UPDATE: Falling tree limb causes West Seattle power outage for 4,400+ homes and businesses

12:46 PM: Thanks for the tips. 4,400+ homes and businesses are out of power in West Seattle, including High Point and Westwood, (added) parts of Highland Park, Gatewood, and Sunrise Heights too. Part of west South Park is affected too. Updates to come.

12:53 PM: We haven’t heard of any obvious cause yet – no crashes or fires logged, for example. (Let us know if you see City Light crews zeroing in on any particular spot.) … The outage zone covers part of major streets including Delridge, 16th, and 35th, so please remember to treat intersections with non-functioning signals as if they are four-way stops.

1:24 PM: One texter reports a City Light truck near 25th/Myrtle. Meantime, if this is your first power outage, a reminder that the “estimated restoration time” on SCL’s map is entirely useless – the utility told us years ago that those times are basically wild guesses. And they often change – for example, a short time ago, this one was listed as 4 pm, and now it’s changed to 1:22 pm (though that time has already passed [update, at 1:40 pm they went back to a 4 pm estimate]). Could be a lot sooner than the estimate, could be a lot later.

1:32 PM: As this approaches hour 2, if you’re looking for a place to cool off, our area’s three fully air-conditioned libraries are all outside the outage zone and open until 6 pm – High Point (3411 SW Raymond), Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW), Southwest (9010 35th SW). … (added) Meaghan at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) says they’re open, air-conditioned, with places to sit, purchase not required …

1:52 PM: Many are reporting they’ve got power back. The SCL map hasn’t yet updated so we don’t know if everyone’s back on.

2:04 PM: Map finally updated – 382 are still out.

The map also now describes the cause as “tree/vegetation.”

2:44 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent word that indeed, it was a falling tree limb on 25th:

3 PM: Everybody’s back on now, and SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang confirms that the cause was “a tree that came down onto some wires at 24th Ave SW and 25th Ave SW.”

60 Replies to "UPDATE: Falling tree limb causes West Seattle power outage for 4,400+ homes and businesses"

  • Lina July 8, 2024 (12:47 pm)

    Our street is out in High Point near the cemetery 

  • newnative July 8, 2024 (12:52 pm)

    we had quite the flicker party up here with a brief internet outage in Admiral district. it even triggered the fire doors to slam shut. 

    • sam-c July 8, 2024 (1:22 pm)

      Yeah, we had two extended flickers in N. Delridge.  

    • Thomas July 8, 2024 (2:06 pm)

      Thanks for this. I have pets that require air conditioning. Belvidere in Admiral.  

  • Hilari July 8, 2024 (12:53 pm)

    Highland Park out on 14th SW. 

    • Sherri July 8, 2024 (1:38 pm)

      Out @ 6th Ave SW and SW ThistleKeep cool everyone

  • AC July 8, 2024 (12:55 pm)

    No Fan…No AC…during heat event…Not cool (pun intended)…

  • Georgia July 8, 2024 (12:56 pm)

    Highland Park is out too

  • KD July 8, 2024 (12:56 pm)

    Out in Highland Park. Thanks to WSBlog I saw it wasn’t just me! 

  • Jen July 8, 2024 (12:56 pm)

    There were two loud bangs before the electricity went out. Heard off Delridge just north of the Home Depot. 

    • Derp July 8, 2024 (1:01 pm)

      Hmmm, construction at the Arco ? Things that make you say hmmmm

    • WSGuy July 8, 2024 (1:03 pm)

      I heard the loud bangs as well. I’m surprised 90 degrees was all it took to blow transformers. 

      • WSB July 8, 2024 (1:09 pm)

        It’s birds or falling tree limbs far more often than weather conditions.

      • Jen July 8, 2024 (1:13 pm)

        Seriously…hopefully they get it back up soon. 

      • Kersti Muul July 11, 2024 (6:29 am)

        It’s not the transformers blowing that you hear, it’s fuse poppingTransformers rarely blow – and it’s a much bigger deal, they are full of oil and the outage would be a lot longer 

    • C July 8, 2024 (1:29 pm)

      In high point we also heard a pop right before it went out. It seemed like it tried to come back on but then nothing.

  • DC July 8, 2024 (1:02 pm)

    Stop lights out along Delridge. Hearing lots of honking… Remember folks, treat out lights like stop signs! 

  • AH Neighbor July 8, 2024 (1:03 pm)

    Just out for a few seconds in Arbor Heights.  Long enough to need to reset clocks.  Hoping it’s back on quickly for everyone else.  

  • Paul July 8, 2024 (1:07 pm)

    People are blowing right through stop lights when the power is out. It’s a four-way stop

  • Andy July 8, 2024 (1:08 pm)

    Brief outage in Arbor Heights; 30th Ave SW/100th. Power is currently on.

  • Juanita July 8, 2024 (1:08 pm)

    On Trenton near 34th, not in the zone shown, only lost power for about a minute.

  • SCOTT WALKER July 8, 2024 (1:09 pm)

    Probably the hottest day of the year.  Let’s get moving city light, we need our fans

    • flimflam July 8, 2024 (4:56 pm)

      Geez. That’s some misplaced hostility towards SCL workers thy do a great job..

  • Bonnie July 8, 2024 (1:14 pm)

    Ours went out for a minute and came back on. Fauntleroy 

  • Jeffrey Nelson July 8, 2024 (1:16 pm)

    It now says estimated restoration time is 4pm.

    • WSB July 8, 2024 (1:21 pm)

      Please remember, and I’ll add this above too, the estimated restoration times that SCL posts are ABSOLUTELY USELESS AND IRRELEVANT. The utility itself explained to us years ago in a fit of candor that they are basically wild guesses. Could be back on a lot sooner – or a lot later.

      • Al July 8, 2024 (1:27 pm)

        “… in a fit of candor…” LOL. 

      • Jeffrey Nelson July 8, 2024 (1:33 pm)

        I know it’s not necessarily accurate, just passing on the posted info.

  • BB July 8, 2024 (1:18 pm)

    I am near Alaska Junction and we had a power surge. Good thing I have a day off today to reset the breaker.

  • Meaghan Haas / HPCS July 8, 2024 (1:34 pm)

    If you’re in Highland Park and need a cool space, Highland Park Corner Store (9th & Kenyon) has A/C and spots to sit.  No need to buy anything – come in and cool down if you need to!

  • Ehyi July 8, 2024 (1:36 pm)

    Super Deli Mart lost power for less than a minute and went right back to making delicious sandwiches and pouring cold beer!

  • Aastha July 8, 2024 (1:40 pm)

    We are on the 32nd near the elementary school. No power yet

  • Jen July 8, 2024 (1:41 pm)

    25th and Myrtle makes sense, that’s really close to my house where I heard the booms. 

  • Molly July 8, 2024 (1:47 pm)

    It’s back on in South Delridge!

  • Georgia July 8, 2024 (1:47 pm)

    Back on in HP😎

  • Back on July 8, 2024 (1:47 pm)

    Power is back on 28th and Myrtle 

  • Sarah July 8, 2024 (1:48 pm)

    Our just came back on 

  • Steve July 8, 2024 (1:49 pm)

    Just came back on in HP

  • WSGuy July 8, 2024 (1:49 pm)

    Power back on near Home Depot 

  • Dm July 8, 2024 (1:49 pm)

    Power is back on, 15th Ave SW between Holden and Webster.

  • Jeffrey Nelson July 8, 2024 (1:50 pm)

    My power just came back on; I’m on 25th and Cloverdale.

  • Elana July 8, 2024 (1:51 pm)

    35th and Trenton & power is back on!

  • ES July 8, 2024 (1:51 pm)

    Power back on, near the cemetery!

  • WS Resident July 8, 2024 (1:54 pm)

    Delridge x Thistle had city light trucks and crews out and about.Fingers crossed for a quick fix.

  • Some dude July 8, 2024 (1:56 pm)

    Parts of Holden west of 16th has power back.

  • Marcus July 8, 2024 (2:08 pm)

    Sounds like the power is starting to come back on.  Thanks SCL.  And thanks to the individuals, who responded and got the power back.  It is tough working in this weather.

  • al July 8, 2024 (2:08 pm)

    The outage has been removed from the SCL page, without an apparent link to historical outages. How can we learn what caused this recent outage?

    • Some dude July 8, 2024 (2:12 pm)

      That would be very interesting info. Have asked for it in the past.

    • WSB July 8, 2024 (2:13 pm)

      I’m following up with SCL and will add the cause here, as we do with most outages we report on, since they don’t have a public-facing database (that I’ve ever found) with that info. However, I’m still seeing the 382-customer outage (which is still the same outage), and that should remain mapped until totally resolved. I screengrabbed the map of the downsized footprint, for the record. (Added: A texter has sent word it was indeed a falling tree limb on 25th.)

  • Some dude July 8, 2024 (2:14 pm)

    In case anyone needs this, food safety tips during a power outage:https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage

  • LP July 8, 2024 (2:48 pm)

    Our last little pocket near 25th and Myrtle is back on!

  • Jen July 8, 2024 (3:10 pm)

    LOL, my friend just said “It’s so hot even the trees are fainting”. Spot on! 🥵

  • ITotallyAgreeWithYou July 8, 2024 (4:38 pm)

    I feel for those today who weren’t prepared for this outage and am glad it was restored as quickly as it was. I’m a lifelong WSlite, recent transplant across the bay and SCL actually *scheduled a power outage for my block to replace two telephone poles today. Once I realized it coincided w/a heat wave, I made some calls begging them to reschedule. The contractor and SCL wholeheartedly agreed this was bad timing but didn’t reschedule. They also mentioned they can work in up to 95* heat! They replaced only one pole however, postponing the other, so power was out for just over 4 hours instead of the planned full day. I prepared as best I could to keep my place tolerable but the pets and I were still a bit too warm. Still, I’m sure I was better prepared than some of my neighbors and did have a plan b to go to a hotel (mostly for the pets) if it came to that, although that would have been an expensive solution.  I asked SCL to revisit their practices going forward now that we can expect our area to have hotter summers more often and to schedule maintenance outages appropriately. They fully agreed and planned to do so. I am also realizing I won’t take electricity for granted anymore for many reasons and need to help myself where I can so I am looking into battery powered generators. We are going to have more demand on our grid w/climate change and there are always the unexpected power outages, so, if you can, have a plan b. Stay cool.

  • Rob July 8, 2024 (8:07 pm)

    I remember in the 1990s one summer we hit 105. The very next summer  was like no summer at all only a couple days hit 80 it was some what cold all summer.  

  • WestSea Rezzie July 8, 2024 (8:31 pm)

    Anyone having issues with their CenturyLink Wifi since the outage? We are still offline, I was on the phone with CL for 2.5hrs this afternoon. I opened the conversation with, we have had a power outage, can you confirm my area is going through an outage as it is not allowing me to check my location through your outage checker online? I was reassured throughout the entire conversation my area was not going through an outage… 2.5hrs later, after running multiple diagnostics and resetting the Quantim Optics box 7 times, they confirmed there was actually an outage… I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing this? We are Near 16th Ave SW & Kenyon. Thanks neighbors. 

    • WS resident July 8, 2024 (8:44 pm)

      Yes, we don’t have internet as well, since the power went out this afternoon.  My husband has tried to contact Century Link but the wait is so long!  We are in Highland Park.

      • WestSea Rezzie July 9, 2024 (9:49 am)

        Ok, we are also near highland park. They scheduled me a technician to come but their earliest appointment was July 16th! They said they are hoping it should be back up today? I’m hoping for the best, but the lady on the call also said it’s been popular for your network box and receivers to get “fried” after an outage, and that they might need to replace all our current stuff! 😫🤦‍♀️ really hoping this isn’t the case. I’ll update my status here if our WiFi comes back on. 

        • WestSea Rezzie July 9, 2024 (2:42 pm)

          We are back up and running, started a new chat with CL and further investigated, the outage surged my WiFi Quantum Pod that was connected to my modem. They are replacing that one and the other two we have work, so check your pods if you have them and open a ticket with CL through their chat. Still over an hour of time spent, but problem solved to active WiFi. Good luck hope you get yours back up and running!

          • Ws resident July 9, 2024 (6:13 pm)

            Well my husband was on hold for hours with CL, then they told him that the router was fried so we ordered a new one.  He’s replacing it now, but it isn’t working so it must be something else.  Thanks for the tips, I let him know what you said.

  • Steph July 9, 2024 (11:53 am)

    It’s a little creepy that three bulbs are now brightly lit on my chandelier that only had one bulb working. Did they increase our power level? We’re just outside the affected area.

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