WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind alert, big power outage, schools/businesses/other closures – updating

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(12:40 pm note, we are no longer updating this story – see our afternoon coverage here)

We’ve been covering the wind-related trouble in our morning roundup but now it’s time to break it out for updates.

WEATHER ALERTS: We’re under a Wind Advisory until 4 pm, with gusts up to 45 mph out of the south. … 11:57 AM: Some are getting a tornado warning but it’s for Kitsap County, not us. … 12:21 PM – The warning for Kitsap County has expired. Whether you got it or not depended on your cell provider – our AT&T phone got it, our Verizon phone didn’t, for example.

POWER OUTAGE UPDATES: More than 5,300 homes and businesses in West Seattle lost power at 7:40 am (here’s the SCL map).

This includes some traffic signals – treat any dark or flashing signalized intersection as an all-way stop. (9:12 am update) Some have their power back but 3,500+ homes/businesses are still out per SCL map. (9:35 am update) Getting reports of more power restoration – waiting for map to update. (9:44 am update) Map finally updated – now down to just under 900 customers still out. (10:12 am update) Down to 826. Adding updated SCL map below:

(11 am update) Still 826 out, mostly east of the heart of The Junction; SCL attributed outage to a tree.

SCHOOL CLOSURES/CHANGES:
Hope Lutheran School is closed for the day.
Holy Rosary hopes to start late – families are advised to stay home and wait for word. (10:06 am – CLOSED for the day)
West Seattle High School closed – this is the only SPS school in West Seattle affected so far

BUSINESSES/OTHER CLOSURES/CHANGES: Please text or call with updates – 206-293-6302

*Trader Joe’s in The Junction is without power and closed – (11:12 am update – REOPENED)
*QFC in The Junction closed (10:57 am update – REOPENED)
*Safeway in Jefferson Square closed (10:30 am update – REOPENED)
*West Seattle YMCA – closed (10 am update – REOPENED)
*Swedish clinic at 42nd/Alaska – closed
*Dr. Peter Yi‘s dental office – closed
*Senior Center of WS – closed
*Other Junction closures – mostly on the east side of California and eastward (zoom way in on SCL map); if outage continues past 10:30 am we’ll be making an in-person sweep

Scott November 9, 2021 (8:26 am)

I get that drivers should (must) treat dark intersections as all-way stops, but what should pedestrians do?

WSB November 9, 2021 (8:35 am)

Wait for everybody to stop as you would at a stop-sign-controlled 4-way.
momosmom November 9, 2021 (12:08 pm)

You really needed to ask that question!???
- HS November 9, 2021 (12:23 pm)
  
  Lots of youth on here. Nothing wrong with asking questions for clarification nor for asking a question that other people may be thinking but may not ask.
  - momosmom November 9, 2021 (2:15 pm)
    
    No, you are right, questions are good to ask how else will you learn anything but in this incident I would hope it just falls under common sense.
    - REBEKAH BAKER LASALA November 9, 2021 (10:47 pm)
      
      Common sense, you say momosmom? Since when did America ever have common sense when we are ruled by domestic terrorism, an INSURRECTION happened in my hometown and ummmm, oh yeah, Trump is still running the country?
stormy weather November 9, 2021 (3:05 pm)

Good question, and alert for drivers, @Scott.

These intersections can feel a little chaotic and easy to forget about pedestrians, or see them in grey stormy weather.

B careful on the roads.
Ellen Carleton November 9, 2021 (5:50 pm)

Run! Freeze! Fly! Dance! Scream! Stay home! Take a nap!
- REBEKAH November 9, 2021 (9:46 pm)
  
  Hey Ellen!! I have done all of those, every day through the entire pandemic!!

Andee November 9, 2021 (8:28 am)

No power @our home 3000 block 37th Ave SW. Stay safe everyone! I’ve been avoiding my usual walk at Lincoln Park for fear of unstable trees falling cuz of the recent heavy rains. Am I being too paranoid?

Jay November 9, 2021 (8:40 am)

No, being in the woods is dangerous. I live in Puget Ridge and saw a 50ft tree fall about thirty yards in front of me when I was hiking near the community college. And I’ve been mountain biking in a forest in the wind where branches started falling anywhere, and any one of them could have caused a serious injury. I’m active every day of the year and the only weather that keeps me out of the woods is wind.
Joleen November 9, 2021 (9:29 am)

I would avoid walking in anywhere wooded with these gusts. The record heat of the summer and lack of rain may have done some damage to our trees.

Yma November 9, 2021 (8:44 am)

Just got the call, WSHS is currently closed

Steph November 9, 2021 (8:44 am)

Just got the robocall that WSHS is closed.

Plf November 9, 2021 (8:53 am)

Is the metropolitan market open?and into the junction such as husky’s

Nate Bauer November 9, 2021 (9:19 am)

Looks like the Junction has power specifically on the west side of the street. Huskys is currently open.
- WSB November 9, 2021 (9:25 am)
  
  If the rest of the outage zone isn’t fixed within an hour, we’ll be checking the area, but all tips ahead of that appreciated. Also adding, the Swedish clinic in Altamira (QFC building) is closed.

Junction Resident November 9, 2021 (8:56 am)

CHI Franciscan Clinic is closed, hopes to reopen by noon.

WSB November 9, 2021 (9:10 am)

Thanks!

Rara November 9, 2021 (8:57 am)

West Seattle high school‘s power is out no school for today.

West Seattle Coug November 9, 2021 (9:06 am)

We’re here on 37th between Landers and Stevens, and our power just came back on. Crossing our fingers…

Kal November 9, 2021 (9:10 am)

Is anyone else having a CenturyLink outage near Camp Long/High Point?

CAM November 9, 2021 (9:42 am)

I can’t speak to CenturyLink but Xfinity internet went down for most of West Seattle at the same time as everyone lost power (around 7:30 ish). I’m guessing the two are somehow linked. Xfinity has yet to offer an update on an estimated restoration time. They are blaming weather.
JR November 9, 2021 (9:42 am)

I’m not seeing a CenturyLink outage near there.
No Power November 9, 2021 (9:46 am)

I’m still without power but live in that area. Once I get power back, I will update if my Century Link internet is working or not.
- Power on November 9, 2021 (10:06 am)
  
  Power back on and CenturyLink is working
Eric November 9, 2021 (9:49 am)

Often power outages lead to internet outages, even if your house has power. The reason: repeaters on poles which ARE affected could be down, impacting you.
Mirte November 9, 2021 (12:45 pm)

Wave is still out for me (they confirmed, didn’t have an estimation as to when it’d be back up)

S. Bruno November 9, 2021 (9:25 am)

Senior Center of West Seattle is closed due to power outage.

Scott November 9, 2021 (9:49 am)

There seems to be a clear divide between east of / west of California around the Junction. If anyone knows why, and is bored enough to explain, I would appreciate knowing why.
- WSB November 9, 2021 (9:50 am)
  
  Outage patterns depend on which feeders are affected, among other things. Our power-outage coverage goes back 15 years now to the Hanukkah Eve Windstorm – we were out for 3 days, some were out more than a week, in some cases one neighbor had power and the person next door didn’t. Seldom the same pattern twice.

Kevin November 9, 2021 (9:58 am)

Live near West Seattle High on 42nd Ave, and power has been back on for the past 30 minutes

Bonnie November 9, 2021 (10:03 am)

I just got a notification that the power is back on at the Y and they are opening at 10am.

WSB November 9, 2021 (10:16 am)

We’ve updated above. Thank you!

SlopestyleJ November 9, 2021 (11:19 am)

4800 block of 40th Ave SW still out as of 11:15

WSB November 9, 2021 (11:59 am)

The tornado warning is for Kitsap, not us.

momosmom November 9, 2021 (12:12 pm)

Yes, just got the tornado warning on my phone. :>/

Yma November 9, 2021 (12:29 pm)

We got a second warning – for “in the area area” (different from the Kitsap one)until 12:30

WSB November 9, 2021 (12:39 pm)

Yes, I got those (but my husband standing right next to me did not – my phone is AT&T, his is Verizon) – badly worded but it was still intended for Kitsap County – the NWS verified. Scary though – we were outside on foot about 20 minutes from home, would have had nowhere to hide…