WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Early-morning wind topples trees (updated)

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9:55 AM: West Seattle escaped major power outages when the wind swept through for a few hours this morning – but there is one 27-customer outage on the Seattle City Light map, and that tree is the reason. Thanks to David for sending the photo and reporting, “We didn’t totally escape unscathed from last night’s wind storm. The wind knocked down a tree in the back of the apartments at 5220 California at around 3 am. So far that building and the ones behind it are out of power – no word from SFD or SCL on when they are coming to address the downed power lines.” Let us know if you are seeing any other storm damage – here in Upper Fauntleroy, a tree-sized branch came off a big evergreen, but landed harmlessly on an unoccupied planting strip. As for the weather, partly sunny and calm right now, but more major rain is on the way by tomorrow.

1:10 PM: That outage is fixed. But it wasn’t the only big tree brought down early today:

That photo is from Seaview resident Kaci, who says, “We lost a big beautiful Aspen tree during the windstorm last night. It fell at about 3 am. No major damage to our house except our rain gutters. Our catio didn’t fare so well.”

4:55 PM: A commenter notes that the first situation isn’t entirely resolved, and indeed, a new marker on the outage map shows that.

millerab6 December 2, 2023 (9:59 am)

Massive tree at Dawson/Cali/42. Wires down in all yards by it.

WSB December 2, 2023 (10:22 am)

That’s where the one in this photo would be, unless two trees fell?
- millerab6 December 2, 2023 (10:36 am)
  
  Yes

Cali_apt December 2, 2023 (1:04 pm)

I’m in the building next to here to the north and we have power. They’re taking care of the tree right now but no idea on when their power will be restored

Daniel December 2, 2023 (6:30 pm)

Apartment management is saying tomorrow sometime so we have another night of no power.

Dawn December 2, 2023 (2:45 pm)

My son lives at 5220 California. The power is still out at the building as of 2:45 p.m.

Carl Furfaro December 2, 2023 (3:51 pm)

Incidentally, aspen is good for smoking if you have any friends with smokers.

anon December 2, 2023 (4:43 pm)

La Rae apartments(where the first tree pic is) doesn’t have power. Power won’t be restored until they can remove the tree, which they will finish tomorrow.

WSB December 2, 2023 (4:53 pm)

Thanks. It’s back on the map, showing as a 1-customer outage (an entire building can sometimes be shown that way).

Daniel December 2, 2023 (7:57 pm)

Tom December 2, 2023 (8:27 pm)

Man, that first tree looks like it just sheered completely off it’s roots. And fell off the roof?? Really having trouble picturing how it happened.

Steph December 2, 2023 (9:54 pm)

Yes, where are the roots of that huge cedar by the apartments, on the white car?

Jason L December 3, 2023 (8:05 am)

These tree species all have shallow root systems. They’re very fragile in strong wind (and heavy snow). Best to plan accordingly when these tires of events are forecast. We used to park our cars as far from Aspen trees as we could when we lived in an area with a lot more of them.