(EARLIER AS-IT-HAPPENED STORM COVERAGE is here)

8:23 PM: The windstorm is officially over – the National Weather Service has canceled the “high wind warning,” which at one point was to be in effect until late tonight. Still some clouds, with showers remaining in the forecast; you probably noticed the early-evening hail.

(Photo tweeted by Todd Vandermark)

And lots of cleanup remains to be done. Some of the most urgent trouble spots have been cleared – we just went back to the eastbound bridge onramp at Avalon (etc.) to verify that it is fully open again. We have a few others to check on – if a road remains closed (or partly blocked) near you, please let us know – 206-293-6302 or editor@westseattleblog.com.

The largest remaining power outage on the map for West Seattle is one with 200+ customers out just west of Delridge, north of Orchard:

9:38 PM: We’ve replaced the screengrab of the SCL outage map, because another 100-plus customers in that area have subsequently lost their power. And there’s another cluster of almost 100 who are still out to the west, also shown in the screengrab.

Traffic-wise, we’re told Olson/Myers in southeast West Seattle is flashing red. That’s one we’ll check on in the early morning, before the major commute hours. You’ll want to take extra time to check on your commute route tomorrow – for example, if you cross Lake Washington, the 520 bridge is closed overnight after storm-related damage, though WSDOT expects to have it open for the am rush.

Also: As mentioned in the comment section – and just now, via Twitter – some are experiencing a Comcast outage.

Last but not least: One more downed-tree photo came in tonight, this one a 30-year-old thundercloud plum that fell at Kelly‘s house in Highland Park:

If you’re dealing with a downed tree, we would be interested to hear what you find when you start calling around for help. We expect local services will be megabusy.

11:43 AM: Thanks to Darlene for letting us know Southern is still closed – downed tree and wires – west of California, heading onto 44th.

(SCROLL DOWN for newest power/road/other updates. 5:40 PM TOPLINES: Most WS power outages over; tree blocking EB bridge ramp from Avalon)

(Screengrab from City Light outage map showing only scattered outages left as of 6:28 pm – click to go to “live” map on SCL website)

1:46 PM: The wind has kicked up big time and we have the first reports of power outages. The Seattle City Light map is turning pink fast. Biggest outage so far in West Seattle: More than 1,600 homes/businesses from Beach Drive to Fauntleroy, roughly from Brandon to Morgan. Also, a tree’s down across northbound California, 4700 block in The Junction:

Thanks for the photo – text 206-293-6302 or editor@westseattleblog.com – you also can post photos in comments – and we’re of course on Twitter at @westseattleblog – where this just came in:

2:02 PM: We also have word of a tree down on Highland Park Way, and an HP outage.

2:10 PM: Just added a current screengrab of the City Light outage map. PLEASE stay home if you can – trees are coming down in many areas and you don’t want to be under the next one to fall. If you ARE out, please remember that when signals are out, they are a four-way stop – we have a Twitter report of people just “blowing through” signals that are out of power. And once you’ve reported problems, please be patient – so far more than 34,000 homes and businesses are out around the city.

2:24 PM: Speaking of signals, they are out on major routes including 16th through Highland Park (at Holden and Austin, according to a text we just received). Another reason to stay home unless it’s an emergency – some businesses are out of power. (Please let us know when you’re back as well as when you’re out!)

2:39 PM: Just in, a tree down across Fairmount Avenue toward the north end of the ravine between Admiral and Alki:

Thanks to Thore for that photo. Also just received – tree down on Avalon by Yancy (thanks to the person who texted this):

2:51 PM: Updated the outage-map screengrab for West Seattle again, atop this story. Doesn’t appear to have worsened in the past 20 minutes or so. Citywide, the number also has remained steady, around 35,000 customers (homes/businesses) out. But there goes another strong gust as we type – so don’t get complacent yet if your power has remained on (ours has in Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood, so far). And as someone has pointed out in comments, we’re not being alarmist when we warn against going out if you don’t absolutely have to, because of the danger of falling trees – one has killed someone in Seward Park (here’s the SFD tweet). Signal outages are a hazard too – along with 16th, as mentioned earlier, the Morgan Junction outage has California/Fauntleroy out, as we just were reminded by a scanner mention.

3:04 PM: Thanks to Keith for word of tree trouble on northbound 35th between Alaska and Avalon. More trees are falling than in some windstorms, and that’s most likely because of how waterlogged the ground is from the far-above-average rainfall we’ve been having. If you’re anywhere near the water, especially west-facing WS, you’re seeing whitecaps and waves – Nick sent this from Me-Kwa-Mooks vicinity:

Many are asking “how long will our power be out?” Our stock answer is to assume the worst and be surprised if it’s better. Could be many hours, judging by past windstorms (we’ve covered them going back to the legendary one in December 2006, which was stronger than this and led to some people being out for more than a week). Citywide, the number of customers out is up to more than 40,000 now. Here’s SCL advice on what to do if/when your power’s out. … Also just heard via scanner, chain-link fence onto southbound 35th at Avalon; tree blocking the switchbacks from Upper Fauntleroy to Lincoln Park in Northrop/44th/Southern vicinity (added: photo from Linda)…

Also, tree trouble at 16th/Thistle. Scanner traffic continues to indicate that SCL and SDOT are maxed out right now so please do report but know you might not get a response soon. DON’T GO ANYWHERE NEAR DOWNED WIRES, PLEASE.

3:16 PM: From comments – Southwest Pool is now closed for the day because there’s no power. More trees down – Mariko sent this from 37th SW, near Willow:

And at Fauntleroy/Wildwood, south of the ferry dock – thanks to Jim:

3:38 PM: Thanks for the texts – a tree is down across part of the onramp to the eastbound bridge from Avalon/Admiral/etc.

The high-wind warning remains in effect until 11 pm – read it here.

4:05 PM: Thanks to Jay for the ferry/waves photo from Beach Drive/Alki Point area.

As mentioned earlier, businesses are affected in more than a few spots – Susan mentions in comments that the Morgan Junction outage includes West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). We’ll be going out shortly for a look at some of the major areas. And we can’t say it enough – be careful and don’t go out if you don’t have to. Here’s a streetlight pole leaning at 16th/Trenton in Highland Park:

Thanks again to everyone sending photos.

4:42 PM: We have reports from Highland Park and High Point that some of the power is back on. We’re out now looking around and just happened to be at 16th and Holden when we saw that – the 16th lights ARE working. Meantime, at Delridge/Orchard, the signal is flashing red. Just texted from resident near SW Precinct that their power’s back too. We’ll update our outage-map screengrab shortly. … wait, maybe not; it appears to not be working at this moment.

4:51 PM: Just checked out the bridge-ramp-blocking tree firsthand:

Please let us know if you discover it open and we haven’t reported it yet – hard to tell how long it will take to clear. Meantime, get on the eastbound bridge from Fauntleroy or from Delridge.

As we continue our rounds – looks like California Lane’s blocking tree is cleared, as traffic is coming down the hill to Harbor Avenue. And the City Light map is back up. We’re traveling along Alki, which did NOT lose power this afternoon, and all the restaurants appear to be up and running.

5:02 PM: We’re along Beach Drive now – part of the central stretch is part of the remaining major outage zone in West Seattle, which also goes east to Morgan Junction, 1,600+ homes/businesses. Surf’s not too high along Beach Drive because the tide is relatively low right now.

5:13 PM: Just arrived in Morgan Junction and tweeted this pic:

Our photographed just went into Thriftway – it IS open, no hot food in the deli, no frozen food sales, and some of their perishables are out of the cases for now. They’re also limiting cash back right now but otherwise they are running with generator power. Meantime, we’ve updated the SCL outage-map framegrab atop this story with the 5 pm view – reflecting the eastern West Seattle outages that are now over.

5:27 PM: Besides the trees being cleared from roads, tree services will be busy for days if not weeks with trees that have come down onto homes. Two are down on this house on SW Tillicum in Fauntleroy (thanks for texting the photo):

5:41 PM: Just got a text that 42nd/Graham has power restored, shortly after a text that it is back on in the 6300 block of Beach Drive. The SCL map shows only scattered small outages remaining in West Seattle, though across the service area, more than 41,000 customers are still without electricity.

5:56 PM: We just checked the bridge ramp again. Big progress for the crew but the ramp’s still closed. Also closed, SW Southern on the west side of California, because of a tree blocking the route down the hillside to neighborhoods east of Lincoln Park.

6:05 PM: Margie lost this 40+-year-old tree at her house near 39th/Andover:

We just checked back in The Junction, and the tree that fell in front of 4730 California hasn’t been cleaned up yet, but traffic’s going by both ways.

6:18 PM: Robert in Seola sent this photo, saying a family made a narrow escape:

He says they had just gotten out of the car when a tree fell on it, near where another tree had fallen across the road.

Also in southwest West Seattle, Gary sent this photo of a tree down at 35th and 111th – taking down a power line:

Later tonight, we will have a separate report on the aftermath of the storm, including any roads that remain closed … we appreciate updates, and thank EVERYONE again for all the information and photos throughout the afternoon – 206-293-6302, editor@westseattleblog.com

The National Weather Service‘s “high wind warning” for our area has been revised because “the storm is moving faster and winds are expected to begin rising sooner than previously expected.” The NWS expects the “strongest winds” in this area to be “during the early to mid-afternoon.” Current forecast is for south to southeast wind 25 mph to 40 mph, gusting up to 60 mph. We’ll be monitoring the situation throughout the day; if your neighborhood is hit with wind effects such as a power outage, downed tree or wires, etc., once you’ve reported to authorities, please let us know – text or call 206-293-6302. Here are some of the numbers you might need:

REPORTING A POWER OUTAGE: 206-684-3000

REPORTING A ROAD/SIDEWALK HAZARD: SDOT’s 24-hour dispatch is 206-386-1218; if you can’t reach them and it’s a truly urgent hazard, call 911.