5:09 PM: That’s a texted photo of Fairmount Avenue – through the trees – where several drivers got into trouble this afternoon. It’s one of the icy, hilly streets you’ll want to stay off again tonight, even before the forecast snow/freezing rain moves in. Speaking of which, we’re now officially under an upgraded alert, a Winter Storm Warning, which took effect at 4 pm. The National Weather Service still warns that what’s on the way is a “complex mix” and says that it’ll be snow until about 2 am, then freezing rain, with temperatures starting to rise. In the meantime, if the freezing rain really does arrive, risks include power outages from ice-laden branches and wires, so keep everything charged. The well-below-freezing weather also has affected water service for some – we just got a text about a water outage at 32nd/Cloverdale, which is now on the Seattle Public Utilities map; an earlier outage at 36th/106th has been resolved.

INFOLINKS
SDOT Winter Weather Response map (which roads it’s serviced and how recently)
Metro alerts and reroutes
Washington State Ferries alerts
Citywide traffic cams
West Seattle traffic cams
County traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center)

Updates as we get them. (westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/call 206-293-6302 – thanks!)

7:01 PM: The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) says it’s opening late Friday, 9 am.

8:23 PM: No precipitation yet here on the Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy line (nor on any of the WS traffic cams we’ve checked), but the radar shows it headed this way. Let us know when you see it where you are!

9:55 PM: The NWS’s latest forecast discussion explains the radar: “Widespread light radar echos are spreading across the region this evening. The vast majority of this precipitation is evaporating before reaching the surface due to the cold, dry airmass in place.” But the NWS still expects that to change at some point during the night.

11:29 PM: Some icy precipitation in this video Brendan tweeted:

We’re seeing some on the traffic cameras, too. Meantime, SFD confirmed to us late tonight that two fire-alarm calls in West Seattle earlier today – including one at the QFC/Capco Plaza building in The Junction – were water-related. Overall, SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Dating back to Monday, Dec. 19, Seattle Fire has responded to approximately 13 medical emergencies related to the snow and cold weather.”