(AM coverage is now closed; PM COVERAGE IS HERE; for a list of handy links and closed/open reports, CLICK HERE)
Live updates resuming. Please share road/bus stories for those who can’t stay home.
5:14 AM UPDATE: For bus riders – As of 4 am, as promised, Metro resumed updating its list of which bus routes are and aren’t running. See it here. A new forecast is out as of last hour; the accompanying “discussion” says some snow shower chances continue this morning but promises “DRIER NORTHERLY FLOW SETTING UP OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON TONIGHT.”
5:24 AM UPDATE: Words of warning from Linda Thielke, who should know because she’s coordinating media/public info for Metro and hearing from bus drivers all over: “Please warn everyone that road conditions are bad out there this morning. Even in the Seattle CBD (central business district), there are still snow-covered streets.”
5:36 AM UPDATE: Washington State Ferries says: “Normal service on all routes.” WSF’s service-bulletins list is on our list of links/what’s open/what’s closed (which we are updating for your reference IN ADDITION to including new info in this post as we get it).
5:52 AM UPDATE: Got word that the White Center Food Bank – which serves part of West Seattle too – REALLY needs help. From executive director Rick Jump:
The White Center Food Bank has 300 families scheduled to pick up their holiday baskets on Monday and another 300 scheduled for Tuesday. Our plan is to be open for those with appointments but I will probably need some additional volunteers to make this happen. A few of our loyal volunteers showed up last Friday and we served 144 families (out of the 300 scheduled that day). We will be open from 10am to 6pm. If there is anybody who lives within walking distance of the food bank OR has a 4 wheel drive vehicle and can safely get there we would greatly appreciate the extra help. I will also need help shoveling the sidewalks and part of the parking lot to make it safe for those who show up. Please help spread the word.
The food bank is at 10829 8th SW; here’s a map.
6:17 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, WSDOT reports, “Road conditions in most areas of the state are compact snow, with ramps and overpasses still trouble spots.” We’re monitoring the scanner as well as TV, online, etc. And we’re watching airport-related news; a Twitter friend who’s at Sea-Tac says, “Departure lanes at Sea-Tac not moving – people getting out and walking to terminal.” Co-publisher Patrick reminds us we should mention this — the city DID NOT EXPECT to be able to pick up trash today (2nd Monday in a row for some of us) — we are checking with SPU to verify, but as of now, not that you can get it out anyway, likely not worth trying.
6:50 AM UPDATE: Our road report – looks like some clearing/compacting at California/Thistle (both arterials) but still very slow going. Thistle coming down the hill toward Cali:
And around the bend, heading north on Cali:
If you’re on an arterial (or other busy road), please send a pic if/when you can, particularly after sunrise – really helps in addition to the anecdotal reports in comments – editor@westseattleblog.com
CLICK AHEAD TO READ MORE OF TODAY’S AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE:
7:02 AM UPDATE: Most efficient way to get statewide road problem bulletins: SDOT on Twitter.
7:19 AM UPDATE: That said, an e-mail exchange reminds us that not everyone realizes that local road conditions are being shared/discussed in the comments area. Here in the main text, we’re posting what we get from official sources, from off-site sources like Twitter/Facebook/scanner/phone etc., photos, and so forth, but be sure to read the comments (click on the headline to any WSB post to get the full post with comments on the bottom, OR click on the “xx comments” phrase beneath the headline) for the latest – and to post a question if you have one — thanks again a MILLION times to everyone who’s been participating in info-sharing this way, since there’s no official way to get road conditions at the neighborhood level. Meantime — Good news from our peek view: Vashon is visible this morning. This means that at least for now, IT REALLY HAS LIFTED!
7:29 AM UPDATE: Jason sends overnight video of snowboarding on Pigeon Point. Because we are oldish fuddy-duddies operating this newfangled (but commercial and journalist-run) news site, we must issue a disclaimer – Some of what you see might be unsafe/illegal. Nonetheless, it’s happening. And Jason says he had a “great time meeting the neighbors.” Here’s his video, 8 minutes worth. Also from the winter-sports realm, this succinct description of 2 West Seattle hills, via BikeHugger.
7:34 AM UPDATE: Traffic alert by phone (206-293-6302 24/7) – There’s a semi stuck at Fauntleroy/California intersection in Morgan Junction and people are having trouble getting around it. Also, bus waits are very long – the tipster who just called said her husband walked to the bus stop an hour before she did, and hasn’t gotten on board yet.
7:37 AM UPDATE: Here’s the long-awaited official word from Seattle Public Utilities – no trash pickup today (second straight Monday in West Seattle) – but if you can take it to the transfer station, it’s free!
Single-family residential garbage, recycling, food and yard waste collection has been delayed in Seattle today, Monday December 22, due to dangerous road conditions. Priority commercial customers, such as hospitals, will be served.
City collection contractors will attempt to service today’s missed customers tomorrow, Tuesday December 23, if road conditions improve. Customers missed today should leave their containers out tomorrow. If materials are not collected tomorrow, then customers should bring in their containers until next week.
Due to the Christmas holiday, Thursday and Friday customers will be delayed one day. Thursday customers will be collected Friday, December 26, and Friday customers will be collected Saturday, December 27th.
Customers whose collections have been delayed by a week can set out double their normal amount of garbage at no additional charge. When setting out extra waste, customers are encouraged to place perishable food items in their collection containers and set bagged non-perishable items next to the containers. Customers who have had their collections missed two weeks in a row can also take their waste to Seattle’s Recycling and Disposal Stations, where it will be accepted at no charge.
7:41 AM UPDATE: Bus update just texted (2062936302@vtext.com or program our e-mail address editor@westseattleblog.com into your phone) by Margie: “Looks like there is a shuttle to The Junction instead of the 55. The 55 is running from The Junction to downtown. Leaving right now, will let you know how it goes.”
7:46 AM UPDATE: Holly has now sent a phonepic of the aforementioned stuck semi in eastbound Fauntleroy lanes by Thriftway entrance:
Meteorologist Cliff Mass has posted an update this morning – he says we’re in “a break in the action” for the next 2 days.
8:05 AM UPDATE: Another text from Margie on the 55 bus: “(It) went Avalon to the low bridge, down 1st, which is good, turning on Jackson to 3rd, quite an easy ride once the bus came!”
8:11 AM UPDATE: Just texted to us: “Katrina on Alki here re: the 56 bus. More than 30 people waiting @ the start of the route. Some here for over an hour-No Bus :-( ” Meantime, just sent by cell phone (no name but THANKS!), from Arbor Heights, the view south on 35th SW from 106th:
8:40 AM UPDATE: Another bus report, this one from JayDee:
I caught the 56 (who knows which one—6:55ish?) at Alki Bakery – they are running shorty buses, and we were SRO by Starbucks at 41st, and no stops on the hills. The driver was nice, but he left the heater on full blast, and with a full bus it was real steamy. Since the 57 isn’t running, he went up first, stopping to let people off at each stop, and because there are so few buses, we were SRO until Marion . It took 1 hour to get to work. Who knows when I will get back tonight?
8:47 AM UPDATE: Timber sends this photo of SW Thistle looking east down the hill toward 35th SW:
… and this info:
Took our dogs around the neighborhood at 8:00: Saw a 21 Bus going southbound on 35th, only 2-3 people waiting at Downtown bound bus stop at 35th and Thistle. Saw two 4 X 4s going down Thistle to 35th, walked up it, some pavement peeking through in spots.
8:52 AM UPDATE: Austin just sent this report, with photos we’ll add afterward in a moment:
Arterials range from wet to slushy but are navigable with hills still offering some challenge. Neighborhood streets are mostly packed snow with some ice. Commuters out seem to be driving very carefully with extreme regard to pedestrians. All the people I encountered gave me a friendly greeting, spirits seem to be relatively high despite the trying weather. It seems noticeably warmer this morning than it was yesterday afternoon- I was beginning to get a bit toasty in my coat at the end of the walk.
Austin’s photos, starting with the view from the Fauntleroy footbridge, looking back toward the bridge entrance:
Here’s the Fauntleroy/35th intersection:
And 35th/Avalon:
8:54 AM UPDATE: Stu sent this via Twitter moments ago:
Made it to Alki bakery in time to get the word that the 56 is only making it to 26th and Spokane. No service to Alki.
9:05 AM UPDATE: JenV says in comments that she saw the stuck semi heading north on California – hopefully that’s good news for Fauntleroy/California (see photo earlier). Meantime, a YMCA services update from Josh Sutton (will add this to closure/open/links post too):
YMCA cannot open School Age Child Care at WS Elementary (High Point) – no heat @ school.
9:13 AM UPDATE: Somebody mentioned skiing to work downtown. Here’s a blogpost about a West Seattle man who did just that. The site author’s mom, Amy, also sent a photo of Admiral at 37th:
And via Facebook (“friend” us at WS Blog) from Talani at Stor-More Self-Storage (WSB sponsor) on the south edge of the Luna Park business district, Avalon northbound at Yancy (map):
Talani adds:
Stor-More Self Storage and Mailboxes are open today giving out free hot chocolate, coffee, mochas and free pens and candies. You don’t have to be a tenant to get your fun free stuff today! From phone calls, we know many of you are sad that you don’t have your Christmas tree out of storage yet and up in your home, so we have one up in the office to cheer you if you want to hike over … but it’s slick out there, so only come if you have great shoe traction. We walked for groceries and fell in the street, as we’ve seen many do…so please be careful, neighbors!”
9:27 AM UPDATE: Road report from Jon, Roxbury at 5th (map):
Looking easy towards Olson. Plenty of traffic going up and down the hill.
His photo:
Happy photo – we saw a sunbreak briefly hit Vashon a short time ago:
9:51 AM UPDATE: With many WSBers reporting trouble getting a 54 bus this morning – long waits, few sightings – we checked with Linda at Metro, who checked on the route’s status and just e-mailed back:
The control center tells me that at least two made it out to West Seattle earlier this morning, and they are working on getting more buses out on the route now. Driving conditions are really poor today everywhere, and we have to replace/repair a lot of chains out in the field on this — the 10th straight day — of snow operations.”
10:08 AM UPDATE: A few things … First, via Twitter (where he is relatively prolific), County Exec Ron Sims says Amtrak has canceled Cascades service for today. (Amtrak’s link is in our links/closed/open post.) And Lena sends news and photos from Admiral/44th (map), where she just saw some folks helping someone who got stuck. Love those stories – share ’em if you got ’em:
10:33 AM UPDATE: Two things. Now that it’s after 10 am, we renew the request to help White Center Food Bank if you can get there safely – they have HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES making food pickups pre-holidays, today and tomorrow, and need VOLUNTEER HELP most of all – full details, and a map, here.
Second, if you still need a Christmas tree and/or poinsettias, West Seattle Nursery just sent word:
We’re putting both our “naturally-flocked” (hehe) Christmas trees and Poinsettias on sale today. All Trees and Points will now be 30% off. The $5.00 coupon (tree coupon from the WSB COUPONS tab) will still be valid; however, we’ll be honoring the larger discount only (in most cases it will be the 30%), not both.
From the sidewalk, co-publisher Patrick reports, “It’s getting smooshy underfoot.” Temperature has risen to freezing (or even slightly above) in some places. Heat wave. He’s heading down (north) down the hill — well, will be, after yet more digging that will be required to get the car extricated (bottom line, don’t anyone expect fast getaways if your car’s been parked a few days). Now – from the beach, Alkiguy reports in:
I took a walk along Alki Avenue an hour ago, and the conditions seemed to be clumpy dry snow on top of ice. Most cars were making it fine but I did stop and help one fellow resident try to get his truck unstuck when he turned onto a side street. I sent along a few pictures (this was around 58th Ave) so people could see the conditions.
Stuck at home and bored? We hope to publish an “other news” update between the morning and afternoon snow posts. But also just got a tweet from NASA: spacewalk at 3:30 pm our time, you can even watch online. Meantime, earthbound and snowbound out front, co-publisher progress report: The snow is up to the engine block and frozen. Snow shovel abandoned, “regular” shovel procured. And the native Coloradan warns, “I think I can get out – but I don’t know if I can get back.”
11:12 AM UPDATE: Newest forecast says “snow likely” for tomorrow night. But then Christmas Eve morning, “snow changing to rain.” Also, good news from Rick at the White Center Food Bank re: our earlier relaying of his request for help:
This is the most amazing community around. Thanks to your post we have LOTS of volunteers here at the food bank to help distribute holiday baskets. Please let others know they should call first at 206.762.2848 to see if we still need additional help. Thanks again for your help in getting the word out.
There is an additional request in the WSB Forums for volunteer help needed in the White Center area – read about it here. Plus, in case you were wondering, a forum member called the West Seattle Food Bank to see if they needed people-power help – they’re OK right now.
11:39 AM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick just drove California from Thistle to Admiral. From WSHS to Admiral, “it’s beautiful.” The rest of it is a challenge, including The Junction. He brought back some pix; and via e-mail we also got a ton of WSB’ers’ photos just in. First, Jack Loblaw, looking south on California from Charlestown (that’s Charlestown Cafe at left and it’s open):
And looking north from that same spot:
From another photographer, eastbound SW Trenton from between Delridge and 20th:
Now a few Alki pix from Pete R, who first reports:
I was part of that crowd waiting for the 56 that never came this morning, but it just started running again; I saw one heading down the hill at 10:43; it came back up a short time later. I guess it’s catch as catch can. Meanwhile there was an eerie abandoned bus on the beach at a 37 stop. The door was open and the radio on… like they abandoned it in a hurry. I pictured Spooky Movie Guy saying, “Something bad happened here….” Most of Alki is still pretty buried, but the guys at Alki Auto managed to clean off their whole lot.
That’s the eerie bus – Pete also photographed the entrance to Schmitz Park:
12:04 PM UPDATE: For those who’ve been with us for the past several days, if you’re wondering when we’ll switch to afternoon post – within an hour or so. And now before we get to yet more photos, an update from Sea-Tac Airport, just texted by Christy:
Everything you’ve heard about the airport is true. Ticket agents are not re.booking @ the counters. Instead you are referred to an 800 number for rebooking. Fyi we got confirmed on Delta for a flight leaving tomorrow from vancouver for zero extra dollars. It may be the only option for people who got cancelled. No seats out of seattle till Friday or Saturday
Linda along Fauntleroy Way east of Morgan Junction reports she just saw a sanding truck go by! Here’s her (over)view looking west:
El Carlito in the Admiral District (see earlier) sends more pix via mom Amy:
Bulletin: Some melting is happening. Looking out the front window, we see water dripping from the eaves.
12:34 PM UPDATE: Another update from the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), re: the rest of today and tomorrow (all business/organization/meeting/restaurant/whatever updates welcome, editor@westseattleblog.com):
Monday Closure Times
Fauntleroy Facility Closes at 4 pm Monday
West Seattle Facility Closes at 6 pm Monday – Preschool closing at 5 pm, Pool closing at 5:30 pmTuesday – initial plans
Open West Seattle Y at regular time (5:30 am)
Open Fauntleroy Y at 7 am
Open WS Preschool Child Care for all licensed care families
Open WS Elementary School Age Care (if heat is on) for all licensed families
Couple photos from co-publisher Patrick’s recent trip along California – first, The Junction:
And between The Junction and Morgan Junction:
1:06 PM UPDATE: A few photos from the North Delridge area, courtesy of Mike Dady from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council – first an overview looking west toward The Junction:
And southbound on Delridge from Bubbles:
1:17 PM BULLETIN: Snowplow just came back up California, heading east on Thistle.
1:30 PM: Text message just in – “Target is busy but not crazy.” Also, Square 1 Books (WSB sponsor) in Jefferson Square IS OPEN and awaiting holiday shoppers. Check the coupon on the WSB COUPONS page.
1:52 PM NOTE: The afternoon-evening post is launched – please click here to go there to share ongoing road updates and other information (or questions if you need answers from somebody who can help) – thanks!
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