West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
(December 25 reader photo of high-tide aftermath on Alki promenade)
The next round of “king tides” – the year’s highest high tides – peaks in the next several days, and low atmospheric pressure could mean higher water levels than predicted. First, here’s what the tide tables predict for our area:
Saturday: 12.8 feet, 5:51 am
Sunday: 12.9 feet, 6:30 am
Monday: 13.0 feet, 7:08 am
Tuesday: 12.9 feet, 7:43 am
Wednesday: 12.8 feet, 8:17 am
WSB reader Lura points out that atmospheric conditions can push the water levels higher than predicted – see the red line on this chart, for example – and she notes that if forecast conditions bear out, that could mean 14-foot high tides ahead. The National Weather Service has a Coastal Flood Advisory alert for 4 am-8 am Saturday; along the Duwamish River, the city says “… river overtopping is not forecasted. However, significant street flooding in the industrial area of South Park is expected on the mornings of Saturday, January 3rd and Sunday, January 4th.”
8:19 PM: Thanks for the tips. While we were away from the desk for a while, yet another collision was reported in the curve/pullout area toward the southwest end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. The SFD 911 log shows initial dispatch just after 6 pm; there was another dispatch just before 7 but archived radio indicates that was NOT a new crash – apparently someone called in the same one a second time. Our video shows the spun-out car and downed pole/sign around the time of the second response – we assigned a back-seat passenger to try to get a visual as we past eastbound; that didn’t work so we turned around and went westbound, and what you see is what we got – the car is briefly visible around :13 in. We’re checking with SFD re: injuries. If you missed it, here’s our latest story on what SDOT says it will do regarding the crash risk in that area.
10:19 PM: SFD says no injuries were reported.
If you’re starting the year with a decision to make about school for a very young member of the family – don’t miss the West Seattle Preschool Fair on Tuesday:
West Seattle Preschool Fair – January 6, 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Hope School Gym: 4100 SW Genesee St (Gym Entrance on Genesee). Parking available in the lot on the east side of 41st and Genesee St. Look for signs.
Parents of preschool-age students are invited to attend the West Seattle Preschool Fair January 6th at 5:30.
Twelve local preschools will be in attendance to inform you about their programs and help answer questions about preschool readiness. January is a perfect time to begin your search for the program that meets the needs of your student, and what better way to research than to have access to all these programs in one spot! You can pre-register by clicking here. Children are welcome! Questions? Email event organizer Sally Heit at sheit@hopeseattle.org.
Our participants are:
Holy Rosary Preschool
Hope Lutheran Preschool
ARK Preschool
The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary
Bright Horizons at West Seattle
Westside Wonderspace
The Cove School
Community School of West Seattle
SSC Cooperative Preschools and Parent Education Program
Urban Nature Preschool LLC
Cometa Playschool
West Seattle MontessoriAlso:
Sunshine Music
The Little Gym of West Seattle
Thanks to Collin for the photo and this report from the east end of the Roxbury corridor: “Olson Place and Cambridge, 1-car accident blocking 1 lane going up the hill. No injuries but will need a tow truck.”
(Thanks to Trileigh for sending the photos)
3:25 PM: Seattle Fire crews are responding to a possible house fire in the 6500 block of Beach Drive SW [vicinity map]. Updates to come.
3:30 PM: Crews have not yet found a fire but say a resident told them smoke had been coming from the roof. … They say the attic is clear, so they’re dismissing most of the units.
3:51 PM: Beach Drive is still blocked as of a few minutes ago, texters tell us, but SFD has just given the clear to cancel all units, so that shouldn’t last too much longer.
One day after we reported that the West Seattle Junction Post Office‘s outdoor mailbox is out of commission again, looks like the one at the Westwood Village Post Office is too. So reports Cindi, who sent the photos a short time ago and explains:
Just as I drove up they were in the middle of taping up the box at Westwood; somebody vandalized it and they have just discovered it.
The lock picture is where they started to try and pry off the drop chute.
While Cindi was there, workers were emptying mail out of the damaged box. We already had an inquiry out to USPS about the Junction box; we’ve added an inquiry about this too. It also was recently returned – in November – after 2 1/2 months away because of a break-in.
(‘Live’ image from WSF camera at Fauntleroy terminal)
In this morning’s traffic/transit/weather roundup, we mentioned that the Triangle Route was down to two ferries. WSF now says that’ll last at least until Tuesday:
The #1 vessel, Kittitas, is out of service due to necessary vessel maintenance. The route will be on two-boat service until further notice. Early this morning, Friday, Jan. 2, we discovered damage to an oil seal in the vessel engine room. We expect repairs to be completed early next week.
Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth service through Tuesday, Jan. 6:
Friday, Jan. 2: As of 11:20 a.m., we are now running the two-boat schedule with the #1 Cathlamet and #2 Sealth. Please expect some delays during this schedule change.
Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4: Regular weekend two-boat schedule.
Monday, Jan. 5 and Tuesday, Jan. 6: Alternate weekday two-boat schedule.
(WSB photo)
11:55 AM: Katie Barrett Wilson is now Seattle’s 58th mayor, third woman in the job. We’re at City Hall, where her swearing-in ceremony has segued into photo ops. She stood at a city-logo podium on a small stage, in City Hall’s huge main lobby, with her husband Scott Myers – who emceed the ceremony – and their daughter Josie at her right, as the oath of office was administered by Pauline Van Senus, a founding member of the Transit Riders Union, the nonprofit that Mayor Wilson led before her election.
(WSB photos from here down by Torin Record-Sand)
Wilson’s speech, in front of supporters holding campaign-style signs with her “This Is Your City” slogan, emphasized that she can’t do the work ahead alone – the city’s success “is going to require all of you. … Seattle is what we make of it together.” She didn’t list any specific policy plans but rather a sweeping vision that this should be a city where what you do in your off-hours should be valued too – “a city that thinks you should be able to read a book,” or make music, or sit in a park and daydream: “We need bread, but we need roses too.” We have her speech on video, and what others said before she took the stage, and will add to this story when we’re back at HQ.
2:07 PM: Above is video of the ceremony in its entirety, from her ovation-greeted arrival, through the four speakers who preceded her oath of office, followed by her speech. The crowd filled the lobby, and some watched from the mezzanine:
ADDED 3:33 PM: First speaker was Ifrah Abshir, a Somali-American health services researcher and writer now working on her doctorate:
“Rights are not just words – they are practice,” she observed, adding that while “cities can’t fix everything … they can help.” She also recalled her work, when studying at Rainier Beach High School, improving bus service for students.
Speakers also included Cynthia Anne Green, an 80-year Seattle resident and longtime community advocate:
She hailed Wilson as “a mayor who didn’t come from the loudest rooms or richest donors, but from the long hard work of organizing, the type of person the world needs more of.” She suggested that people might suggest lowering their expectations only because they’ve “grown comfortable living with inequity” and added that
Wilson’s election brought new hope, while also cautioning that this is just the beginning, though it’s a jubilant moment as a “victory for those who refused to disappear from this city.”
Also speaking (above) was Jarvis Capucion, an advocate for homeless people, formerly homeless himself. He addressed that issue, stated by Wilson as one of her top priorities, declaring that “without shelter, people die.” He is looking for the new mayor to address the homelessness crisis “at the scale it deserves.”
ADDED 4:55 PM: Wilson referred to “at least one former mayor” in attendance – we believe she was referring to West Seattleite Greg Nickels, visible in the lower left corner of our photo above, who was there with wife Sharon Nickels. They sat in a gallery that included other dignitaries – toward the center of the photo you’ll see new King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. Our area’s King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda was there too..In addition to her and the Nickels, locals we noticed included a delegation from the Duwamish Tribe – including Tribal Council member Ken Workman and longhouse director Kristina Pearson – and Paulina López of the Duwamish River Commmunity Coalition, a member of Wilson’s transition team; she was among those standing onstage with the new mayor during the event, and told us she’s encouraged that Wilson is paying attention to Duwamish issues.
WHAT’S NEXT: Mayor Wilson has yet to announce some key leadership decisions. Meantime, city politics-watchers will also turn their attention to the City Council, which will elect its new president on Tuesday.
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
Here’s what’s happening today/tonight – and not happening, as some regular events take a quick post-holiday break to recharge! Listings are from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – plus one special event, not in West Seattle but of citywide interest:
MAYORAL INAUGURATION: Mayor Katie Wilson takes the oath of office at City Hall at 10 am. Open to the public, as we reported earlier this week, or watch the Seattle Channel live stream. The ceremony, including her inaugural address, is expected to last about 45 minutes.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER Closed today for winter break.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) to learn about local history – open noon-4 pm today.
QI-GONG: Natalia‘s Friday session is on hiatus today.
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, or buy by the bottle.
COFFEEHOUSE OPEN MIC: 6-8 pm, Open Mic at C & P Coffee. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
CLASSIC BINGO: 7 pm at Admiral Pub. 21+. Free to play. (2306 California SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: No varsity home games scheduled tonight.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, music at 8 pm, with Kira Severy, Dormchair Therapist, Maybe Even, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
NO SPINNING: Revelry Room is closed tonight.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING:Tonight, skate during Sweat at the Disco with DJ Slayground, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Love bunnies? Monday morning (January 5) outside C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), you can meet some – and support them by buying a calendar. The rescue organization Special Bunny will be there, with some of their adoptable rabbits, 8 am-11 am Monday, selling calendars “with all proceeds going toward supporting the rabbits in our care.” You can preview the calendar (or buy it, if you can’t get to the event at C & P) by going here.
7:35 AM: The Triangle Route is down to two boats because of trouble with the #1 vessel, Kittitas. The WSF alerts page has updates.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, January 2, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast predicts clouds, probably more rain, high in the upper 40s. Sunrise will be at 7:57 am; sunset at 4:29 pm. (Just a little over three weeks until the sun stops setting before 5 pm!)
SCHOOL’S OUT
Last weekday of winter break.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – The Triangle Route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check WSF’s alerts page for any last-minute changes.
Metro buses – They’re back to the regular weekday schedule and routes today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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