WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Blustery day, with ‘wind advisory’ alert; almost 7,000 hit by short-lived power outage

9:36 AM: Thanks to Laurel at Ounces in North Delridge for the photo – that tree down along the Delridge entrance to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge is one of multiple trees brought down by this morning’s gusty winds. We’ve had a report from Admiral Way’s south hill, too. The National Weather Service has a Wind Advisory alert in effect for our area until 4 pm today, expecting “south winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.” No new West Seattle outages mapped by City Light so far but that last group of 146 from Thursday night’s outage is still without electricity. Scott sent this photo of crews working in the area:

If you experience or see weather-related trouble, please call or text our hotline, 206-293-6302 (once you’re sure the appropriate authorities know – if a tree or other debris is blocking a street or sidewalk, for example, SDOT’s after-hours number is 206-386-1218) – thank you!

9:49 AM: And now, a big power outage. Almost 7,000 customers; map screenshot added above. Thanks for the texts/tips. This time some signalized intersections such as 35th/Avalon and 35th/Fauntleroy are involved – remember dark signals = 4-way stops. Parts of Alki and Genesee that got hit in Thursday’s outage are out again, as is a stretch of Delridge, among other mapped spots that are out. We don’t know the epicenter of this one yet – let us know if you see City Light crews.

10:19 AM: If you look at the outage map, this seems to have spared the business districts, which have a variety of events today, but please let us know if you encounter any changes at any place on today’s (big) list. Meantime, while City Light’s map projects afternoon restoration, PLEASE REMEMBER that their estimates are just wild guesses at this point, COULD be much sooner, COULD be much later. Among other things, don’t open your fridge/freezer – what’s in it/them will last longer.

10:24 AM: And in fact, some are reporting their power is back. Avalon area, for starters. The map may not catch up for a bit. … Map now shows almost everyone restored from this outage (but not that 146-customer South Alki pocket from Thursday night).

10:33 AM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent rainbow photos, in the meantime – sightings from Alki to Fauntleroy. The one above this line is from John-Michael Bennett III. (Added) Below is a photo texted from Fauntleroy, where the ferries have been battling those south winds:

10:48 AM: Now the rain’s moved back in, at least here in Upper Fauntleroy. We’re also still hearing dispatches for various trouble spots – a tree down on 34th in Sunrise Heights, wires down on 51st in Brace Point.

11:56 AM: Though the power’s back, a reader says it’s left the Junction post office cash-only.

4:22 PM: Looking at City Light’s map, looks like the South Alki 146 finally got their power back sometime this afternoon, before hitting 48 unpowered hours.

38 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Blustery day, with 'wind advisory' alert; almost 7,000 hit by short-lived power outage"

  • Anne December 14, 2024 (9:40 am)

    Can’t imagine being up in one of those contraptions in this wind. A big thank you to all those City Light workers!!!

  • JShan December 14, 2024 (9:49 am)

    Just lost power in Admiral

    • Dar December 14, 2024 (9:59 am)

      Our power is out around 9:45 am

  • Pinto December 14, 2024 (9:50 am)

    Our power just went out by Madison middle school

  • Kat Shimon December 14, 2024 (9:52 am)

    Power outage at Alki, started at 9:45am

    https://seattle.gov/city-light/outages

  • North Admiral resident December 14, 2024 (9:53 am)

    Just lost power in North Admiral – east side of 3200 block of 49th. West side seems to still have lights. 

  • SRNA Resident December 14, 2024 (9:55 am)

    Be careful where you walk or park, these “safe streets” aren’t quite as safe as they use to be before the signs   ;-)

    • WSB December 14, 2024 (9:57 am)

      Report that to SDOT (number above – 206-386-1218) when you are able to; thanks.

      • SRNA Resident December 14, 2024 (10:24 am)

        Reported it through the Find-It/Fix-It app. 

        • WSB December 14, 2024 (10:28 am)

          Please don’t do that when something is happening now. Call 911 or if it’s public right of way, 206-386-1218 or if it’s a weekday, 206-684-ROAD. FIFI is not a “happening now” app.

  • Ian December 14, 2024 (10:01 am)

    I was fixing Christmas lights but this is NOT my fault.

  • MLJ December 14, 2024 (10:02 am)

    Why does this particular “circuit” or area seem to always fail every time the wind blows? I’ve lived in this house since 1997 and used to marvel at how we never lost power, and then about 10 years ago, something changed and it happens regularly now. I’ve asked SCL for an explanation but was handily ignored. Does anyone have a clue? Was there a change in the grid at some point that put this particular group of customers on the “most likely to not need power” list?

    • wetone December 14, 2024 (11:28 am)

      MLJ,   I have been in same house (WS) 35yrs and it’s west of junction. We have a very treed neighborhood with the power lines running through. City Light use to do a lot more preventive maintenance as in tree trimming and I would see Asplundh every 5yrs or so trimming the trees around/under the power lines in our neighborhood. Haven’t seen any of this activity in last 10yrs. I have seen CL workers spot trimming where working but nothing like prior times. Secondly I see a lot of older poles in more remote areas. I have in past years called CL to report areas of concern, but not any action… so I believe it’s just sign of the times as with many of the other infrastructure systems within city. By the way we have rarely had power outages in past, in fact we have had more in in last 5yrs than previous 30yrs. Thank goodness they didn’t last long. Thanks goes out to CL workers doing what they can.

    • Anne December 14, 2024 (11:49 am)

      Right- it’s all some kind of “bias” against a particular group of customers. 

      • MLJ December 14, 2024 (1:14 pm)

        Hi Anne.I’m not suggesting bias, I’m asking why things have changed so drastically, and am interested in learning more about how the power grid in our neighborhood works. I am reminded by your comment that this is probably not the best place to seek thoughtful and respectful discourse because for every helpful wetones (thanks for your thoughts!), there are usually multiple Annes that contribute nothing. 

    • k December 14, 2024 (9:07 pm)

      It’s probably something boring like a combination of the age of the infrastructure with the trees with the increase in climate events.  I remember when it felt like the power would go out in the Arroyos every time someone looked at a cloud funny, or it seemed like Gatewood was constantly losing power.  And now after they’ve replaced enough stuff in each of those neighborhoods, I guess it’s your turn.  It’s probably not much more complicated than that, and SCL doesn’t want to write you a letter than boils down to “roll of the dice” as an explanation.

  • valvashon December 14, 2024 (10:06 am)

    Love having a 2200 kva UPS here running our network.  Full internet access on my laptop!  Power outage started here in North Admiral at 9:47:20.

  • Aram Karabetyan December 14, 2024 (10:18 am)

    9.45 Am Lost power at 59 and Spokane

  • Matt December 14, 2024 (10:21 am)

    Back on at 61st and hinds (Alki)

  • Sheila December 14, 2024 (10:22 am)

    Power in North Delridge just came back on!

  • Anne December 14, 2024 (10:22 am)

    Power went out 4100 block of California Ave about 45 min ago-just came back on.

  • Chi’Chi December 14, 2024 (10:22 am)

    Power just came back on for me at 10:21am. I’m at Admiral and 60th. 

  • Alki guy December 14, 2024 (10:22 am)

    Power just came back on for us at Admiral and 60th Ave SW.

  • CLB December 14, 2024 (10:23 am)

    Power is back at 40th and Dakota 

  • Peter S. December 14, 2024 (10:23 am)

    Back on 52nd/Stevens.  Thank you SCL!!

  • Parker December 14, 2024 (10:24 am)

    Power just came back on at Genesee/Avalon.

  • Mark December 14, 2024 (10:25 am)

    Power just came back on at Alki! Rushing to make my coffee now …

  • nf December 14, 2024 (10:25 am)

    Lights back on at 26th & Genesee! Yay! Hope others are back up or will be soon.

    • WSB December 14, 2024 (10:27 am)

      Map shows most are back – right after I wrote my customary warning to ignore the estimated restoration time. Whew.

  • nf December 14, 2024 (10:27 am)

    Back on at 26th and Genesee, thankfully. Hope others are back or will be soon.

  • Douglas Greenswag December 14, 2024 (10:28 am)

    Power back on at 60th and Spokane at 10:21

  • Aram Karabetyan December 14, 2024 (10:34 am)

    10 30 am . Power came back at 59 and Spokane . Thank You City Lights Workers 🙏

  • Lola December 14, 2024 (12:01 pm)

    I hope those signs with the Concrete bottoms are the Street Closed signs for the Safe Streets.  The city needs to start taking care of all these trees that keep falling on power lines.  

  • Liz December 14, 2024 (12:59 pm)

    Windy just south of the Junction! I don’t think anyone was in there. No screams for help! LOL

    • Wendell December 14, 2024 (5:34 pm)

      @Liz. This is the winner.

  • Mike December 14, 2024 (1:59 pm)

    There’s a tree next to the curve on ramp heading East on the bridge that has limbs falling off it and landing on the onramp and n front of us this morning.  Not huge branches, but definitely spooked us to have it fly in front and land on the path in front of us.  That and there’s still a shopping basket more towards 35th in the road for the past 3 days.

  • Lagartija Nick December 14, 2024 (5:09 pm)

    Just a heads up, I just drove by the Delridge entrance to the WSB and that tree has been cleared from the roadway but NOT the bicycle path. Cyclists may want to chose an alternate route tomorrow morning.

Sorry, comment time is over.