WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Thunderstorms arrive, power outages follow (including evening updates)

2:12 PM: Thunderstorms have arrived, and the National Weather Service says they’re likely for much of the afternoon:

We’ll be monitoring for storm effects – power outages (just flickered here), etc. – if anything happens in your neighborhood, our hotline (voice or text) is 206-293-6302.

2:21 PM: And now there’s a sizable outage – almost 1,000 customers in Highland Park/southeast West Seattle. Some signals are out, too – Olson/Myers was just mentioned via emergency radio – remember, a non-functioning signal is a 4-way stop.

2:28 PM: The outage has expanded to another 2,000+ customers, including South Park – 3,235 total in what the map designates as two outages.

3:16 PM: Some texters are reporting the power’s back – the map tends to lag so we may not get the full picture on that for a few minutes. (added) Map has now updated – all 3,235 are shown as restored. (The map had suggested a 9 pm restoration estimate – remember that, as happened here, those are usually way off and not worth paying attention to – they are just guesses.) P.S. City Light says a fallen tree’s at fault.

4:45 PM: Forecast says there’s a chance of more thunderstorms tonight, and wind up to 25 mph too.

5:35 PM: Thanks for the tip. Another power outage started half an hour ago – 241 customers are out just north of The Junction:

7:50 PM: The outage north of The Junction is down to 114 customers, and is attributed to “equipment failure.” And now another outage – at least 20 customers along Fairmount Ravine, with a “transformer fire” response at Harbor/Fairmount.

18 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Thunderstorms arrive, power outages follow (including evening updates)"

  • Scott Collins September 18, 2021 (2:17 pm)

    Did anyone see/know what is happening with coast guard action off of mee kwa mooks park?

  • lamont September 18, 2021 (2:18 pm)

    South Alki, all kinds of clicking electronics and flickering lights, but none of my UPSes started actively beeping yet.

    • delano September 18, 2021 (3:23 pm)

      Lamont! My UPS crapped the bed today but I’m not sure it was related to the power. It was living on borrowed time. Suggestions for a new one?

  • 1000amys September 18, 2021 (2:21 pm)

    Our lights keep flickering accompanied by a sound like a small explosion or a sharp bang, NOT thunder. Puget Ridge

  • Carol September 18, 2021 (2:31 pm)

    Traffic light at marginal and highland park way is out

    • KayK September 18, 2021 (2:57 pm)

      Light also out at SW Holden/HPWay intersection. Folks rolling through cautiously- like the old days before the signal was installed.

  • Kat September 18, 2021 (2:47 pm)

    On 12th ave and Holden,Power has been out for a good 25 – 30 minutes now.

  • Sparky September 18, 2021 (2:52 pm)

    This is becoming the norm – a wee bit of wind and rain and a large chunk of the West Seattle grid goes dark.  

  • njb2021 September 18, 2021 (2:53 pm)

    Riverview neighborhood – lights have been out since about 230pm. Beforehand, there were a few booming sounds (transformer blowing out?), some flickering on and off, and then finally, off. 

  • GHill September 18, 2021 (3:13 pm)

    Avoid west marginal way, traffic backed up to TRAC services. Lights are out along the intersection there and at intersection getting to 99.

  • Elyse September 18, 2021 (3:15 pm)

    Back on near SSC

  • Lisa Morrow September 18, 2021 (3:16 pm)

    Power back on south Puget Ridge (18th and Myrtle.)

  • Christie September 18, 2021 (3:16 pm)

    Power is back in Highland Park

  • Andraste September 18, 2021 (3:16 pm)

    Just came back on here in Highland Park @ Riverview. Hope it stays that way!

  • Erika Borges September 18, 2021 (3:22 pm)

    Update caused by tree falling estimate 9pm for power returned

    • WSB September 18, 2021 (4:25 pm)

      As was evidenced – and as we remind people every outage – the “restoration estimate” is never worth paying attention to, as it’s an absolute guess. Glad the power was restored so quickly this time.

  • Sheila G September 18, 2021 (7:32 pm)

    Power still out at 7:32pm in the ‘Upper Junction’ area—north of Genesee, east side of California. City Light map shows 241 customers affected. Weird thing is, nearly a third of our lights are still working, same thing with other residents of our building. 

    • Sue H September 19, 2021 (1:48 am)

      I had a weird outage like that once, where all my overhead lights were out except for the one in the kitchen, and half the outlets in my apartment were out. The lights in our condo hallways were still on, but the elevator was out. Very bizarre.

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