WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Snow? Probably. But that’s not the biggest news.

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Yes, some snow is likely this weekend and beyond, says the National Weather Service, but not enough to even issue an alert (yet). The bigger forecast news is that it’s expected to be REALLY, REALLY COLD – colder than we’ve seen in a long time. The big cooldown is forecast to start on Sunday, with a high near 30 and a low possibly in to the upper teens; then Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, highs in the 20s, lows as cold as the lower teens. With all this ahead, the mayor led a briefing this afternoon, including a meteorologist who also stressed that the extra-cold air is the big news, a “rare event.” Here’s the video:

Managers from multiple departments/agencies – including SDOT, Seattle City Light, Metro, Seattle Public Utilities, Human Services – also were part of the briefing, and the roundup of reminders and resources is here, including info on how to keep pipes from freezing (and what to do if they do anyway).

Flivver December 23, 2021 (6:54 pm)

WARNING! Most people do NOT know how to properly put on cable chains. Most people won’t take them off when they get to a clear street. What happens next?? You guessed it: THEY BREAK APART. Small metal chunks ready to flatten tires. Been the victim 3 times of “cable chunks” flattening my tire. The big snow of December ’08 got my mom’s tire. Took it in to Barnecut’s. That was one of 37 they’d fixed in the last week.

StopCuttingDownTrees December 23, 2021 (7:28 pm)

Oddly, this record cold snap is coming just a week after the winter solstice just like the all-time record heat wave hit a week after last summer’s solstice. It’s as if the regional climate is trying to make up for the record week of 99 to 107-degree heat we had exactly 6 months ago.

Herongrrrl December 23, 2021 (7:50 pm)

Not so oddly, it turns out. Meteorologists have noted that there are patterns in extreme high temps in summer being followed by extreme low temps in winter. It’s a lot more complicated than how I’ve paraphrased here, but my point is you aren’t the only one who has noticed this….and it might indicate that westher cycles are a lot longer and more complex than most of us realize.

Jeb December 23, 2021 (9:54 pm)

Well clif mass says there WILL NOT be lowland snow and I tend to agree. Cold is the bigger story

PSPS December 23, 2021 (11:43 pm)

You pay attention to Mass the climate change denier?

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-meteorologist-cliff-mass-sparks-controversy-by-diving-into-heat-wave-climate-science/

He also has some bizarre ideas comparing protests in Seattle to Kristallnacht, the 1938 pogrom carried out by Nazi Germany.

He’s a crackpot.
- Adam December 24, 2021 (7:15 am)
  
  So when you need advice on Subject A, like weather, you first must decide if they’re politically aligned with you before you can trust em? Sounds like what about 99% of us are doing lately. It’s working out well so far, I say stick with the plan
- Pessoa December 24, 2021 (11:02 am)
  
  PSPS: Did you actually read the article? Here’s what Cliff Mass actually said:
  
  “Mass said he does think climate change – caused by greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuel and other human sources – is a problem. He is convinced this will result in more frequent heat waves and said “mankind should work to reduce emissions.”
- cjboffoli December 24, 2021 (1:01 pm)
  
  I used to enjoy reading Mass’ analysis but stopped visiting his site years ago when I learned that he shamelessly and unapologetically downloads and uses visual art on his site without the permission, license or attribution of the creators/owners of that content. Multiple news organizations (including The Seattle Times) have had to ask him to remove their stolen content from his weather blog. And apparently he arrogantly ignores and deletes the comments of people who point this out. As someone who makes a living from creating images, I don’t want to support copyright infringers in any way.
  - CLIFFORD MASS December 25, 2021 (6:00 pm)
    
    CJBOFFOLI I have NEVER been asked by “multiple news organizations” to remove content. NEVER. Why do you make up such a hurtful statement. EVERY image I use is in the public domain…..either governmental or creative commons. Can you provide an example of one that is not.?…cliff mass

Joe Z December 23, 2021 (10:05 pm)

108 was unprecedented, 5 degrees above the previous all-time record. There are numerous historical examples of temperatures in the teens or even single digits in Seattle. It hasn’t happened in decades. The equivalent of 108 would be a low of minus-5 F. Not even close.

Morgan December 24, 2021 (7:39 am)

I think there’s a forecast of negative one degree..:that’s kind of close. And it’s the degrees deviation from the average that is coincidental here…

Rhonda December 23, 2021 (10:28 pm)

Spud’s has photos of Alki from 1950-something (1951 I believe) when a rare, true blizzard hit Seattle. In the photos the street light poles have horizontal icicles.