WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Alert level now up to Winter Storm Watch

That’s the newest alert map from the National Weather Service, which now has our area under a Winter Storm Watch starting at 4 pm Sunday. The summary: “Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of a trace to 2 inches possible with locally up to 4 inches.” Weather analyst Cliff Mass goes into more detail in his newest update, saying it looks like the south part of the city (that’s us) looks to be in line for more than the northern part of the city. He adds that an array of outlooks he’s analyzed show, “Virtually no chance of snow in Seattle before 3 PM, but considerable uncertainty for amounts after that.” Let us know when you spot the first flakes (206-293-6302 is our 24/7 hotline, text or voice.)

Steve January 11, 2020 (4:33 pm)

OMG!!! We are all dooooomed!

Grateful for warmth January 11, 2020 (4:54 pm)

I get concerned about the homeless in our community when there is snow in the forecast. This population generally doesn’t have the latest news and isn’t aware of impending storms. I shared the forecast with some homeless individuals I encountered today, told them about the emergency shelters and encouraged them to make their way to the Seattle Center if they can. I hope there will also be outreach teams helping to bring people in who are caught out in it. Does anyone know if there are any emergency shelters in West Seattle, or any churches that are opening their doors? Any volunteer needs / opportunities this week associated with this?

WSB January 11, 2020 (6:36 pm)

No emergency shelters in WS. Some churches already quietly shelter some year-round. The year-round Camp 2nd Chance has no urgent needs, its manager told the Community Advisory Committee at the meeting we covered last weekend. Here’s the latest from the city:
https://homelessness.seattle.gov/severe-winter-shelter-availability/
- Grateful... January 11, 2020 (7:27 pm)
  
  Good to know, thanks for sharing this!
  - Canton January 11, 2020 (9:26 pm)
    
    Good point Grateful. Too bad with all the homeless dollars coming in….they could have built it on the various surplus utility properties, they have sold off.
sarah January 11, 2020 (9:00 pm)

I was thinking that to, i found mittens that are new and wanted to give them to someone but don’t know where to go and hand them out ?
D-Mom January 12, 2020 (12:48 am)

Not just snow, but the cold, rainy, windy days we’ve had too. That combination can be deadly if soaked. Good to think of them all through winter.
Lisa January 12, 2020 (2:09 pm)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/as-cold-weather-bears-down-on-region-winter-homeless-shelters-open-heres-where-to-find-them/

Graciano January 11, 2020 (5:37 pm)

Weatherman say up to 2″ or maybe 4″… Don’t be surprised if you wake up on Monday with a foot of snow on the ground. lol

Ryan Jacobson January 12, 2020 (4:41 pm)

Ya exactly dont be surprised, last year weather man said 3 inches and we got blasted with over a foot of snow s–t was crazy . I’m guaranteeing everett sees at least 6 inches while the city of seattle sees one to three.

Helpermonkey January 11, 2020 (6:55 pm)

Time to stock up on bananas!

sam-c January 12, 2020 (4:30 pm)

lol we got plenty, I feel like that is a reddit thing.

Linda M Satterlee-Smith January 11, 2020 (7:00 pm)

Here comes snowmageddon all over again. I see it coming for those who work in the grocery business. Empty shelves and lines backed up at every check stand open. If you go to Fred Meyer’s be prepared for only a few check stands open since they have cut back hours on their employees starting this month. Even with only 3 or 4 open at a time. Please be patient with the cashier ringing you out. They are working as fast as they can go, on top of having to bag when they do not have a bagger.

WSB January 11, 2020 (7:14 pm)

Absolutely. We’ve been to two grocery stores tonight and things were a little busy but not total crisis … some shelves emptying, though.

NachoBeaver January 11, 2020 (7:18 pm)

Get Your Bread Now Before Its Gone!!!

AMD January 11, 2020 (8:49 pm)

Sunday is my dedicated grocery shopping day all year round. Please, last-minute panickers, leave something for me. :(

Ellen January 12, 2020 (12:56 am)

No worries!You can buy some flour if no more bread left.
Char January 12, 2020 (8:13 am)

I second that. Be curtious and leave enough for others

Calires January 11, 2020 (10:03 pm)

Looking at the National Weather Service forecast, it’s now saying “little to no snow accumulation expected” for the duration. Earlier today, it was saying 1/2″ to 2″ for many of the days next week. I’m kind of regretting the 160 lbs of rock salt I drove 15 miles to get this morning…

WSB January 11, 2020 (10:44 pm)

Where? 8:57 pm update for Seattle city forecast from NWS projects 1 to 5 inches.
https://a.atmos.washington.edu/data/city_report.html
- Apey January 12, 2020 (7:48 am)
  
  “considerable uncertainty”. These two words could not be more perfect when describing our winter snow alerts! 😂
- AMD January 12, 2020 (8:15 am)
  
  I’m bad with technology so I don’t know how to link it, but NWS Seattle tweeted yesterday at 4pm “Real Talk Western WA:
  1. Sunday-Monday event WILL NOT be like last February.
  2. Most places for Puget Sound will see a Trace-2″
  3. Localized amounts up to 4″ possible IF a Convergence Zone develops Sunday.
  4. Higher amounts of 2-6″ possible for Whatcom/Skagit/Clallam. #WAwx
  and then two hours ago they tweeted that this forecast was still on track. *shrug*
  - WSB January 12, 2020 (10:18 am)
    
    Always evolving. BTW one way to link a tweet is to click on the hotlinked time (4h, 10m, whatever) and that opens the full tweet so you can copy the URL from the browser bar.

Calires January 12, 2020 (1:23 am)

I’m looking at NWS. It looks like you’re looking at UW.
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=47.57760500000006&lon=-122.40036999999995#.XhrlVchKg2w

WSB January 12, 2020 (1:42 am)

The UW site hosts the NWS forecasts in a much simpler-to-access form and that’s why I get the links there. But it’s the NWS as shown on the index
https://a.atmos.washington.edu/data/

The Seattle city link (which I have routinely used as reference here for years) is in the third section on that page under “Other National Weather Service Forecast Products.”

But you can find the same exact verbiage on the weather.gov site here:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=sew&issuedby=SEW&product=ZFP

I hope the 1-to-5 is wrong, but better to be ready than not.

Anne January 12, 2020 (6:45 am)

I am new to WS I live off 35th and Barton. I have to drive down 35th to connect to the WS Bridge, I work in Seattle. Any Idea what my commute might look like? Do they plow 35th or the bridge?

WSB January 12, 2020 (10:22 am)

Yes. We will link all the info in one place if/when snow starts falling but in the meantime you can see the priority routes here
https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SDOT/SafetyFirst/WW_2019_Map.pdf

There is a dynamic map that will show where the plow crews are/have been.
http://seattlecitygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=78d66825a3e6478c9fc6bdd3116038c8

Daisy January 12, 2020 (7:46 am)

Idaho woman here ! My husband lives in West Seattle ( I will be relocating soon )so I like to see what is going on , snow is nothing new to us here in Idaho , word of advice ,shovel shovel !!and salt!! We don’t get a plow here in the country as much as the city. we shovel our sidewalk, driveways and streets every hour or so. Neighborhood all pitches in and helps each other out. If you’re driving, we carry kitty litter in our trunk in. Case we get stuck and it adds weight to our car so sliding is less likely. Good luck everyone!!!!! We are currently getting dumped here in Idaho

Bill January 12, 2020 (9:44 am)

This alert includes a cute little map of Western Washington, with an assortment of colored areas. Each color may, possibly, have a particular meaning. However, the reader is left wondering, with no clue, as the map and article provide no explanation…

WSB January 12, 2020 (10:15 am)

The map is from http://weather.gov/seattle and each color indicates the alert level (or lack of one) for that area.

Gina January 12, 2020 (1:14 pm)

True Value at the Junction sold out snow melt and snow shovels until Tuesday.

WSB January 12, 2020 (1:32 pm)

Thanks for the update!
Kim January 12, 2020 (2:17 pm)

Home Depot in sodo is out as well.
bolo January 12, 2020 (7:43 pm)

McLendons White Center had them lined up on their storefront “porch,” with a dedicated stocker constantly counting and replenishing them.

Marguerite Long January 12, 2020 (2:21 pm)

It’s hailing in Sammamish.

J. January 12, 2020 (2:55 pm)

Where do you pick up the C Line Snow Shuttle from 35th and Barton?

WSB January 12, 2020 (3:27 pm)

New alert level/forecast:
https://westseattleblog.com/2020/01/west-seattle-weather-snow-still-expected-but-alert-level-has-changed/

bob formerly of west seattle January 12, 2020 (3:36 pm)

I was flying to Seattle from Idaho where I now live, and Alaska Airlines is watching and readjusting their schedules as there are cancellations going on. Check your travel plans over the next few days as the agent told me they could change depending on the weather. Alaska graciously waived the cancellation fee as they are experiencing a high volume of cancellations due to the weather. Hooray for them and me. Watch for slippery streets with the cold temps, it is snowing off and on here in Boise Idaho as I write this. I remember the storms of 2008 2009 I was trapped at home for days living in West Seattle.Be Safe

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