West Seattle weekend scenes: Spectacular sunset; ‘perfect beach day’

The WSB inbox yields some spectacular scenery tonight. First, Debra Salazar Herbst shared the top view of the spectacular sunset that’s just now waning. Then, similar cloud formations highlighted this photo shared by Jamie, who titled it “Perfect Beach Day!”

A later view of the sunset, from Chris Fruitrich:

Chris says at least 50 people were watching from the lookout point in North Admiral at the intersection of Seattle and Sunset! (added) David Hutchinson‘s view from Alki:

Ahead, Rachel‘s earlier image of the sunset, plus a weather note:

On the WSB Facebook page, local meteorologist Patrick Kelly reminds us these are altocumulus clouds.

12 Replies to "West Seattle weekend scenes: Spectacular sunset; 'perfect beach day'"

  • April July 8, 2012 (9:47 pm)

    Beautiful pictures!

  • Patrick July 8, 2012 (9:53 pm)

    Just checked SPC lightning map and we now have lightning strikes hitting the ground from a cell east of Chehalis moving Northeast ( as I type this ) so if you have a view to the SE be on the lookout for lightning, ( mostly high based charges )

  • Patrick July 8, 2012 (10:06 pm)

    Out of sheer curiosity I checked NASA and Helios regarding our chances for Aurora activity tonight and I was excited to see a roughly 55% chance. Kp index is currently a ( 5 ) with the Auoral Oval model showing widespread activity just north of the border so if mother nature cooperates we could be in for a one-two punch of Meteorological/Astronomical phenomenon tonight ( cross your fingers )

    Here is the Auroral Oval model for those of you interested.

    http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/

  • Patrick July 8, 2012 (10:27 pm)

    ATTENTION, We NOW have a developing T-storm moving into the Enumclaw/Buckley areas moving North @ 30mph, lightning is being seen and detected per SPC ( LDE ) and developed almost on cue per my initial assessment in an earlier Facebook posting.

    Things are starting to get interesting :)

  • Rs July 8, 2012 (10:47 pm)

    In my experience, Kp has to be at least 7 to have any chance of seeing the aurora this far south and this close to the city, and even then you have to have the right spot…but the sun’s been so active lately, so I keep thinking “any day now”!

  • Patrick July 8, 2012 (10:54 pm)

    @ Rs, that is usually the case but last February we saw them here albeit briefly with a kp of 5 however this situation is different as the magnetosphere is currently being bombarded by an ( X ) flare released from the Sun’s SE limb on Friday so with that said it is possible for us to see the Aurora with a kp of ( 5 ) However a kp of ( 5 ) with a C class flare is almost certain to NOT produce the Aurora for us.

  • Norma July 9, 2012 (12:05 am)

    Thunder & lightening in Lakewood

    • WSB July 9, 2012 (12:07 am)

      Heard the thumber off to the east from here, a little while ago! – TR

  • Westgirl July 9, 2012 (1:07 am)

    I hear thunder and see lightning over near the Junction.

  • ws_suzanne July 9, 2012 (1:33 am)

    The lightning strikes are every few minutes now in the Alaska Junction. Super bright multiple strikes are forking across the sky, and the thunder is right behind them.

    Just a few minutes ago, heavy raindrops started coming down. It smells glorious – fresh and completely alive.

    This brings back great memories of my favorite landlords, in their late 70s in the 1980s. Originally from farming families in Zillah and Granger, they farmed their double lot in Wallingford. Earl would always be relieved when our summer electrical storm came.

    He told me that the corn needed it to grow because it fixes the nitrogen into the soil. And after the storms, the corn did seem to grow faster.

    I never knew if that was really the reason or if it was just because summer was really here. But I learned a lot about the land and gardening from him.

  • Maggie July 9, 2012 (1:42 am)

    Missed the sunset in real life so I enjoyed these fantastic pictures! The thunder & lightning that passed over Vashon a bit ago – not so much!

  • cj July 9, 2012 (3:29 am)

    We got some hail and a heavy downpour between 1 and 2am this morning over by Lincoln Park. Also we have some smoke that has drifted across the Pacific that might be part of the haze over the clouds yesterday. I got some pretty cool looking pictures as well.

    http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2012/07/asian-smoke-reaches-north-america.html

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