continues to slushify the snow/ice – with some of the latter now coming off trees, cars, etc. in chunks and sheets. Just happened to us as we stopped on a downhill to turn – what had been frozen solid on the car roof suddenly slid down onto the windshield. And we just heard the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is closed because ice is coming off the cables. So be mindful of new (albeit temporary) hazards. Afternoon notes, ahead.
12:58 PM UPDATE: Seattle Public Schools has announced that next Friday will be the first snow make-up day (was supposed to be a no-classes day).
1:31 PM UPDATE: Darren sent the photo with word a tree took out a wire near 34th/Findlay on the north side of High Point. No outage associated with that, according to the City Light system-status map, but the possibility continues to loom throughout the afternoon as chunks of ice keep falling off roofs, trees, poles, etc. (we just heard another mighty “thud” on the side of WSB HQ). The forecast hasn’t changed – rain, warming temperatures, and the wind picking up later.
2 PM UPDATE: Still a good idea to avoid non-arterial hills. Like Yancy (off Avalon, by WSB sponsor Stor-More), as Judy‘s photo shows. And if you really haven’t seen those windshield/car ice sheets yourself – they have an artistic application too, seen in this photo Brewster took in the Admiral District:
P.S. Puget Sound Blood Center has said they’re running way low because of the snow. If you are able to donate, please let ’em know.
4:23 PM UPDATE: Trouble near Jefferson Square:
Mike says that Safeway truck is currently blocking 41st SW on the center’s east side. We also received a note from Martha warning about the condition of the parking lot inside the center: “No plowing, no drains have been cleared, standing water is a good 4-6″ deep, shopping carts cannot be maneuvered…” She says she complained to center management, but no response. And now a WIND ADVISORY is in effect, starting at midnight tonight – we had mentioned earlier that the forecast mentioned the possibility of wind but it’s been upgraded to an alert.
4:51 PM UPDATE: Metro issues the reminder that it’s on snow routing at least through the end of today, but hoping to start returning to normal operations over the weekend. Meanwhile, it’s getting dark fast, and if you haven’t taken a look recently at your sidewalk/storm drain, you might go out one more time (assuming you’re home) – Jeff sends this photo from 48th/Edmunds west of The Junction, where he says he is trying to stay ahead of “Slush-mageddon”:
After 6 pm or so, we’re planning go back to a more normal story flow, and the weather coverage will not necessarily be atop the main WSB page unless something major is happening. However, important notes (like the Wind Advisory) will be linked from the BIG STORIES list on the sidebar.
5:10 PM UPDATE: Traffic advisory in comments – lots of ferry traffic on Fauntleroy Way, and the slush/snow on the roadside is forcing it into the street. Here’s a webcam at Cloverdale:
We’re thinking Southworth-bound ferry traffic might be up because the Tacoma Narrows Bridge remains closed following the earlier problems with falling ice. (Added: Via Twitter, Maggie points us to the WSF Bulletin saying exactly that – longer waits on Southworth/Bremerton runs from this side.)
7:04 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Kirsten for this photo of the backup last hour at Fauntleroy/Myrtle:
We were out in that time frame traveling between Fauntleroy and The Junction, and lots of people are out and about. The complications include the fact the parking “lanes” alongside even the otherwise-cleared arterials are still full of slush, half-melted ice, and puddling. Good news is, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge’s center lanes have reopened, so the backup should start to … well, melt away.
10 PM: Desiree says the drama of two semis stuck in the vicinity of the east side of Jefferson Square continues. Another tow truck just showed up for the stuck Safeway semi:
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