10:07 PM: As of the top of the hour, no snow sightings in West Seattle – mostly overcast, upper 30s. But as the photos show, the clouds that have dropped snow on points north of the city were visible from here before nightfall:
(Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
Both the National Weather Service (see this tweet) and weather analyst Cliff Mass (see his update) say the convergence zone is “sliding south.” The Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 6 am, and we’ll be on watch through the night.
10:41 PM: Thanks for the comments, tweets, and texts – snow sightings in north West Seattle.
11:07 PM: More reports – it’s continuing to spread southward.
11:38 PM: Car tops are now frosted up here over Lincoln Park.
12:35 AM: Still very light, and no accumulation beyond the car dusting.
4 AM: Some areas got notable snow – like Alki (Robert Spears‘ photo, above, taken just before 1 am, and this one from Pelicans south of Alki Point) –
… and others did not, like here in Upper Fauntleroy, where the car-top dusting is where it stopped. We’ll be launching morning coverage soon; for starters, Seattle Public Schools has announced a 2-hour delay (school changes are here).
A briefing about the proposal to move the Harbor Avenue “Stone House” to Alki Beach filled the gallery at the Board of Park Commissioners‘ January meeting.
No vote was taken – the board is advisory only – but commissioners heard from a Parks staffer as well as, during the meeting’s public comment period, supporters – and one opponent – of the idea.
Backstory: The 80+-year-old house at 1123 Harbor SW is best known for its exterior of beach rocks, scavenged by the family that built it. Preservationists have tried for many years to secure its future but its owners finally sold the site – and adjacent buildings – to developers who plan a condo project. As reported here last year, its new owners have agreed to donate the building if it can be moved off their site. Preservation supporters say they could move it to an interim site while details are worked out with Parks for a permanent site, potentially adjacent to the Alki Bathhouse.
That was noted by Max Jacobs from Parks’ Property and Acquisitions as he opened the briefing at Thursday night’s meeting.
He mentioned that the interim-site plan means they’re not in a do-or-die situation. He also stressed that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society would pay to move it and to pay for whatever upgrades the building needs.
No snow yet, but it’s been breezy, with “king tides,” and late today, we got two separate reports of debris washed up at Constellation Park south of Alki Point. The photo above is from Chaucer, who says, “An expensive-looking floating platform bigger than a queen size mattress has washed ashore at Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint.” The photo below is also from Constellation Park, sent by Chemine, who reports: “There is a large chunk of styrofoam attached to concrete that is washed up on the beach. … It is eroding and distributing pieces of styrofoam all over the beach.”
3:23 PM: The National Weather Service has just downgraded the alert level to a Winter Weather Advisory, in effect from now until 6 am Monday, for the purple areas on the map above (which is from the NWS’s regional home page). As you’ve probably noticed, it’s sunny and in the 40s right now (though Snohomish County, for example, is seeing snow). The advisory says that’s expected to change: “Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches.” Here’s the updated forecast.
4:53 PM: Metro has sent a news release with reminders that distlll to this:
What’s different this year, what’s new?
Easier-to-find snow bus route information at MetroWinter.com
New printed snow brochures in English and Spanish
More bus routes added to the Emergency Snow Network, totaling about 65 core bus routes, DART routes and chained shuttles
7:02 PM: “Just in case” news releases keep coming in. Seattle Public Schools says if anything happens requiring changes, they’ll make a decision by 3:45 am.
NEXT TUNNEL CLOSURE: Looking ahead beyond whatever the weather brings this week, the next Highway 99 tunnel maintenance closure is set for 10 pm next Friday to 8 am next Saturday (January 17-18) – northbound only this time.
ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: January 12, 2019, was the first day without the Alaskan Way Viaduct. As we noted very early that day, the last vehicles were cleared just after midnight.
The West Seattle VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska) is the new home of martial-arts classes taught by Au Lac Vovinam, previously held at Neighborhood House. On Saturday, the organization held an open house to celebrate. That included a lion dance just before we arrived.
Here’s how they explain what they teach:
“Vovinam is a Vietnamese martial art founded in 1938 to provide practitioners with an efficient method of self-defense. Founding Master Nguyễn Lộc believed that martial arts would contribute to freeing Vietnam from colonial French rule by building strong minds, bodies, and spirits. Vovinam is practiced with and without weapons, and includes a wide range of techniques, making it a very well-rounded martial art. Ultimately, practitioners are taught the importance of using the skills they have developed to build a stronger community. Today, (80+) years since its founding, Vovinam has many training centers in almost all continents in the world (except Antarctica) with millions of disciples.”
The open house included demonstrations:
Classes are open to anyone at least 7 years old and will be taught on Saturday and Sundays, $50/month with a $50 uniform required. To find out more and/or to register, call 206-432-5873 or email aulacvvn@gmail.com.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: See what’s fresh in midwinter, 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
KINDIEPENDENT CONCERT: This time around in the family-music series, it’s Harmonica Pocket, 10:30 am at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, $10 adults, $5 kids over 6 months. Free parking behind the schoolhouse. (9131 California SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Take advantage of a quiet winter afternoon to go learn about West Seattle’s history, in a building that’s historic itself. Noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
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