day : 01/01/2022 6 results

A texter sent that photo from Fairmount Ravine this afternoon and contacted SDOT to suggest this road should be closed. We’re publishing it as a reminder that aside from arterials, streets are still mostly covered in snow/ice and will be for a while longer – significant rain, and above-freezing air, isn’t due in until Sunday pm. SDOT offers this general reminder:

People driving in the city are advised to avoid steep, untreated streets – whether the street has a “road closed” sign or not. If you must drive, please stick to our plowed and treated snow network as much as possible and avoid the steep or challenging areas of the city.

TRANSIT: Metro ending Emergency Snow Network early Sunday

January 1, 2022 6:34 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo, California/Alaska this afternoon)

As we get closer to thawing, Metro has announced it’ll start getting transit service back to normal:

Metro will deactivate the Emergency Snow Network (ESN) at 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2. All Metro bus routes active on weekends will operate on their regular schedules starting Jan. 2 where road conditions allow.

Metro vehicle maintenance crews have shifted away from chaining and retrieving stuck buses and have started repairs to damaged buses that operated during the winter storm. Metro is assessing the number of available buses and whether any routes may need to remain temporarily suspended on Monday, Jan. 3, as additional repairs are completed.

“Our transit professionals kept the region moving safely during the recent snowstorms,” said King County Metro General Manager Terry White. “Now we turn our attention to repairing buses damaged over the past week and again operating the broader all-day transit network that riders rely on.”

Riders traveling on Saturday, Jan. 1, should review what routes are operating on the Emergency Snow Network before traveling. On Sunday, Jan. 2, online resources will be updated to reflect any lingering snow routes where road conditions continue to be difficult for transit service. Masks are required on all public transportatio

Water taxi, Access and on-demand services

· Water taxi: The West Seattle route is not operating Jan. 1. Service will resume on Sunday, Jan. 2.

· Access paratransit currently provides only lifesaving and emergency trips depending on conditions and availability. Access continues to provide life-sustaining medical transportation. For Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, Access will continue to provide only lifesaving and emergency trips and will increase availability as routes become clear. Some roads in outlying areas of the county might continue to be impassable. Rides requested for riders who are not yet certified by Access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. During this time, customers who are not certified to use Access that need to connect to life-sustaining medical services can call 206-205-5000 to request services between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access is working closely with bus service to meet the needs of all of our customers.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind Advisory alert for tonight/tomorrow (update: canceled)

January 1, 2022 5:06 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:06 PM SATURDAY: Just when you thought the extreme weather was over, with the snow past and the temperatures rising, there’s a new weather alert for our area – the National Weather Service has a Wind Advisory for 10 pm tonight through 4 pm Sunday. The alert predicts south winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50. Separate from this alert, the forecast calls for rain to return by late Sunday afternoon.

UPDATED SUNDAY MORNING: The alert’s been canceled for the metro area. Breezy weather is expected later today/tonight, but not alert-level wind.

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S DAY: Hundreds start 2022 with Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim

January 1, 2022 1:45 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photos/video unless other credited)

Imagining yourself in the tropics is one way to make it through the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim at Alki Beach. Another is to consider that – today, anyway – the water was a lot warmer than the air: 47 degrees and 25 degrees, respectively. Despite the subfreezing air, hundreds were ready to go when organizer Mark Ufkes counted them down at 10 am:

(Photo by Scott Nelson)

While running into the water and immediately running out is the prevalent participation level, some lingered:

This was the first en-masse “swim” since 2020, when the air and water both were warmer – both 50 degrees, we noted that day.

ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Robert Spears for these photos:

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READER REPORTS: Early-morning trouble on the roads, roadside

January 1, 2022 12:57 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks for the updates from the early-morning hours:

That photo is from Kathleen, who says the midsize Seattle Fire callout at 16th/Cambridge just after 5 am was for an RV fire. No medic unit dispatched, which indicates no major injuries, but we are checking with SFD.

From Ann:

3 cars were involved in an accident on the 3000 block of SW Andover last night / early morning 4 AM -ish. The black Kia crashed through a residential fence.

Same Kia is completely blocking the sidewalk. SPD said tow trucks won’t / can’t come until conditions are better so sidewalk is completely blocked for now.

Another great grea example of why steep streets get closed under icy conditions and why it’s a good idea to heed the signs.

No SFD dispatch with this one, which indicates no injuries reported.

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S DAY: Info for your Saturday

January 1, 2022 8:16 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(Steller’s Jay, photographed by Troy Sterk)

Happy 2022! Here’s info to start the year:

TRANSPORTATION INFO:
*Metro is on a Saturday schedule, still with only the Emergency Snow Network routes
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses are on varied schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular 2-boat schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are on this SDOT map

EVENT TODAY

POLAR BEAR SWIM: If you want to join in this year’s traditional Polar Bear Swim at Alki Beach, be on the sand across from Duke’s Seafood (2516 Alki SW; WSB sponsor) in time for the countdown at 10 am sharp. Here’s the announcement.

NEW YEAR’S COFFEE
Closures aren’t as numerous on this holiday as Thanksgiving and Christmas so we don’t usually make comprehensive open/closed lists. But if you’re looking for coffee, here are a few shops planning to be open:

C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor is open 8 am-2 pm
Youngstown Coffee (6032 California SW) is open 9 am-2 pm
West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) opens at 7 am
Olympia Coffee (3840 California SW) opens at 8 am

Got info for today? Text us – 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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