West Seattle Weather Watch: Wednesday afternoon-evening

Rain, wind, and rising mercury — nature’s great de-icers. That’s SW Sullivan looking east and uphill from California SW (map); compare that to this view from 25 hours earlier:

Since the weather situation SEEMS to be calming down, we will just keep this one post going for weather-related updates into the afternoon and evening – if by any chance anything snowy/icy does HAPPEN to erupt, we’ll change the plan, but for now we’re tapering down. More to come, as weather-related info arrives.

2:32 PM NOTE: Somebody asked in comments, so what happened to all that snow? As you likely snow, it hit hard in Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom counties. But in the latest forecast discussion (a new one should be out by 4 or so), National Weather Service forecasters are still fairly certain some is heading this way:

AFTER SUNSET…COLDER AIR ALOFT SPREADS IN AS TODAY’S WEATHER SYSTEM
MOVES SOUTH. THIS SHOULD BRING A CHANGEOVER BACK TO SNOW FOR EVERYONE. THE FOCUS OF CONCERN THIS EVENING WILL BE ON A BAND OF SNOW THAT FIRST DEVELOPS OVER THE NORTH SOUND EARLY THIS EVENING. MODELS POINT TO THIS FEATURE UNANIMOUSLY. HEAVY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY WITHIN THIS FEATURE…PARTICULARLY IN THE EVERETT AREA AND EAST ALONG THE HIGHWAY 2 CORRIDOR TO THE CASCADES. THIS BAND OF HEAVY SNOW WILL THEN SINK SOUTH INTO KING COUNTY BY LATE EVENING WITH MOST OF THE SEATTLE METRO AREA’S 1 TO 3 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION COMING BETWEEN 7 PM AND 1 AM.

Take it with a grain of, well, rock salt, if you wish, but that’s what they’re saying. Cliff Mass has posted an update too.

5:10 PM UPDATE: Back on commute watch. Very windy now. Still above freezing. We’ll be heading to Sodo shortly for tonight’s School Board meeting (though weather-related updates will also continue here) so we’ll see the commute route in the opposite direction, if anything’s awry along the way. So far all the road bulletins from the state are focusing on the north Sound, where as mentioned earlier, they got smacked this time. The afternoon metro-area forecast includes:

TONIGHT…SNOW SHOWERS…MIXED WITH RAIN SHOWERS EARLY THIS EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATION 1 TO 3 INCHES. LOWS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR SO OF ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS 16 TO 23. NORTHWEST WIND TO 10 MPH.

5:50 PM UPDATE: Smooth sailing from West Seattle to Sodo. Haven’t seen people drive that fast in … days. Radio forecasters still saying … well … the city might see a flake, or two, or more. Post a comment if you see one! Here’s where it IS snowing — Las Vegas (photos here) — most Las Vegas airport traffic is being shut down, according to one infostream we’re watching.

Holly C December 17, 2008 (1:42 pm)

oh boy, Im really hoping Othello had some thaw as well! I finally called this morning to see about getting some sand on that road. People have still been driving on a very steep sheet of ice! we’ve been watching cars spin down our hill repeatedly the past few days. We have been parking at Othello and California. I will be glad not to have to hoof it up and slide down the hill a few times a day anymore as I am 36 weeks pregnant ;)

CB December 17, 2008 (2:08 pm)

Where’s the predicted snow? I think we all got “snowed” by the media.

celeste17 December 17, 2008 (2:10 pm)

A friend from Vashon called me a little while ago and said she was getting snow.

JenV December 17, 2008 (2:15 pm)

looking on the bright side…most of the side streets are clear now.
.
Celeste – was she on north or south Vashon? The temp gauge still reads 38 here. I would think if she were on the south end of the island, she might be getting snow while we’re still balmy.

Kayleigh December 17, 2008 (2:46 pm)

I understand it’s tricky to predict snow in Seattle but this is still annoying. Well, at least tonight I can walk without being petrified of falling on my butt.

Ken December 17, 2008 (2:47 pm)

Sdot sanded my “porous pavement” street. Now it will clog up and be useless for absorbing water.

They did it after the rain (which would have cleared it) was already started.

You would think one of the two dozen people who were testing vacuum trucks just last Thursday would have remembered to tell the sand truck driver to leave it alone.

missaudreyhorne December 17, 2008 (3:20 pm)

It is basically snowing everywhere BUT Seattle. Which is lame if you ask me! I want my snow day, dangit.

Dustin December 17, 2008 (3:37 pm)

Snow mixed with rain in Shorewoood. just started.

(SW 106th and 28th Ave SW)

flowerpetal December 17, 2008 (3:39 pm)

Doncha think its rather funny… for two days Seattle Schools starts two hours late when many of the roads (at least those in WS) were super slick and probably shouldn’t have been traveled on by school busses. And then, on a day with no snow but much anticipation; the schools are closed.
Good lesson for the kids about weather forecasting and meterology.

cc December 17, 2008 (3:39 pm)

Dustin you beat me to it!!! white center also has snow over on 9th and 102nd

cc December 17, 2008 (3:41 pm)

and now its rain just that fast!

Dustin December 17, 2008 (3:43 pm)

Okay, it’s sunny now. False alarm.

What’s with this weather? I’m a true blue PacNWer, but this is crazy even by “If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes” Washington standards.

AJP December 17, 2008 (3:47 pm)

It’s not going to snow, just rain. My weather prediction… :-)

JenV December 17, 2008 (3:57 pm)

Just made some Xmas deliveries and drove down numerous side streets from Admiral to Kenyon – all clear on all the side streets.

celeste17 December 17, 2008 (4:03 pm)

JenV-my friend is closer to the south end of the Island.

Ken December 17, 2008 (4:05 pm)

As long as the wind is from the south the weather is going to fight to stay rain. As soon as it turns to the north or north-west, then colder air starts pumping from BC and snow/freezing rain odds increase.

Look at the infrared Satt and you will see the circulation that controls the wind direction. It was supposed to move faster to the north and east.

http://www.komonews.com/weather/satellite/4328712.html

Babs December 17, 2008 (4:52 pm)

This coming August on some day TBD – I shall stop myself when I think, “I wish this heat would go away.”

Admiral Janeway December 17, 2008 (7:14 pm)

We were lucky in Seattle today. Several of my co-workers had to commute through snow this morning and again tonight.
It was nice to take my dog out for a long walk tonight. My first one since last Friday.

p December 17, 2008 (8:25 pm)

I too want snow! I miss my snow….

datamuse December 17, 2008 (9:03 pm)

Apparently the consolation prize is wind, it’s really blowing out there!

JH December 17, 2008 (10:00 pm)

What a heat wave today! Stupid schools. They should waive the makeup day at the end of the school year.

Okay, it was nice not to have icy roads finally!

carrieann December 17, 2008 (10:00 pm)

Admiral Janeway – After all the hype, I was incredibly bummed about the lack of snow (as were my kids) this morning. But then I came around to the fact that it was nice to get outside and run some errands, and just not worry about slipping and sliding around on the ice. I saw a number of people out walking their pets, taking a jog, and resurfacing after being mostly shut in for the past few days.

The wind is definitely still keeping it cold out there, though! Brrrrr!

Angela December 18, 2008 (12:31 am)

This is getting sooo ridiculous. (Ok maybe I am just bitter because I TOO wanted my snow day-not all of us have a chance to get out and run errands when we’re expected to be at work). Not picking on Carrieann…just saying. I mean the hype is annoying. Why don’t they just say already-you’re not getting any snow, so get over it! I mean come on, they keep pushing King County’s “snow flurries” hours and hours later. Was supposed to being at 6:00 am this morning and it is now 12:30 am the next day-not a darn snowflake to be seen. But wait…! It’s supposed to snow early morning you say…before 1 am??? Oh, ok…so the completely clear sky with scattered clouds is supposed to deliver us from our early morning commutes and yucky co-workers tomorrow. I think not. I’m going to bed-my hopes and dreams shattered.

WSB December 18, 2008 (12:42 am)

Well, you’re not alone. Junior Member of the Team, aka graphics intern, has insisted on keeping the front shades open most of the day and night for days since the first blast Saturday/Sunday, hoping to see snow again. No luck yet.

Sorry, comment time is over.