WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Alert issued for ‘record-breaking cold temperatures’

(Morning view at Luna/Anchor Park, by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

4:44 PM: So far, doesn’t look like we have to worry much about serious snow, but that very cold air is arriving. The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement alert this afternoon for our area, including:

Record-breaking cold temperatures are expected to spread across western Washington this afternoon and tonight and continue into at least early next week. The coldest temperatures and wind chills are expected Friday through Sunday followed by a very slow warming trend.

This cold snap will begin with rapidly falling temperatures this afternoon through tonight and could result in flash freezing of any wet surfaces including roadways. This could create rapidly deteriorating travel/commute conditions.

By Friday morning, extremely cold air will be in place across western Washington …

In addition to all the other preparation advice, we’ve been asked to remind you – keep your pets inside, and watch out for your neighborhood birds, too, like this one:

(Photo by Jerry Simmons)

Reader Laura sent this advice if you have a hummingbird feeder:

Rather than bringing feeders inside at night, it is best to keep them up 24/7 and provide heat to keep the nectar thawed during sub-freezing temps. If you have some incandescent (non-LED) holiday lights you can simply wrap the lights around the feeder or put the bundled string of lights in an empty plastic nursery plant pot and hang it underneath the feeder (I use unfolded paperclips to connect from the perches on the feeder to a few holes punched along the rim of the pot). If your feeder has a bottle, slipping an old wool sock and/or bubble-wrap around the bottle helps too. If you keep feeders thawed by bringing them indoors periodically, this is best done by swapping them out (have at least 2) so there is always one available.

As always, thanks in advance for tips and photos enhancing our weather coverage – text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com any time!

5:31 PM: North winds are bringing in that cold air, and they’ve also led to the cancellation of the Vashon Island Water Taxi for the rest of the evening. (West Seattle is still running.)

6:30 PM: Very light snow, but it’s cold enough that it’s sticking to parked vehicles:

Sillygoose January 11, 2024 (5:01 pm)

We rubber band hand warms to our hummingbird feeds. Stay warm everyone!!

Hbird lover January 11, 2024 (5:26 pm)

Ooooo that is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Vic January 11, 2024 (10:00 pm)

thanks for the tip! just stuck a heat therapy back patch on mine.

hummersupporter January 11, 2024 (5:18 pm)

I just bring my hummingbird feeders in at night. Typically, hummingbirds feed heavily in morning and evening daylight hours and settle in about a half hour or so before dark.

Laura January 11, 2024 (7:41 pm)

Just be aware that in these cold temps they come out of their torpor/overnight hibernation mode and need to eat right away- and this often happens several hours before sunrise. So as long as you’re a very early riser it’s a solid plan!

staywarm January 11, 2024 (5:34 pm)

Last winter I read the tip of pouring hot tap water into a frozen bird bath in the a.m. -within 5 minutes, the ice melted and there were several interested parties all trying to get into the “fine feathered hot tub”.

Ann January 11, 2024 (5:45 pm)

I also increase the sugar concentration from 4:1 to 3:1 to give the hummingbirds a little extra energy, which also decreases the freezing point.

JustSarah January 11, 2024 (6:02 pm)

Just made more nectar to refill my feeders, and will stick hand/foot warmers to them. Lots of bird activity in general today; they know the cold is coming!