WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Summer storm, round 2, with power outages, Alki water-rescue response

4:39 PM: No weather alerts yet, but in the past few minutes, the wind has kicked up in a big way, and radar shows another storm band heading this way. Lights are flickering too. Keep everything charged and stay safe! If you have downed trees or anything else to report, once you’ve alerted authorities, tell us too (206-293-6302 text or voice) – thanks!

4:42 PM: It’s not on the map yet but we’re getting outage reports from Riverview. … Here’s the outage, stretching south into White Center and South Park:

4:50 PM: There’s a report of a tree down on Seola Beach Road. Citywide, a dispatcher just declared, “We’re getting a TON of downed tree and wire calls right now.”

4:59 PM: At least one tree is reported down in the Myers/Olson area at the east end of the Roxbury corridor.

5:02 PM: Now there’s a water-rescue response to the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW. Erin, who called it in, tells WSB, it’s for a “kayaker in distress” who tried to wave down a passing boat. Tons of whitecaps while that giant blast of wind roared through, she observes.

5:16 PM: Responders aren’t finding anyone in trouble so far. As for the 2,221-customer power outage, repairs might take a while, as SCL is dealing with more than 26,000 customers out of electricity around its service area. As for the weather itself, looks like the rain shown on the radar might have bypassed us.

5:21 PM: The Alki water-rescue response is now officially canceled.

5:38 PM: Commenters in Morgan Junction mentioned a loud “explosion.” The SCL map now shows a 27-customer outage between Graham, Fauntleroy, 41st, and 42nd. … From Gatewood, Paul sent this photo:

Paul reports, “On 36th just north of Othello. Came down during wind storm. Everyone jumped in to help clean up. Some damage to vehicle.”

9 PM: Both aforementioned outages remain unresolved, per the SCL map. But the utility’s making progress overall – down to 11,000+ customers out throughout its service area, less than half of the peak number.

10:42 PM: This is now the last large outage left. SCL provided a short update of sorts on X/Twitter a few minutes ago: “Crews continue to troubleshoot the issue and are working toward a solution until power is restored to all.”

11:12 PM: The South Park area of this outage just got power back, so it’s down to just under 700 customers, mostly in West Seattle. The short description of the cause is finally labeled as “tree/vegetation” (we’ll be asking SCL tomorrow about the specific location, as to date nobody has reported where the crew is).

11:46 PM: Just for the record, here’s a screengrab of the SCL map showing who’s still out:

12:43 AM: After eight hours, the map shows everyone in this outage is back on. (If you’re not, please let SCL know!)

50 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Summer storm, round 2, with power outages, Alki water-rescue response"

  • Jessica August 18, 2024 (4:44 pm)

    Wow, that was a blast! It mate me look for a funnel. Didn’t see any, but golly!

  • Matt August 18, 2024 (4:45 pm)

    Looks like most planes are aborting landing and going around at SEA (presumably ground stop in effect; also no take offs). Even some (AS 1095) diverting to PDX.

  • Its JC August 18, 2024 (4:45 pm)

    4:42PM  lost all  power and internet at the Ages and Stages corner of 9th and the Trenton 

  • anonymouse August 18, 2024 (4:47 pm)

    Holy crap that was a huge gust! Small branches falling everywhere it was nuts. We’ll keep our eyes open!

  • Jennifer August 18, 2024 (4:47 pm)

    Wowzer. A big gust blew 2 big pots off our deck!!

  • Morgan Graham August 18, 2024 (4:50 pm)

    Heard a very loud explosion a few minutes ago. Guessing it was a transformer. Sounded like it came from west of California and Graham.

  • Jenny August 18, 2024 (4:52 pm)

    Big BOOM near Morgan Junction – maybe a transformer blew? Anybody else hear it?

    • Kj August 18, 2024 (5:13 pm)

      I heard that too!

    • WS Res August 18, 2024 (10:41 pm)

      We heard it!

  • fdn August 18, 2024 (4:52 pm)

    Power out 14/Holly/Riverview. 

  • Pelicans August 18, 2024 (4:53 pm)

    Was in a back room and heard a rushing sound. Within 30 seconds living room was a wind tunnel-papers strewn all over!  Grabbed things off deck and ran around closing and locking slider, windows.  House is creaking, wind is blowing so hard. Secure for heavy weather everyone!

  • Delridge Neighbor August 18, 2024 (4:56 pm)

  • Riverview fairy August 18, 2024 (4:58 pm)

    Should I sit in the tub and wait for the all clear lol? Wow, those were some gusts! I watched in awe as my neighbor’s patio umbrella blew up and over his house!

  • DMR August 18, 2024 (5:01 pm)

    Woooza! That seemed like a mini tornado! Everything blew off the deck including my large weighed umbrella. Thank goodness I grabbed my lil Frenchie, she may have gone w it also. Stay safe out there 

  • DC August 18, 2024 (5:03 pm)

    Any readings on how big those gusts were? My husband and I had to hold onto our sail and try to unclip it from the house before it ripped the siding off and broke the side posts. We were successful! This reminds me of the east coast. 

  • Susan August 18, 2024 (5:06 pm)

    I’m interested in speed of the major gusts. It was enough for us to drag anchor…

  • WSB August 18, 2024 (5:10 pm)

    So far my partner has found Boeing Field recorded a 46 mph gust. (Added) That’s per his weather app; online, Boeing Field shows a 36 mph gust.

    • Eddie August 18, 2024 (5:34 pm)

      I recorded two 33mph gusts during that last blast around 4:40.  West of Alaska Junction. 

  • Jen August 18, 2024 (5:11 pm)

    Anybody in Morgan junction hear that huge explosion??

  • LCef August 18, 2024 (5:15 pm)

  • Lucy August 18, 2024 (5:26 pm)

    Whoofreakinghoo!!!!

  • Sue H August 18, 2024 (5:59 pm)

    During the worst of the gusts, someone on a floor above me in our condo had a window screen fly out of their window and land on my patio! Glad no one was hurt.

  • AR August 18, 2024 (6:08 pm)

    I think Trader Joe’s in Burien is closed. PCC in that area lost power but they are on a generator and open. Some traffic lights on SW 152nd weren’t working.

  • Emcat8 August 18, 2024 (6:11 pm)

    I stepped out my back door just as that huge gust came up and I thought I’d end up in Oz!  It was wild watching my trees sway and the plants in pots threatening to fly away. I thought my poor ancient cat would lift off. Just bananas. 

  • Captain Wyman August 18, 2024 (6:15 pm)

    SEOLA Beach Trees down.

  • West Marge August 18, 2024 (6:30 pm)

    I live off of West Marginal in Riverside. Hardly a gust down here, as always. The trains might be loud, and the racetrack out front that just claimed another car and driver last night might be incredibly frustrating, but we haven’t lost power in 9 years. It’s always such a shock to drive up to the Junction to witness how nuts the weather is in the highlands

  • MICHELLE August 18, 2024 (6:35 pm)

    Was out paddle boarding on the sound near Lowman and a family in one of houses “rescued” myself and two others on SUP by helping us land on their beach and then driving us back to Lowman. When the wind suddenly kicked up it got scary fast. Hope they read this – a huge shoutout of THANKs to them. 

  • Jen August 18, 2024 (6:45 pm)

    Just drove down the Highland Park Way hill and saw a tree on the power lines, which is usually the cause of power outages in the Riverview area. No SCL response team on-site yet.

  • Rob August 18, 2024 (6:53 pm)

    To look outside now it’s like nothing ever happened 

  • D-Mom August 18, 2024 (6:54 pm)

    I grew up in the Midwest and know the sound of a tornado. I heard that as it kicked up from the west. Straight line winds maybe?  I stood at my back door watching the clouds carefully, waiting to see the forming funnel cloud. Never saw anything, but what a crazy storm!

  • Debbie August 18, 2024 (7:03 pm)

    I live in the Highland Park area, and we still do not have power

    • MC August 18, 2024 (9:40 pm)

      Looking at the SCL map, seems like our area isn’t going to get power until 11pm. We got some light for a second about an hour ago but everything is still dark w us as well. 

      • WSB August 18, 2024 (9:54 pm)

        Please note, the restoration estimates on SCL’s site are just wild guesses. Could be sooner (although in this case 11 pm’s approaching), could be much later.

  • Julie August 18, 2024 (7:25 pm)

    Winds are stronger against houses now in my neighborhood due to all the trees people have cut down when they buy a house to flip and sell!  There’s no more trees hardly in my neighborhood that used to block the wind like there was about 10 years or more, thanks to people buying houses and chopping down all trees and bushes on the property that they then flip to sell and not live in.

  • Aaron August 18, 2024 (7:42 pm)

    A sailboat anchored off the north side of Lincoln Park (the Harmony) had been pushed very close to the beach — likely dragged through the kelp forest. Something was clanging and the boat looked a bit battered. Hopefully won’t be run aground as the tide drops. 

  • KW August 18, 2024 (8:06 pm)

    We are still without power in the Riverview neighborhood (16th and SW Orchard St) and the sun is setting. Anyone else? 

    • KLS August 18, 2024 (8:46 pm)

      Same here, neighbor.

    • Anna August 18, 2024 (8:52 pm)

      Ours flickered about 8:30 but went right back out. We are at 13th and Myrtle 

      • KW August 18, 2024 (9:04 pm)

        Yes, happened here too. A glimmer of hope– dashed! 

      • cljskis August 18, 2024 (9:18 pm)

        There was just a loud bang near the 11th and Austin, the lights flickered but still no power

  • SB August 18, 2024 (8:24 pm)

    Same here, 12th & Webster but my next door neighbors have theirs!

  • Tree down August 18, 2024 (9:21 pm)

    We had a third of a large tree fall just missing our house and our neighbors.  Incredibly loud and scary! 12th and Henderson.  

  • Craig August 18, 2024 (9:23 pm)

    Just heard our fifth explosion in Riverview since we lost power.  

  • Jeannine August 18, 2024 (9:33 pm)

    Burien is out, where I’m at,  and Skyway I heard.  My partner said xfinity emailed him or texted that the power would be back an hour ago. Not happening yet! How would xfinity know lol. 

  • j August 18, 2024 (10:52 pm)

    It was kinda strange having high winds and sunshine at the same time here in the sandpit.

  • Vince August 18, 2024 (11:18 pm)

    Highland Park here back online!

  • AK August 19, 2024 (12:12 am)

    Well, when was 2K out 7+ hours ago it was an 11pm restore time which they met for 1500 users, but for the 700 in the dark it’s still showing 11pm at 12:11am….sigh….

  • CW August 19, 2024 (7:01 am)

    Big shoutout to all the SCL line crews! They will work looong hours in any weather, doing physically demanding and dangerous work to get us back on.

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