West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
St. Patrick’s Day is four days away, but the Wearing of the Green has commenced in West Seattle, as the Cascadia Pipe Band defied the snow and showed up for their planned West Seattle Pub Crawl. Talarico’s Pizzeria was the first stop:
After all, what goes better with a big pizza and a big drink than a big sound?
The band made multiple stops while on the peninsula; they perform around the region and travel beyond – last year at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland, they tied for sixth place.
They welcome donations to support their performing and competing, and if you’re interested in helping out, you can do it online here.
P.S. For more West Seattle events in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit over the next three days, see our calendar and daily event lists!
(Earlier snow reports: Early morning … morning commute … late morning and afternoon)
5 PM: One week until spring and that photo just texted to us tells the story – a day full of end-of-winter snow. It’s still barely above freezing, but the National Weather Service insists tomorrow will get to the mid-40s. If you’re planning to brave slushy roads and head out tonight, we didn’t publish a highlight list today but there are options in the WSB Weet Seattle Event Calendar. Updates to come – thanks to everybody who’s shared photos and updates – text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
TRAFFIC INFO: The 1st Avenue South Bridge is now fully open … wherever you’re headed, the city’s traffic cams are here.
5:53 PM: One of the events on our calendar for tonight, the Cascadia Pipe and Drum Band‘s pre-St. Patrick’s Day West Seattle pub crawl, is definitely on. Our photographer just caught up with them inside their very crowded first stop, Talarico’s; their schedule for the rest of the night is in our calendar listing. (More in a separate story later.)
6:52 PM: Also in The Junction, thanks for the tips on this crash (and for the photo):
SFD’s response closed out quickly, so apparently no serious injuries, but onlookers said it appeared up to four drivers were involved. … (added) Shortly thereafter, SFD was called back because one person realized they might have suffered a head injury.
7:25 PM: The California/Alaska live traffic cam shows this is still blocking part of the street, but at least one tow truck is on scene.
8:24 PM: Back to the snow itself – Tim and Bradi Jones sent this pic:
9:27 PM: From the NWS (caps are theirs):
…RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM RAINFALL SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT…
A RECORD RAINFALL OF 1.15 INCHES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 0.7 INCHES SET IN 1961.
…RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT…
A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 3.0 INCHES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.7 INCHES SET IN 1955.
(File photo)
Two weeks from tomorrow, the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA and other school supporters hopes to see you at “Spring into Action,” the annual dinner and auction to benefit the school and its students. Right now, you have three ways to help – buy tickets, donate money or auction items, and/or be a sponsor! The gateway to any or all of those options is here. The event is planned for 5:30-9 pm Saturday, March 28, at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW).
1:52 PM: After a two-day extension of the repair period, tonight’s the night that the Washington State Department of Transportation said it expected to reopen the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge. So rather than waiting to see if it happens, we asked WSDOT spokesperson RB McKeon if things were still on schedule (particularly given today’s snow). Yes, McKeon replied, saying “we are still on track to reopen the First Avenue S bridge by 11:59 pm tonight.” While all lanes are expected to be open after this first phase of repairing damaged steel plates, WSDOT has said the speed limit across the NB bridge will remain at 25 mph while they get ready to replace some of those plates sometime next month. We’ll update this story when the bridge reopens.
3:43 PM: And just in from WSDOT: “All lanes on the northbound State Route 99 First Avenue South Bridge have reopened with a reduced speed limit of 25 mph after five days of emergency repairs. On-ramps to northbound SR 509 and SR 99 also have reopened in the area.”
P.S. No date yet for the April repair closure.
(Reader photo, texted from North Admiral)
9:16 AM: Snow’s still falling as the commute period ends and we’re getting word of some closures/changes, so we’re launching this separate report. We’ll add to the following lists as needed, in addition to adding other photos/updates. (Info/photos to share? Text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
CLOSURES (update 1:20 pm)
-Stay ‘n’ Play at Arbor Heights Community Church
-West Seattle Golf Course
-Kennedy High School in Burien closing at 10:30 am
-Summit Atlas middle/high school closing at 12:30 pm
-Westside School closing early: Preschool–2nd Grade: 1:30 pm; 3rd–4th Grade: 1:45 pm; Middle School: 2:00 pm. No after-school programming, including EDP and athletics.
CHANGES
-Delayed opening for Delridge Community Center, 11 am
10:14 AM: Texter says the downed tree on SW Webster west of 35th SW is still blocking the street … Another texter says they have 3″ of snow on the ground in Highland Park.
10:29 AM: First school closure, added to closure list above – texter reports (and website verifies) that Kennedy Catholic HS in Burien (attended by many West Seattleites) is closing at 10:30 am and canceling all after-school/evening events.
10:58 AM: Wires/tree trouble continues a road closure at 52nd Place SW and SW Genesee [map] … Caroline sent this pic from Westcrest Park with a different tree reminder:
She says tree branches on the lower, wooded Westcrest loop are “laden with snow and actively falling across the trail.” Good reminder to avoid being out in wooded areas while this wet almost-spring snow is still falling and bringing down trees/limbs.
11:42 AM: Police were just dispatched to another tree-fallen-on-road, this time 6500 block of 18th SW [map]. … Also, a tree down in the 8100 block of Delridge Way SW [map].
12:04 PM: Still snowing steadily! The National Weather Service‘s mid-morning “forecast discussion” expected the snow level to rise to 1,000′ (double the city’s highest elevation, which is at 35th/Myrtle) by now, so no word yet how soon this will turn to rain.
12:54 PM: Still snow, although we noticed the half-inch or so that had built up atop our fence has melted. Meantime, yet another tree branch vs. wire, with some street blockage, just reported in the 10000 block of 35th SW.
1:20 PM: We’ll continue to update here – just added another school’s early closure above – but we’re also going to add a few news stories atop the site before we start an afternoon weather report.
1:30 PM: Tree down and blocking part of the street at Dumar/Orchard. … And a few minutes after that, we got a reader report that a tree is down across Fairmount about a quarter-mile uphill from Harbor Avenue SW.
2:44 PM: It’s finally turned to mostly rain. So go build in the snow before it’s gone!
(Photo sent by K Smith)
4:34 PM: The snow has picked back up again, though the National Weather Service continues to downplay it.
7:59 AM: Thanks to everyone for snow reports in comments! (We’ll have a gallery later too.)
Also thanks for the report on the wires-down call at 14th/Barton involving a tree fire.
8:36 AM: Tree down on cars by LA Fitness (thanks for the tip and photo):
8:51 AM: Tree down in 3500 block of SW Webster, per police radio, blocking the street.
9:03 AM: Steady snow up here now.
Earlier:
5:57 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, March 13, 2026, fifth day of the repair closure for the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge. The South Park Bridge is a major detour route:
The West Seattle low bridge too.
SLUSHY WEATHER
As noted a few hours ago, the oft-predicted “rain/snow mix” tipped the latter way for some, so beware of lingering slush. But at least where we are, the rain seems to be in charge again. The forecast says the mix may continue this morning, with some fog – high in the low 40s. Sunrise is at 7:26 am; sunset at 7:12 pm. One week until spring!
MORE SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
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.
CHECK WEATHER/TRAFFIC VIA 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.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes. (Note that buses usually traveling the NB 1st Avenue S. Bridge are using the South Park Bridge, but no missed stops, Metro told us.)
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!
2:27 AM: Thanks to the reader who just sent this video – snow falling “just north of Highland Park.” Rain up here as far as we can tell, but the forecast is for a mix. We’ll see what the next few hours bring!
2:34 AM: Now it’s snowing here in Upper Fauntleroy too.
1 AM: Confirmed gunfire this past half-hour at 35th and Barton. A man told police someone shot at him while he was pumping gas at the 7-Eleven had a bullet hole in his car; police say he told them it likely came from the west, and officers report subsequently finding evidence on the southwest corner of the intersection.
11:40 AM: Above is a clip sent by nearby resident Aaron – nothing to see but a few seconds in, you can clearly hear the gunfire. We have a request out to SPD for report narrative and will add anything we receive.
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