WINDSTORM AFTERMATH: Who has power back, and who doesn’t, as cleanup continues

(The Brothers, seen from Alki this morning – photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

11:18 AM: It’s the near-calm after the storm … but more than 4,500 homes/businesses in West Seattle are still without power after the outages began just before midnight. Here’s a screengrab of the current Seattle City Light map:

South of the big outage in Alki/Admiral/Genesee/North Delridge, most of those markers represent single-digit outages. SCL peaked at 72,000+ customers out and has now halved that, but that still means many hours of work, and as we’ve seen in many other outages, the work can be complicated and take longer, depending on what tree went into what line, affecting what part of the system … etc. Please remember that the estimated restoration times on the SCL map are only guesses – you could get yours back much sooner or much later.

12:54 PM: SCL has provided a detailed update here, including an explanation of how it prioritizes repairs in situations like this. It should also be noted that cable/internet services have been experiencing outages, too – we’ve heard from some customers. Those outages tend to be more hyperlocalized. We did see several Comcast and CenturyLink crews out while we were traveling around the peninsula at midmorning.

1:54 PM: Commenters and texters are telling us the power’s back in most if not all of the large-outage area, after 14 hours. The map should catch up shortly. … Update: About 200 people are still out in scattered outages around WS.

2:24 PM: Still lots of tree-cleanup work to be done, along with the trouble spots we showed earlier. Sarah sent this photo from 39th/Monroe in Gatewood:

And from Aaron, south of Admiral:

Tree trouble led Seattle Parks to tweet this reminder: “Following last night’s windstorm, we encourage all visitors to use caution in our outdoor spaces and please stay out from under trees and avoid forested park areas. To report a downed tree or maintenance issue, contact 206-684-7250.”

6:13 PM: Here’s one of the trees Parks lost – texter just sent this photo of a tree down at Roxhill Park:

6:44 PM: Checking the SCL map again, numerous scattered outages still have almost 500 customers out in West Seattle. Systemwide, nearly 6,000.

8:50 PM: About 300 more people lost power in west Admiral/upper Alki earlier this hour. Though we don’t have any official information beyond the map confirmation, keep in mind that repair work sometimes sparks new outages as crews work on rerouting/reconnection; this is by the scene of the tilting pole and downed wires at 49th/Waite. There’s also a pocket that lost power on the west side of Delridge south of Thistle earlier this evening.

9:20 PM: The Alki/Admiral outage is now at about 500 customers.

41 Replies to "WINDSTORM AFTERMATH: Who has power back, and who doesn't, as cleanup continues"

  • Joe Grande January 13, 2021 (11:35 am)

    SW Avalon between Genesee and 35th still out since 11pm. This area is all multi unit apartments and condos. Still no ETA for repairs. 

  • KT January 13, 2021 (12:17 pm)

    Dakota and 45th … I called and got an estimated restoration of power at 7:54pm tonight.  Based on the specificity of the time time given I now know their times are just pulled out of thin air (not what I wanted to say).  

    • WSB January 13, 2021 (2:46 pm)

      As I’ve said what feels like dozens of times, yes, the restoration estimates are absolutely worthless. I wish SCL wouldn’t even bother. Sometimes it’s much earlier, sometimes it’s much later. A former media liaison for the utility confirmed that they’re not based on anything factual such as “crew just arrived at scene X, made an assessment, and this is their estimate” – they’re just wild guesses. Glad that in this case it was underpromise and overdeliver rather than the other way around.

  • Back On January 13, 2021 (1:12 pm)

    We got it back just now down the street from Salmon Creek Cafe in Burien, lots of tree debris everywhere but looks like only a bit of roof damage so far. I hope everyone is ok and safe.

  • Marlene January 13, 2021 (1:18 pm)

    TR, do you have an estimate on when Comcast service will be restored? Our power came back on in a few minutes, but cable, phone, and internet are still out. On 35th near Spokane. TIA

    • WSB January 13, 2021 (1:37 pm)

      Short answer, no. But after the bridge meeting I’ll see if I can find someone to ask.

  • Gnarlotte January 13, 2021 (1:45 pm)

    Power back on 54th pl SW

  • Bug January 13, 2021 (1:47 pm)

    Yahoo! Power back on at 40th and Dakota.

  • Alison January 13, 2021 (1:48 pm)

    Just got power back at Alki (1:40 pm). Comcast and regular cell service still unreliable though. 

  • West Seattle since 1979 January 13, 2021 (1:48 pm)

    Power came on about 10 minutes ago at 36th and Genesee.

  • 44O January 13, 2021 (1:48 pm)

    44th and Oregon back on line

  • alki_2008 January 13, 2021 (1:53 pm)

    Alki is powered up now.

    The SCL Outage map shows our location as still in the red, but I’m sure it takes a little while to update.

  • Nancy S January 13, 2021 (1:53 pm)

    Back on at 57th Ave SW and Admiral. 

  • David January 13, 2021 (1:54 pm)

    Power is back on 44th/Charlestown 

  • CarDriver January 13, 2021 (2:07 pm)

    Across from Homestead. Never lost power. Cable and internet came back on 5 min ago.

  • Peter S. January 13, 2021 (2:19 pm)

    Power back on just NW of 52nd/Stevens.  Thanks SCL !!

  • Bianca January 13, 2021 (2:25 pm)

    Power is still out on 49th

  • LT January 13, 2021 (2:27 pm)

    Our internet is finally back up.

  • Michele January 13, 2021 (3:47 pm)

    Still no Comcast internet by Cheif Sealth. Any word on an ETA from them? Working from home with my mobile hotspot is less than ideal!

    • K January 13, 2021 (7:03 pm)

      Everything you said here is me also. Same neck of the woods and circumstances too! My hotspot goes in and out and then dies. I’ve got only one bar of a cell signal! Really T-Mobile?

      • CM January 13, 2021 (9:16 pm)

        Having the same exact problem. Cell service is bad down here so hotspot doesn’t work. Started the day without internet, and now we’ve lost power (happened around 2pm – am on the south end of Delridge). 

  • Kathy January 13, 2021 (3:53 pm)

    Such a gorgeous morning after the storm. A perfect day to enjoy an outdoor meal at the Alki restaurants. But all were closed due to the power outage.  They just can’t catch a break, the pandemic, wildfire smoke, long spells of rainy weather and wind storms, and now this when the weather is finally nice. They were having to throw out food today that wasn’t refrigerated.  I salute the grit and determination of these restaurateurs in the face of so much adversity.

  • WSlite January 13, 2021 (4:08 pm)

    Anyone else have CenturyLink and live near Roxbury or Arbor Heights? My CenturyLink internet has not been working all day and I can’t get a hold of their customer service, was waiting on phone on hold for an hour. Anyone have updates?

    • 1994 January 13, 2021 (10:16 pm)

      I am in AH and had no CenturyLink interruption for internet services. Sorry you have, and hope CLink gets you back on-line soon. 

  • drM January 13, 2021 (6:02 pm)

    Finally, all well in our small neck of the woods off Bonaire Drive. Not sure if there is some grand play at works here, but the moment it was announced that trump had been impeached, the lights came back on. Maybe even the Lord has had enough?

    • LOL January 13, 2021 (6:27 pm)

      LOL!!!!! Amen

  • Florence Kay Fiddler-Lovell January 13, 2021 (6:50 pm)

    42nd and Charlestown still out.  Our grid is generally one of the last ones.  Estimates say 8:00pm but that means they have no clue.  I’m ever grateful right now for handwarmers to keep the baby bird alive, luci lights to see by, a kind next door neighbor to charge grandkids phones, sterno to cook on.  I’m grateful to be not sick or homeless.   

  • jams January 13, 2021 (7:38 pm)

    Just lost power in north admiral on sunset. Everything is dark up and down the street. 

  • Powerless January 13, 2021 (7:46 pm)

    Just lost power. Near Aegis on Admiral.

  • North Admiral January 13, 2021 (8:15 pm)

    And after avoiding all the power outages of yesterday our power just went out in north admiral on 50th sw 

  • Deb January 13, 2021 (8:31 pm)

    My friend on Pritchard Ave SW north of Admiral Way reports that the power went out on her block as well as the block behind  her (Olga) approx. 7:30pm. Lights south of Admiral are on. I’ll dig up that City Light link and let them know. 

    • WSB January 13, 2021 (8:46 pm)

      Yup, that’s another 300 people or so, I’m speculating related to repairing the pole etc. behind Aegis Living (downed overnight).

  • itssodark January 13, 2021 (8:52 pm)

    Power still out around Delridge and Thistle, since about 1am

    • K January 13, 2021 (9:40 pm)

      Yet and still the crew have not been dispatched to that location. I hope it’s back up by the AM. This is the absolute longest I’ve ever been without power. Frustrating.

      • ITSSODARK January 13, 2021 (11:21 pm)

        Where are you seeing the locations that have had crews dispatched to? 

        • ITSSODARK January 13, 2021 (11:29 pm)

          Never mind I answered my own question!

    • K January 14, 2021 (4:58 am)

      Finally it’s back!!

  • Deb January 14, 2021 (10:25 am)

    My friend the Pritchard Ave. resident reports that power not scheduled for restoration until 5:45 pm tonight (Thursday) !

    • WSB January 14, 2021 (10:29 am)

      Again, the restoration estimates are entirely useless. They’re accessible on the map if people insist on looking at them (click on any outage marker) but they are not based in any actual fact or assessment, as City Light itself acknowledges. Could be much earlier, could be much later. The only thing factual on the map is outage location and # of customers affected.

    • rpo January 14, 2021 (12:07 pm)

      As of 11 AM, they were just taking down the snapped pole. They still need to put in two new poles and hang the transformer/wires. It may indeed be 5 PM before power is back on.

  • Marcus January 14, 2021 (4:43 pm)

    Slow progress, not sure if the pole was delivered till late afternoon.  Lots of equipment.

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