3:55 PM: The official regional alerts map for the National Weather Service is finally showing an alert for the possible “severe thunderstorms” that have been looming. The Severe Thunderstorm Watch alert is in effect until 9 tonight. That’s an upgrade from the “outlook” announced previously, but a “watch” is lower-level than a “warning,” which indicates some level of uncertainty. Of course, it’s important to prepare anyway! Seattle Public Schools is closing all buildings as of 5 pm and canceling after-school/evening activities. Updates to come.
5 PM: In case you’re nowhere near a window, but wondering … quiet so far, still partly sunny here. Regional radar shows the most intense storm cells currently in southwestern Washington.
(Added: Photo sent by Christopher)
6:30 PM: Still quiet but folks at the HPAC meeting have commented on seeing people covering their cars along streets they traveled to get here; co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick said her goal is to gavel the meeting in an hour so everyone can get home before the (potential) storm.
7:10 PM: Radar shows some intense cells not far south of here. Whether they’ll move directly north over us, or skirt us by moving east, we should know before too long. In the meantime, it’s raining now, at least here in North Delridge…. Added above, a storm photo by David Hutchinson.
(Added, lightning bolt photographed by Jerry Simmons)
7:38 PM: More thunder and lightning.
8:28 PM: That wave was over by the time we left Delridge Library around 8 – just light rain along the way. (No one’s reported hail so far tonight, 2″ or otherwise.)
ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Mark in Arbor Heights for sending his video of a lightning bolt:
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