West Seattle, Washington
10 Thursday
Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
AUTO-THEFT ARREST: Somebody called police late last night about what appeared to be an unoccupied car with major front-end damage, left on the northwest corner of California and Fauntleroy, jutting into the westbound lane of the latter. When officers arrived, they found a 31-year-old man in the car, which turned out to be stolen. The man, who refused to identify himself, claimed the car had broken down and he was waiting for help; when told the car was stolen, he claimed he had bought it from someone in the U-District, though he didn’t know their full name. Police arrested him and found he was carrying ammunition including a loaded 9mm magazine, which as a convicted felon he wasn’t allowed to possess. They also discovered in the suspect’s possession “a large amount of vehicle keys and other miscellaneous keys of various makes,” plus “a small amount of suspected crystal methamphetamine.” The car was impounded and the suspect was taken into jail, where, the report adds, he “made threats to harm officers … after he is released.” The report also notes that the suspect is on probation. Records show his record includes assault, auto theft, and burglary cases.
STOLEN CAR FOUND ABANDONED: Jeph sent this video of a car reported crashed and abandoned in Highland Park early Tuesday morning, engine running and airbags deployed:
In addition to reporting it to 911, Jeph called the phone number stenciled on the car and was told the car had been stolen Friday night from the Westwood Village Target parking lot.
ABANDONED BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Bolo:
Possible dumped bicycle?
Found near 5700 block Fauntleroy Way SW.
Bolo has already checked bike databases – no luck. If this might be yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.
10:35 AM: If you have eyes on Elliott Bay, watch for whales – just got word from Kersti Muul of “at least four orcas” seen in Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
1:04 PM: Thanks to everyone for updates in comments. Kersti just texted that they’re now southbound passing Brace Point.
(Photo by James Borrow, taken from Alki Point)
Still snowy out there, so we have another day of closures/schedule changes. We’ll be adding as announcements are made – thanks to everyone who’s shared info:
CLOSED/CANCELED
Facilities/services:
Senior Center of West Seattle
West Seattle Food Bank
City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)
Seattle Public Library‘s Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral) branches
Businesses
Alki Beach Pub (broken pipe)
Illusions Hair Design
Head To Toe Day Spa
Rambo Total Pest Control
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
Facilities/services:
West Seattle YMCA (9 am-4 pm)
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am
Seattle Public Library‘s High Point (11 am-6 pm), Southwest (noon-6 pm) branches
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but “snow activities” and walking OK)
Other Seattle Parks changes
Businesses
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)
HeartBeet Café (9 am-2 pm)
The Birdhouse (open until 1 pm)
Alki Mail & Dispatch (open until 5 pm)
If you have info to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
6:12 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in our area right now, Here are our links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of treated/closed roads, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here
–Metro is again running Emergency Snow Network reduced service
–West Seattle Water Taxi is operating but Vashon is not
–Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on regular two-boat service
WEATHER
Mid-twenties right now. Today’s forecast – breezy, sunny, high near 30, more snow not expected until very late tonight.
If you encounter any trouble on your drive/ride, let us know once you get to where you’re going – thank you. (Also be aware that the city map linked above has some inaccuracy regarding closures – it’s shown SW Avalon Way as closed since yesterday, for example, but we verified firsthand yesterday afternoon that it was clear and open.)
7:36 AM: Still quiet.
“The phone will not quit ringing.”
That’s what Keith Hughes told us – between phone calls – when we stopped by American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) this afternoon to see what he needs to keep running West Seattle’s only cold-weather shelter.
12 people slept there last night, and he was expecting more tonight. So he needs more cots, and blankets for the people who will sleep on them. Socks and gloves, too – those go fast, dozens of pairs so far.
And of course, he still needs more volunteers to help keep the doors open, as a daytime warming center – some people drop in for a cup of coffee, maybe a pair of socks, and then go back out – and overnight shelter.
He is serving two meals a day, as the whiteboard outside says:
But he says they have plenty of food – including six 5-pound pans of frozen lasagna – so they don’t need more food right now. And please don’t bring clothing – that takes more volunteers to sort and wash, and that’s more than he can handle. Socks and gloves, he can just keep on a table by the door to Pershing Hall, the event room that’s doubling as a shelter.
Running the shelter is more than a matter of just keeping the doors open. Hughes has also been kept busy handling logistics for the people who show up, or who are brought there; some of the phone calls he took while we were there had to do with someone dropped off there who really needed to be in a hospital instead.
Since the last time we talked with him, the city has started including Post 160 on its resource list of emergency shelters. And the new King County Regional Homelessness Authority has someone calling twice a day to check in. But the only government help he’s getting, says Hughes, is a city promise to cover the utility bills for December – running two furnaces, doing laundry, and providing showers adds up.
If you have questions, or are interested in volunteering, call Post 160 any time between 8 am and 6 pm at 206-932-9696, or call Hughes directly at 206-941-6654.
WEDNESDAY NOTE: Please see the comment discussion below for updates. In short – volunteers still needed, everything else is good for now, thanks to some fast-acting generous people!
7:14 PM: For the third consecutive day, with most residential streets still coated in snow and ice, Seattle Public Utilities has canceled residential solid-waste pickup for Wednesday. Here’s the full announcement from SPU:
Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets in Seattle, solid waste collections will not be able to Due to remaining ice and snow, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle on Wednesday, December 29. Commercial & multifamily collections will resume on 12/29. Transfer stations and Hazardous Waste drop-off remain open with normal hours.
Collection schedules should resume as follows:
Monday (12/27) residential customers will be collected Monday (1/3).
Tuesday (12/28) residential customers will be collected Tuesday (1/4).
*Wednesday (12/29) residential customers will be collected Thursday (12/30).
*Thursday (12/30) residential customers will be collected Friday (12/31).
Friday (12/31) residential customers will be collected Friday (1/7) due to the holiday on 1/1.
*Both Wednesday & Thursday collections will be as conditions allow.Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.
P.S. We’re asking SPU whether missed recycling pickups will be made up next week too, for the customers who aren’t getting any collection this week.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The reply to that question, via SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register:
Customers whose recycling was not picked up this week due to unsafe conditions created by snow and ice should set out their recycling carts (along with garbage and food/yard waste carts) on their next collection day, even though it is not their scheduled week for recycling pickup.
Our Solid Waste contractors will make every attempt to pick up recycling next week but this requires servicing an additional set of routes they are normally not equipped to cover, in addition to collecting double volumes on regular routes, during the recovery week.
If a customer’s recycling is not collected next week, they can set out extra recycling, at no additional cost, on their next scheduled recycling pickup day.
And a friendly reminder for customers-don’t forget to break down those holiday boxes before putting them in the recycling cart.
5:28 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a reported fire in the 3000 block of 59th SW. Details as we get them.
5:31 PM: The dispatched address is Alki Elementary. First arriving crews aren’t seeing anything.
5:35 PM: Firefighters have determined it was just “steam from the boiler” and all but two units will be dismissed.
Just announced by Sound Transit – January 28th is the date it’ll take the next major step in planning the West Seattle to Ballard light-rail extensions – that’s the date ST will release the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Here’s the announcement:
We are excited to announce the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project will be available for a 90-day public review and comment period starting on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022! We will offer multiple ways to comment including online, at public meetings, by phone, and via email and mail.
The Draft EIS comment period is an important milestone to provide input and help shape what this project looks like in your community. Your input is a key part of the process and will help the Sound Transit Board understand what is important to you as they consider which alternative to build.
After voters approved the ST3 ballot measure in 2016, the agency originally planned to release the DEIS last year, but it’s been delayed several times, most recently in October, when ST announced it would be out “in early 2022.” The current planned opening date for the West Seattle extension, 2032, is two years later than the original plan.
You would think this snowy weather would make it a memorable week for Mountain to Sound Outfitters, a West Seattle business that specializes in part in snow gear. But instead, for proprietor Greg Whittaker, it’s memorable in a bad way.
His shop at 3602 SW Alaska was broken into early today for the third time in a week. We heard about it from a reader who was passing by early this morning and saw SFD on the scene cleaning up broken glass. We then obtained the police report and followed up with Whittaker. The police-report narrative says officers arrived to find what the photo above shows, as well as a “large amount of ski equipment lying on the ground outside of the business along with several display hangers.” An audible alarm was sounding. The burglar(s) were gone; SFD was called for help “to secure the damaged door.”
When we contacted Whittaker by email, he said this was the third burglary this week at the shop, and added: “This is completely disheartening. We buy the gear to help West Seattle enjoy the winter and now key items are gone from our store. Keep an eye out for kids’ jackets, skateboards, sunglasses, gloves, goggles. I’d like to ask the community to keep watch in our block, as it seems like they are getting bolder.” If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 21-340896.
Another day with snow on the ground means another day of closures/schedule changes. Here’s what we have so far – we’ll keep adding as the info comes in:
CLOSED/CANCELED
Facilities/services:
Senior Center of West Seattle
Curative COVID test site at Don Armeni
West Seattle Food Bank
Seattle Public Library Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral), South Park branches
City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)
Businesses
Alki Beach Pub (broken pipe)
Illusions Hair Design
Head To Toe Day Spa
Skylark
Cherry Consignment
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
Facilities/services:
West Seattle YMCA (9 am-4 pm)
Seattle Public Library Southwest (noon-6 pm) and High Point (1-6 pm) branches
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but “snow activities” and walking OK)
Other Seattle Parks changes
Businesses
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)
HeartBeet Café (9 am-2 pm)
Chupacabra (noon-7:30 pm)
If you have info to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
6:30 AM: Good morning. A bit of new snow overnight. First, we have links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed/treated/closed roads, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here
–Metro buses are running Emergency Snow Network service reductions again today
–West Seattle Water Taxi is running (with Spirit of Kingston)
–Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on regular two-boat service
WEATHER
Mid-twenties right now. Today’s forecast – mostly cloudy, high near 30.
Again today, if you’re headed out this morning, consider letting us know how your drive/ride went, once you get to where you’re going.
7 AM: No incidents reported so far this morning. Two West Seattle road closures are officially marked on the city map – SW Andover east of Delridge (the hill to/from Pigeon Point) and 47th SW south of Fauntleroy. Larry Snyder sent this photo of Andover late last night:
7:55 AM: Speaking of closures, we’re starting a list again today – if your facility/business plans a closure or changed schedule today, please let us know so we can add it to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
8:20 AM: Snowing lightly again.
9:09 AM: Big news from Junction True Value – snow shovels and ice melt are back in stock. (They’re limiting the latter to 50 pounds/person.)
10:14 AM: The city map has added some closures – check it before you head out.
Our weekly update on local pandemic numbers and notes is moving to Mondays for at least this week and next since the holidays are changing the county’s update schedule. That means this update contains 10 days of data, compared to the 7 days in our previous update:
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS (through today):
*193,703 cases – 14,309 more than the data through 12/17 in our previous update (7,038 total in West Seattle, up 668)
*9,079 hospitalizations – 142 more than the previous update (265 total from West Seattle, up 3)
*2,153 people have died – 17 more than the previous update (77 total in West Seattle, up 1)
TRENDS
Go to the county’s dashboard page for a look at the graphs – while cases are up sharply, hospitalizations have risen at a lower rate, and deaths are down. That bears out in the West Seattle-specific stats – in particular, while the case numbers have jumped, the hospitalization rate has not increased nearly as much.
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATS
Though school has been out for a week, the district added cases to its dashboard for the weekly update today, so we are incorporating the local breakout here. Districtwide, since last Monday, the cumulative case total for this school year is 1,194, 116 more than a week earlier. 23 of the new cases are in the Southwest (West Seattle/South Park) region. Here’s the local school-by-school breakout (as always, the total is cumulative since the start of the school year):
Denny International Middle School – 26, unchanged
Chief Sealth International High School – 24, unchanged
West Seattle High School – 21, up 10
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 16, up 5
Roxhill Elementary – 15, unchanged
Gatewood Elementary – 14, up 2
Highland Park Elementary – 14, unchanged
Genesee Hill Elementary – 14, unchanged
Arbor Heights Elementary – 14, unchanged
Madison Middle School – 12, up 1
Fairmount Park Elementary – 11, up 4
West Seattle Elementary – 10, unchanged
Lafayette Elementary – 10, unchanged
Concord International (Elementary) – 9, unchanged
Pathfinder K-8 – 8, unchanged
Alki Elementary – 6, up 1
Sanislo Elementary – 4, unchanged
BRIDGES @ Roxhill – 1, unchanged
VACCINATION RATE
81.3% of King County residents 5+ have completed their vaccine series – up .4% from our previous update
By West Seattle zip code – note that these numbers are still NOT available as 5+, so they reflect percentage of 12+ population:
98106 – 87.7% completed series, 36% had a booster dose too
98116 – 91% completed series, 47% had a booster dose too
98126 – 83% completed series, 40.1% had a booster dose too
98136 – 92.6% completed series, 51.3% had a booster dose too
98146 – 83.2% completed series, 32.3% had a booster dose too
(Find more COVID-related King County stats here.)
THE WEEK’S PANDEMIC HEADLINES
Quarantine/isolation recommendation changes – Expecting a wave of asymptomatic cases, the CDC has changed its recommendations for quarantine and isolation – here are the details.
New WANotify feature for home testers – If you test positive with a home kit, now you can enter that into the app that will anonymously notify users that they’ve been exposed.
NEED TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE?
The UW Medicine testing service in the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you can make an appointment here. Readers report that waiting time is long and walk-ups have been turned away. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still operating (no availabilities are shown right now until next Monday), though readers report it was not staffed today (likely because of the weather). Curative’s Summit Atlas location is shown as reopening Tuesday, January 4th.
Seattle Public Utilities has just announced that it’s canceling residential solid-waste pickup tomorrow, too. Monday and Friday customers are now scratched until next week; what happens to everybody else depends on how Wednesday goes. Here’s the full announcement:
Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets in Seattle, solid waste collections will not be able to safely operate Tues Dec 28. Garbage, recycling and yard/food waste collections are canceled.
Monday customers will be serviced next week – Monday Jan. 3
Tuesday customers will be serviced Wednesday, if conditions allow
Wednesday and Thursday customers will be collected this Thursday and Friday, if conditions allow
Friday customers will need to be delayed to next Friday, Jan. 7, due to the Jan. 1 holiday on SaturdayEssential customers will continue to be serviced this week.
SPU transfer stations will be open normal hours tomorrow (Tuesday) and the rest of the week. Household hazardous material locations will also remain open.
These photos, sent to WSB anonymously, were circulated among Lafayette Elementary staff after burglar(s) vandalized the school over the long holiday weekend. We confirmed the burglary today with Seattle Police and obtained the report narrative. Police were called Sunday morning and were told it happened sometime between Thursday and Sunday. The school custodian discovered the damage and showed it to officers, who described it as “a lot of vandalism … open cartons of milk spilled on the floor, food strewn all over the floor, and someone had thrown paint all over the room.” These photos and others show damage in multiple areas inside the school.
The report also notes “some of the electronic equipment was also destroyed” and that the officers were unable to determine how the burglar(s) got in. School is out for one more week; we are seeking more information from Seattle Public Schools on the damage and what’s needed for repairs.
1:17 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s been sending photos! The day was off to a spectacular start – sunrise glow on The Olympics. The photo above is from James Tilley; below, from Michael Burke:
This snowy Schmitz Park scene is from Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:
Joan Cooper photographed the shoreline snow at Alki/54th:
And via text, another snow creature on the Harbor Avenue shore:
ADDED 3:32 PM: Thanks to Genevieve Williams for this view of Westcrest Park:
ADDED 11:20 PM: From Brandi Bigford, geese on the Harbor Avenue shore:
Virgil‘s backyard, photographed by Al:
Cowboy the cat:
And Jemma, Megan‘s pup:
Got a West Seattle snow pic to share? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 … thank you!
Back on Friday morning, West Seattle had the second big early-morning power outage in three days. No indication at the time what caused it, and followup information wasn’t available later that day, so we followed up today. Seattle City Light spokesperson Jenn Strang says, “The cause of the outage in West Seattle that morning was due to a tree falling into wires along Harbor Ave SW. The outage started at 2:20 am with 3,249 customers, 1,996 customers were restored at 5:20 am, all customers were restored by 6:01 am.” (The outage two days earlier was also tree vs. line, but that one was in North Delridge.)
Though the major snowfall is over for now, getting around remains icy/dicey, and subfreezing temperatures persist, so some facilities/businesses have closures/cancellations again today. We’ll be updating this list throughout the day as we get announcements/info (got an addition or update? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302) – here’s what we have so far:
CLOSED TODAY (MONDAY, DECEMBER 27) – FACILITIES/ORGANIZATIONS
Senior Center of West Seattle
West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA
West Seattle Food Bank
Delridge, Admiral libraries
Seattle Parks community centers, pools
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but you can sled or walk)
CLOSED TODAY (MONDAY, DECEMBER 27) – BUSINESSES
Bakery Nouveau
Cupcake Royale
Good Day Donuts
Head to Toe Day Spa (also Tuesday)
Illusions Hair Design
Itto’s Tapas
HeartBeet Café
Marination Ma Kai
Mission Cantina
Mode Music Studios
Patrick’s Café and Bakery
Pecos Pit
Skylark Café
Southgate Roller Rink
Starbucks shops (except Westwood Village)
The Birdhouse
Three 9 Lounge
Walgreens 35th pharmacy (though rest of store is open)
Youngstown Coffee
CHANGED/CANCELED TODAY
No residential solid-waste pickup – every collection day this week will be delayed a day
COVID testing site on SW Thistle opening at 10:30
OPEN BUT CLOSING EARLY
Circa open for lunch, closing at 4
6:12 AM: Good morning. For everyone who has to head out on this post-snowstorm morning – first, we have links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed routes, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here
–Metro buses are running Emergency Snow Network service reductions (continuing Tuesday)
–West Seattle Water Taxi (update) IS NOT running this morning (the shuttle routes are canceled too) – UPDATE, resumed 11:30 am
–Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on regular two-boat service
WEATHER
Upper teens right now. Today’s forecast – partly sunny, 20s.
More to come … If you’re headed out this morning, consider letting us know how your drive/ride went, once you get to where you’re going.
6:45 AM: Just announced – the West Seattle Water Taxi is canceled for the rest of this morning – we’ve updated the list above, “High winds and conditions at the Seacrest dock” are cited. The shuttles (Routes 773 and 775) are also canceled.
7:29 AM: We’re continuing to monitor but still no problems reported on the peninsula or nearby outbound routes. We do have one report of a downed tree across a path east of High Point, from Jethro:
This is “facing south on the paved path between the intersection of 28th and Myrtle and the stairs down to Sylvan Way. It’s a very large cottonwood that fell out of the church property to the west.” Also, Jethro adds, “We just sampled some driving and it’s not bad; Holden is covered in compact snow but quite grippy.
8:17 AM: Still uneventful out there.
11:58 AM: One more transportation note – West Seattle Water Taxi service has resumed.
3:13 PM: From a bus rider: “Tthe outbound C line is not serving Columbia and Western – it’s keeping going down 3rd instead, just let a bunch of people waiting at the stop know. It’s not very clear on Metro’s website. In fact the service advisory says ‘Regular route to WB SW Avalon Way & 35 Av SW,’ which is not correct.”
ADDED MONDAY EVENING: Metro says it’ll stay with the Emergency Snow Network routes/schedule for Tuesday, too.
Thanks again for all the snow photos – including enough bird pics for a “snowbird” gallery before the night’s out!
Above, Michelle Green Arnson found a Golden-crowned Sparrow who didn’t seem terribly happy with the snow. Below, some birds were just hungry:
Robin Sinner photographed those Bushtits swarming suet. Fluid feeders were popular with hummingbirds today when the feeders’ keepers found ways to keep them from freezing:
That photo is from Rose De Dan, who says that’s her resident male Anna’s Hummingbird, and notes that these birds have to feed frequently to stay alive. Jerry Simmons photographed an Anna’s in daylight:
Two from Greg Harrington – a Chestnut-backed Chickadee:
And a Dark-eyed Junco:
And as we’ve seen in photos and video from Alki, the wintry weather reached down to the shore too – that’s where James Tilley found this Sanderling:
Thanks, bird photographers! P.S. As usual, we’ve linked all the species names to their pages on the Seattle Audubon BirdWeb site, where you can find out more about them, and you can even hear them.
Just in from Seattle Public Utilities – no residential solid-waste pickup tomorrow, tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday, depending on conditions. That means every day this week slides by at least one day – Tuesday pickup on Wednesday, etc. Read the full announcement here. (Also mentioned: “Contractors will attempt to serve priority commercial locations” tomorrow.)
1:50 PM: As the snow continues – with wind-chill temperatures in the teens – West Seattle’s only cold-weather shelter is open, at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska). This is an all-volunteer effort, no city or other help, and more volunteers are needed – as mentioned here earlier this week. Post commander Keith Hughes, meantime, says if you or someone you know needs somewhere to go, “The warm-up center is open all day, and the Shelter will be open tonight. I have cots, mats, and blankets for up to 16 people.” Meantime, our coverage continues, first with the lists that started our earlier coverage:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed routes, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here
–Metro buses are on snow routes – advisories here; Emergency Snow Network activated for Monday
–West Seattle Water Taxi CANCELED for the rest of today
SNOW CLOSURES/CANCELLATIONS
–West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (closed Monday too)
-All Seattle Public Library branches
–Fauntleroy Church worship service (both online and in-person)
–City transfer stations (including the nearby one in west South Park)
–Junction & Morgan Junction Starbucks closed
-Also closed: Mission Cantina, The Bridge, The Birdhouse, The Westy, Southgate Roller Rink, Marination Ma Kai, West Seattle Bowl, Grillbird Teriyaki, Beveridge Place Pub, Greenbridge Café, Curious Kidstuff, Avalon Glassworks, Meeples Games, Best of Hands Barrelhouse, Lady Jaye, Northwest Art and Frame, Pegasus Books, Head to Toe Day Spa, Supreme, Ma’ono
-Closing early: Whole Foods (5 pm), Westwood QFC (7 pm), Metropolitan Market (8 pm)
-Closed Monday: Senior Center of West Seattle
WEATHER INFO
–Special Weather Statement alert now in effect
–National Weather Service‘s snow-totals map
Yards are buried – Scott and Maria sent this photo of theirs in Gatewood:
And down at sea level, Sirkka Saboe photographed the Alki Point Lighthouse:
Got a photo or something else to contribute to our coverage? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! More updates ahead.
2:47 PM: Alki remains the epicenter of storm photos so far. This one’s from Andrew – look at what happened after all those wind-fueled waves crashed over the seawall:
Wherever you are in West Seattle, you’ve probably noticed the snow has all but stopped. The weather advisory has expired, too. Now the cold is the biggest concern – it’s not forecast to get back above freezing until Thursday.
3:19 PM: Thanks for the tips – added to our list above, some early-closure plans. … There’s some fun stuff out there too:
Brandon has done it again: “Softy the Sea Lion 3.0. This year, did it for our son. No tools or shovels. Encourage community to come build their favorite sea animal.” (From our archives, this story contains Softy 2.0!)
4:05 PM: The city has just sent out a long roundup from various departments. We’ll link it here once it’s on the city website; no major news in it that we’re seeing – for example, no word from SPU yet on whether Monday solid-waste pickup is still a go. Otherwise – SDOT says it has 35 “winter-response vehicles” out on the roads. One other note from SDOT – tomorrow (Monday 12/27) “will be treated as a holiday for on-street parking to discourage unnecessary driving during the storm response.” Pay-station on-street spaces will be free, and time limits won’t be enforced. … Also from the city news release, a passage of note:
The online Storm Response Map [linked above] shares real-time information on which roads have been recently plowed. The technology transferring information is not functioning on a few snow-response vehicles at this time and will not be repaired until the storm has passed, so more routes are being treated than shown.
5:04 PM: New weather alert is in effect – a Special Weather Statement about the subfreezing temps, calling the next few days “dangerously cold.” The snow, however, is largely over.
6:21 PM: A few more scenes from today – from Paula Grassell at Lincoln Park:
And from Yazmin Penzien, who says, “What a day! This was like a dream come true for our twin girls.”
6:49 PM: We’ve published this separately, but also noting here – the city has announced there’ll be no solid-waste pickup tomorrow – every pickup day this week will slide at least a day.
7:06 PM: Just in from Metro, they’ll activate the Emergency Snow Network service reduction for Monday. This takes effect at 4 am. Here’s what that means.
9:18 PM: Two more photos before the night’s out – more road-clearing equipment, spotted by Admiral 7-11 this evening:
(Major) new snow is NOT expected overnight, but the roads will be icy, so we’ll be on watch for that early, in case you have to commute. We also have one more fun photo here at night’s end – Eugene‘s son Silas, enjoying the snow:
The official total (measured at Sea-Tac) was just short of three and a half inches.
(January 1, 2018, photo by Robert Spears)
For everybody who’s asked about the plan for New Year’s Day 2022 Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim – this is just in from organizer Mark Ufkes:
We go in the water at 10:00 am sharp, so don’t be late. According to Washington State regulations; three simple requirements:
Adults must be vaccinated and boostered for Covid 19.
Everyone must wear a mask.
You and your group must be Covid-free, be in good health, and distance yourselves 6 feet from others while on the beach.For over 15 years, the Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim has been about “washing away the complexities of the previous year and bathing in the unlimited possibilities that the New Year provides”. All while pushing us all out of our comfort zone. Prior to Covid, we had over 700+ swimmers. In 2022, we need this event more than ever.
So, go over the three simple requirements listed above. Bring a large, warm towel, a coat to put on after you get out of the water, good water shoes, and your hopes and dreams for a spectacular 2022. Holding hands and wearing bright colors as you go into the water also seems to help.
I wear Goodwill pink every year, to celebrate the day in the not-too-distant future when over 50% of our Members of Congress will be women and/or People of Color. Imagine the message that would send to the world and how much more empathy we will have in our national governance.
When you arrive, you’ll see the gathering madness across from Duke’s. Stay in your group of family and friends, spread out down quarter-mile Alki Beach, and allow six feet between your group and your Polar Bear neighbors to your left and right.
Just before 10:00 am, you will hear the megaphone countdown begin; 10, 9, 8 . . . At “one “ in the countdown, we all run, screaming like the children we are, into 47-degree Puget Sound. The water will be warmer than the air this year, so it will be much more pleasant that one might expect. The mild insanity is really quite fun, and we are in and out of the water so fast that we barely get goosebumps. And like everything in life, your attitude, and belief in yourself, will keep you warm and successful.
(Photo from Bea – Olson/Myers hill)
8:32 AM: The snow finally arrived early this morning around 6 am and is still falling. We have about 2″ here in Upper Fauntleroy. Some areas have more. Driving is dicey. Here are some updates to start our coverage.
SNOW CLOSURES/CANCELLATIONS
–West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA
-All Seattle Public Library branches
–Fauntleroy Church worship service (both online and in-person)
–City transfer stations (including the nearby one in west South Park)
–Junction & Morgan Junction Starbucks closed
-Also closed: Mission Cantina, The Bridge, The Birdhouse, The Westy, Southgate Roller Rink, Marination Ma Kai, West Seattle Bowl, Grillbird Teriyaki, Beveridge Place Pub, Greenbridge Café, Curious Kidstuff, Avalon Glassworks, Meeples Games, Best of Hands Barrelhouse, Lady Jaye, Northwest Art and Frame, Pegasus Books
TRANSPORTATION INFO
-City map of plowed routes, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-Metro buses are on snow routes – advisories here
-West Seattle Water Taxi (update) CANCELED for the rest of today
WEATHER INFO
–Winter Storm Warning alert in effect until 3 pm
More updates to come. Thanks for the info/photos already – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
9:04 AM: Photo from one area without traffic cams – Alki – thanks to @AlkiDude for tweeting this:
Several readers sent reminders – hummingbirds are out there in need of food! This photo is from Dina in Highland Park – she says they kept their feeder indoors overnight so it wouldn’t freeze:
9:40 AM: Snow’s intensified again – and remember that unlike many Seattle snowstorms, this won’t melt any time soon because temps are staying below freezing, day and night, for a few days. Tough going out there – Lora spotted this stuck bus at 42nd/Alaska:
Not far from there, Lora reports SW Oregon “is a sheet of ice.” Meantime, we’re updating the closure/cancellation list above but also hearing from some people who are still OPEN – like HeartBeet Café (until 2 pm) and Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm) in Morgan Junction, Also, the COVID vaccination clinic at Neighborhood House High Point (until 1 pm) IS open (and taking walkups).
10:21 AM: Still snowing lightly. Temperature’s only 25. Here’s a texted photo from Lincoln Park Way, uphill from Lowman Beach:
10:44 AM: Metro just announced the West Seattle Water Taxi is canceled for the rest of today – updating in the transportation-info list above. This is blamed on high wind, not the snow – further west on Alki, note the wave spray in this (updated) video Jay sent from 62nd/Alki:
@WestSeaWX points out that the temperature with current wind-chill factor is 13 degrees.
11:29 AM: If you absolutely have to go out, here’s a sign you’re going to see a lot of:
The photo is from Gatewood, sent by Paul, who says, “The street closed sign at SW Othello and California is up. SW Othello from California to 39th Avenue is impassable and children are sledding on the road. Please find another route.”
11:44 AM: Update from comments – the Admiral Theater is back on for all shows today (so we’ve taken them off the cancellation list above). Also in the Admiral District, Freshy’s emailed to say they’re open, until 7 pm. … Checking both the cameras and city plowed-routes map (both linked above), looks like 35th SW has been recently plowed.
12:31 PM: Dixon Hamby sends updates from The Junction (and this Instagram video) – Junction Starbucks is closed and Easy Street Café is only doing takeout. (Checking online, we see Morgan Junction Starbucks closed early, and Admiral and Westwood are closing at 2 pm.) Adding other business closures to the list above.
1 PM: We’ll be starting a pm report shortly and will add the link here when ready.
1:40 PM: And here’s the link – pm coverage now under way there.
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