Pre-snow, while driving by the rolls of turf lining the street south of Delridge Playfield, we realized we were overdue for a followup on the much-awaited project. Here’s what we found out from Ted Holden, project manager:
There are several reasons that the project is not complete right now. The main reasons are we added scope to the project on several occasions which added days to the base contract before the turf contract could start. Bottom line is they are completing the laying of the turf and the inlay of all the lines. They cannot infill the turf with sand and crumb rubber until we get dry weather. They need approximately 8-9 days (not necessarily consecutive) to complete the infill. With the weather not cooperating, I can’t provide a date that the field will be open for use. I’m really hoping we can finish early in December.
Just received this from Audrey at White Center Food Bank (which as we frequently note serves southern West Seattle too):
Because of the weather, we could use a few volunteers for the 9:30-12:30 and 12:30-3:30 shifts handing out food to clients. I don’t know how many clients will brave the weather but I want to make sure we can give them their holiday food if they do.
We have been adding holiday help requests (volunteer and donations) to the West Seattle Holidays page too – scroll past the lists of events.
We’ve added this to the main story atop the page, but for anyone looking for it separately, this just in from Seattle Public Utilities:
Garbage, yard waste and recycling collection has been delayed in Seattle for today, Tuesday, November 23, due to dangerous road conditions.
Collection services will be available today in Seattle on a limited basis for large essential commercial accounts.
Missed customers will be collected next Tuesday, November 30, and allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage at no additional charge.
Customers missed Monday, November 22, will be collected next Monday, November 29, and also allowed to 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.
(Latest updates/pix at end of story; also note NEWER news is BELOW this story on the home page. Metro info here. NO Water Taxi, NO trash/recycling, Seattle Public Library branches closing 5 pm, Community Centers closing 4 pm)
(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge camera, looking eastbound, and Junction cam, more on the WSB Traffic cams page) 6:31 AM: Time to start talking about the roads and the schools heading into the main morning-commute hours. Have just added more local schools to our full list of school changes/closures. Been on the road already today? Let us know what you found. Meantime, Metro already has canceled some routes in its system and renews its request this morning to stay home if you possibly can – check here for your route’s status. No West Seattle Water Taxi today. Sound Transitsays the 560 is on reduced service. Seattle City Light still has about 400 people out in six pockets around the north half of the peninsula.
7:06 AM UPDATE:Seattle Public Library branches will open at 1 pm today.
7:21 AM UPDATE: From Trevor in comments, regarding The Bridge and The Viaduct: “At 6:30 am, the West Seattle bridge eastbound part of my commute was the easiest! 99 northbound ok but need to go slow… lots of abandoned cars and slush/ice but not too bad.” SDOT is ***not*** reporting any major closures as of right now. Wondering about the forecast? “The snow has ended,” says the new Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service a couple hours ago (in effect until noon), but the temperature is not expected to get above freezing today or tomorrow, so icy roads will be a problem for a few days.
7:36 AM UPDATE: Firsthand report on venturing gingerly outside the house: Compact snow and ice is the word for the walkway and sidewalk, as well as for the two-arterial intersection near WSB HQ (Thistle/California). Saw a couple cars go by, doing OK as long as they went slow-and-steady. The breeze isn’t strong but it truly is bitterly cold. The birds are protesting the snow-covered bird bath, so if you go out later – safely – remember them (we’ll be attending to ours). This is the view looking north on California from Thistle:
Cancellation note from comments: No Rotary Club of West Seattle meeting today. Meantime, we’re trying to find out what’s up with trash collecting (many West Seattleites – including us – have Tuesday pickup). Reminder that county courts are closed today – Amy makes note of that (part of the King County Executive’s “stay home if you’re not absolutely essential” entreaty early today).
7:48 AM UPDATE: A new city update’s in – the Emergency Ops Center reopened at 5 am – but it doesn’t include Seattle Public Utilities, so far. Here’s the word on roads etc:
SDOT night shift crews are operating 15 plow and spreader trucks this morning that are loaded with granular salt (rock salt) for treating all areas that have accumulations of ice or packed snow. SDOT is making progress on Condition Level 1 corridors with crews focusing on trouble spots such as elevated structures and hills. SDOT is also making progress on Condition Level 2 corridors focusing on transit routes and hills. …
SDOT will increase snow response crews for this morning’s commute and transition to the day shift at 8:00 a.m. with 22 plow/spreader trucks being dispatched to continue improving conditions on Condition Level 1 and 2 snow routes. SDOT will focus to open closed streets and assist King County Metro recover stalled buses.
8:01 AM UPDATE: And it’s official: Trash and other solid-waste pickup for today is POSTPONED, according to Seattle Public Utilities, which says if you were supposed to have pickup today, “set out double (your) normal amount … at no additional charge” NEXT Tuesday. (Here’s the full text of their announcement.)
8:15 AM UPDATE: From Jessica, who took the photo “looking north on 35th ave sw and Roxbury. Saw a chained articulated #56 going round the Roxbury corner onto 35th. Sheets of ice though”:
Road condition reports/photos very much appreciated (editor@westseattleblog.com) – especially if you’re on an arterial. (And the comment section is already full of great updates this morning.) Thanks!
8:37 AM UPDATE: This coverage will stay atop the home page – which means NEWER, NON-SNOW NEWS is published BENEATH it for now. If you can get around today, please note the newest story we’ve added – White Center Food Bank needs volunteer help today.
8:54 AM UPDATE: Mayor McGinn was just interviewed on KING 5. He said they’ll be assessing the response – what went wrong, what went right – when the weather problems are over. He declined to grade the response (you’ll recall that’s where his predecessor went wrong in December ’08). He says it seemed like everything was going OK till “mid-afternoon” yesterday. Practical info: He says abandoned cars will NOT be towed or ticketed – unless they are blocking roads. He also mentioned that he’s aware many West Seattleites had a very long commute home. (Asked how he got home, he said he was picked up and driven home via Ballard.)
9:35 AM UPDATE: State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond is starting a KIRO Radio (97.3) interview right now – I-5, where so many were marooned, falls under her wing, so we’ll be listening. In West Seattle, Danny Gawlowski from the Seattle Times (WSB partner) is out and about today – he just tweeted this photo of SW Alaska with the closure sign (always an ice-prone hill) west of The Junction):
Paul spotted that bus, apparently abandoned, at California/Othello in lower Gatewood this morning.
10:22 AM UPDATE: A WSB team member is traveling California by bus checking on things (the 22 “snow shuttle” from here). The bus shown above is still stuck, he reports, with traffic slowly getting around it. In the other direction, at Westwood Village, Michelle took this photo:
She reports, “Thought people may want to know that the Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, and 24 Hr Fitness are all open and it is quiet and icy at Westwood Village. Some of the small shops are closed.” (We’ll be checking on Junction/Admiral – business owners are also welcome to e-mail us again today with news of their status.)
10:53 AM UPDATE: In The Junction, we’re finding business owners, clearing off their walkways and otherwise bustling (two days till Thanksgiving!). Above, that’s Funky Jane’s owner Angela with her kids – and a newly purchased snow shovel. Next, Scott from the Electric Train Store, working on his walkway:
Latest weather-related cancellation: Joe McDermott‘s swearing-in as a County Councilmember has been postponed. (The Elections Department was scheduled to finalize the Nov. 2 results today but that’s been put off.)
11:47 AM UPDATE: Also postponed: The Sofia Goff (Cafe Revo) fundraiser set for today is rescheduled for Saturday. Re: open businesses – West Seattle Cellars says they’re open till 7 tonight and 11-7 tomorrow; Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction will be opening a bit later as its proprietors slog their way in to work; Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) is open and having that sale mentioned last night – gear to keep you warm. And we have more bus trouble. You might have heard earlier about the buses stuck at 44th/Glenn/Oregon on the northwest edge of The Junction – still there, says Katie; here’s one:
Galena spotted this one a short time ago in the 3000 block of SW Avalon Way:
And our roving reporter saw this one on SW Admiral Way around 38th:
Just heard a live TV interview with a Metro spokesperson who says dozens of buses are still stuck in various spots around the county. And to soften the tales of trouble – this was just shared via the WSB inbox – 2 1/2 year-old Violet made “Mrs. Snowman”:
12:10 PM UPDATE: A few more business notes – Allstar Fitness may close early (3-ish); 8 Limbs Yoga canceled all classes.
1:28 PM UPDATE: Preps for the afternoon/evening commute are well under way. Our roving reporter has seen multiple SDOT trucks on West Seattle arterials. And WSDOT has just sent an update, including this paragraph:
“We have all available trucks and crew members out, working day and night,” said Chris Christopher, Maintenance Director for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). “In Western Washington alone, we have 250 trucks and 300 crew members working 12-hour shifts. But with temperatures still below freezing drivers may see ice on the roads for at least another day.”
1:44 PM UPDATE: Seattle Public Library branches are closing at 5 pm – thanks to Wally for the tip. Meantime, we’ve published several new stories you’ll find beneath this one on the home page (until we “unstick” this when we start afternoon/evening coverage in the next half-hour or so – then it’ll fall back into reverse-chronological order) – newest, a look back at the Great Monday Night Walk Home.
1:56 PM: Ron Angeles in the city’s Delridge Neighborhood Service Center has just shared the city’s latest roundup. Note, we have EXCERPTED the information of most relevance to West Seattle and cut out the rest. This was compiled by the city’s Emergency Operations Center, which is apparently closing momentarily and will reopen for tomorrow’s morning commute:
SDOT had crews on the streets plowing and de-icing throughout the night. Approximately 70% of Level 1 and 2 streets have 2 lanes open. Thirty-nine street segments are currently closed due to snow and black ice.
Transit impacts continue from yesterday. Metro buses are chained up and operating on snow routes. Fourteen bus routes have been cancelled (see list below). Metro is responding to 119 buses that are currently stranded. Access para-transit vans are operating on life-sustaining trips (e.g. dialysis patients) only.
All transportation agencies encouraged people to stay off the roads if possible today.
Morning commute traffic was light.
Road Closures:
• Olson Pl SW / SW Roxbury to 1 Ave S
• SW Charlestown St / 46th Ave SW to 47 Ave SW
• Highland Park Way SW / W Marginal Way to SW Holden St
Canceled Metro Bus Routes:
2 Express, 7 Express, 38, 45, 51, 53, 76, 77, 79, 110, 210, 219, 266 and 310.
Parks Facilities and Programs
All community centers will close at 4 pm today.
All pools are closed.
All athletic fields are closed.
All evening recreational programs are canceled.
The Carkeek Park learning center is closed.
Twenty SDOT crews are continuing road clearing activities. This morning SDOT crews implemented the Pedestrian Response plan, which includes de-icing pedestrian landings and city-owned stair wells.
From Kim at Puget Sound Blood Center – she says the weather’s forced some cancellations and they have two chances for you to give in West Seattle later this week:
Our community’s blood supply needs West Seattle’s help this Thanksgiving! This holiday, patients will be relying on the generosity of strangers and giving thanks for their life-saving gifts. Please help your local blood bank keep a stable supply during the high-usage Thanksgiving holiday by donating this week at West Seattle Jefferson Square:
When: Wednesday November 24th AND Saturday November 27th
Where: Jefferson Square- Bloodmobile on 42nd Ave SW at SW Alaska Intersection
Hours: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed 11:30-12:30)
Appointment: contact Puget Sound Blood Center at 800-398-7888
BE SOMEONE WHO SAVES LIVES. GIVE BLOOD.
(Looking for the Monday mega-report with 500+ comments? Find it here. School closures/changes are here.)
(From Ted – video from the scene of the downed tree at California/Walker) 12:01 AM: Now that the evening commute has finally ended – just in time for a brand-new day – we’re starting a new round of running coverage. We’ll talk about what’s happening overnight – such as, I-5 is still reported to be a “parking lot” – but also look ahead to the morning. For starters – here’s our list of school closures. Plus – Metro says it’ll be nowhere near full service this morning; what service they do offer will again be on snow routes. Perhaps foreshadowing the service reduction, Kris just tweeted this photo from the low-bridge vicinity:
Via Twitter,Justin says the 21 is running along 1st Avenue South. Meantime, the weather folks all say it’ll be incredibly icy.
12:43 AM UPDATE: According to Seattle City Light‘s outage tracker, more than 460 West Seattle homes/businesses, all on the north end of the peninsula, are without power right now. None of the outages lists an estimated restoration time. Meantime, more traffic information: Abandoned vehicles seem to be a big problem on most major routes – we’re hearing of them on the westbound high bridge, the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and this just tweeted by WSDOT: “On the I-5 northbound off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge, there are disabled vehicles blocking the ramp.”
1:57 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter – word of a very long taxi line at Sea-Tac. Meantime, we’ve taken a closer look at the forecast, and noticed we’re now under a Winter Weather Advisory until 4 pm; it’s supposed to get sunny today, while staying very cold – a high in the 20s, then a low possibly into single digits. The wind right now, however, is definitely double digits – howling out there.
2:36 AM UPDATE: OK, it wasn’t 100 percent doom and gloom. ZJ shared this photo from Genesee Hill:
And then there was the following photo from Krista:
Her caption: “I sense something. A presence I’ve not felt since….. 2008.”
6:31 AM UPDATE: We’ve just started a new “morning commute” story – see you there!
How perfect: A “snowy” owl, shared by Greta, who explains: “My five-year-old daughter spotted this beautiful owl on a tree on our backyard this morning. Our house backs up to Fauntleroy Park.” (Commenters on FB think it might actually be a barred owl.) A bit to the east, along the Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood line, this hummingbird photo just came in from 40th/Thistle (map):
And those go nicely with a pre-snow photo we received over the weekend from Kolus Photo (bald eagles look somewhat snow-capped, after all):
Accompanying that photo, this explanation: “The resident bald eagle pair are now rather active in Lincoln Park and may be observed hunting water fowl along the shoreline or squirrels in the park if you are lucky enough to witness it.” The photo was taken Saturday in the “central” park area.
We just checked, and this meeting is still on: For those who’ve been following the saga of townhouse design – which traces back more than two years – the City Council Committee on the Built Environment has a public hearing tonight on the proposed changes to the Multi-Family Code. The hearing is at the Wing Luke Museum downtown at 5:30 pm (following a hearing on an unrelated item) – scroll down this page for details. The proposal originally went to the council in January 2009 (WSB coverage here), but it’s been in the works even longer – almost 2 1/2 years. Someone who’s been involved all along the way is West Seattle architect/developer/Design Review Board member Brandon Nicholson – he was at then-Mayor Nickels’ original announcement in summer 2008 (WSB coverage here). He sent around information about tonight’s hearing, on behalf of CORA (Congress of Residential Architects) NW, with this concern:
The word on the street is that business groups will be coming out in force to oppose a specific portion of the bill that creates a new streamlined design review (SDR) process & mandates that all new townhouse projects must participate. They are asking for a set of prescriptive design standards to be used in lieu of SDR.
SDR is a process that provides citizens early notice and an opportunity for meaningful input into development in their neighborhoods. It has been carefully designed to streamline the inefficiencies inherent in the current design review process. Every attempt has been made to balance the needs of developers for speed and predictability against the needs to provide citizens with notice and a forum for input. SDR is the gate-keeping mechanism that allows designers the flexibility needed to design buildings that are sensitive to context, address the needs of the marketplace, and provide a multiplicity of housing types, while at the same time serves to check that this flexibility is not abused.
The prescriptive design standards provide no mechanism for public input, no way to account for context, and no ability to depart from the code when site-specific conditions warrant. They are a cookie cutter formulation that establishes a set of prescriptions that can be copied from one project to the next. Projects that are well designed, sensitive to context, but don’t comply with the prescriptive standards go to the back of the line, while indifferent proposals get an automatic green light.
If these issues are important to you, I encourage you to come to the meeting, write to the council, & let your thoughts be known.
After tonight’s hearing – likely within the next few weeks – the committee and then the full council will vote on the proposal, which you can read along with lots of other information linked here. If you want to go to tonight’s hearing, which starts at 5:30 pm with a hearing on South Downtown Neighborhoods, it’s at 719 South King Street (map).
LATEST TOPLINES 10:30 PM: ****School updates – Seattle Public Schools all closed Tuesday; several more school changes here … Metro will be on snow routes again Tuesday and expecting some cancellations … West Seattle (high) Bridge *open* … **Low bridge now reported blocked westbound by bus trouble**. Alaskan Way Viaduct has reopened … Buses have taken HOURS to get to WS … 1st Ave S. Bridge open but having problems. Roxbury/Myers hill to/from 509 *slippery*. Highland Park Way closed. Admiral Hill miserable. SW Yancy “sheet of ice”; many other West Seattle roads, especially the hilliest, also having trouble – avoid driving. Seattle Public Library branches closed early (6 pm).
(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge camera, looking eastbound, and 1st Ave. S. Bridge cam, more on the WSB Traffic cams page) FIRST UPDATE, 12:20 PM: It’s been snow-showery off and on all morning – our video is from about half an hour ago:
1:32 PM: While there’s something of a lull before the threatened blast of afternoon snow and wind – not to mention, commute information regardless of conditions – we’re publishing some other news – scroll BELOW this story on the WSB home page (this will be “stuck” to the top but newer news will appear beneath it). Here’s a video clip, by the way, shot by Danny Gawlowski from the Seattle Times (WSB partners) – brothers Michael and Anthony Dimitre building a little snowman south of The Junction:
2:37 PM UPDATE: The snow and the wind are picking up. (No new forecast likely till later this afternoon, but here’s the newest one, if you haven’t seen it.)
3:53 PM UPDATE: Commute in full swing, as is windblown snow. Multiple trouble reports coming in. The West Seattle Bridge westbound is said to be a trouble spot – we’ve got one report from Pauline, stopped in traffic: “Bridge seems to be iced over with lots of stalled cars- no one is able to get up the hill going west on bridge. Need sanding trucks or something!” One driver calls it “a sheet of ice.” Multiple vehicles stopped, according to another who passed by. This photo from Paul:
A different Paul reports northbound Delridge onramp to eastbound bridge is closed. Also, the Battery Street Tunnel is now having trouble, if you are north of downtown or have to head that way – SDOT reports it’s closed southbound. And we are hearing from bus riders downtown that there’s quite a wait.
4:25 PM UPDATE: Anything that’s a hill – avoid. Admiral now said to be a mess between bridge and viewpoint. Roxbury is having trouble in westbound – Todd reports a bus is blocking it. Also note the Columbia entrance to the southbound Viaduct downtown is reported closed. Sanding trucks are trying to get to the WS Bridge “to get it back open,” per scanner. The low bridge ALSO is reported blocked, bus and truck trouble, according to Rose, who sent this photo:
4:58 PM UPDATE: 1st Avenue South Bridge is reported open, but otherwise we’re hearing most routes are still in bad shape. Also just got word that the West Seattle Water Taxi is having some trouble – commenter says they’re going to try to see if a bigger boat will help deal with wind/dock.
5:09 PM UPDATE: Water Taxi now CANCELED for rest of the evening. Wind has just picked up where we are – remember that strong wind is forecast as well as snow/cold. Also – Alaskan Way Viaduct CLOSED both ways according to e-mail just in from city Emergency Services Center. Quick reminder: In addition to updating the Web, we are also posting updates (as are “friends”/”followers”) on Twitter (@westseattleblog) and Facebook (facebook.com/westseattleblog).
5:41 PM UPDATE: SDOT says high bridge open but slow going. The “live picture” atop our story here (from city traffic camera) would seem to validate that. A non-traffic note: Seattle Public Library branches are closing at 6 pm.
5:53 PM UPDATE: From Rob via Facebook – many have been asking about this route:
I just got home in arbor heights via 1st ave s bridge, 509, Roxbury. There were two semi trucks stuck on the bridge, squeezing it to 1 lane. After that there were many cars spun out on the hill up to Roxbury. They are all over the road and moving randomly, so a really dangerous situation unless you enjoy auto pinball. The hill is very slippery and it’s probably best everyone just stay away but if you must drive it make sure you know what you are doing.
He said the trip home from SODO took … two hours. Also note, surface streets aren’t in the best of shape either. WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen just sent a photo of a spinout in The Junction, 42nd/ Alaska. Looks like everyone’s OK, but nerve-rattling.
6:11 PM UPDATE: From Rachel via e-mail:
Please post on updates that Admiral Hill is extremely dangerous right now, when I came down it at 5 pm there were at least 15 cars wiped out on the sides, and cars sliding everywhere. Very scary situation and I was in a truck but still sliding like crazy also.
We cannot stress enough – don’t go out unless it’s an emergency. Obviously a lot of people are just trying to get home, but once you’re there (and it’s taking some *hours*), please stay in. Also know that the “official” reports on major roads are not coming in consistently – so if something doesn’t have a live camera (see the Traffic page), we may not know its status for sure unless someone nearby comments on it. Road photos welcome, too; we have some “snow fun” shots from earlier that we will get into a gallery later, but right now the traffic/safety info is paramount.
6:37 PM UPDATE: Photo from less than an hour ago on low bridge – many people are said to be walking back to West Seattle from SODO (dangerous – wind chill! it’s really kicking up out there) and this is what they’re encountering – the pedestrian/bike part definitely open – thanks to Tomf2009 via Twitter:
6:54 PM UPDATE: Lights just blinked. Charge your smartphone if you have one. … Also just heard some SDOT discussion via the scanner: 42nd/Edmunds “a sheet of ice” (south of Jefferson Square Safeway). Has been said about many streets – we got a note that SW Yancy (between Avalon and Allstar Fitness) is in that same condition.
7:02 PM UPDATE: Bruce Butterfield (president of the Fauntleroy Community Association) posted on FB wall that the lower bridge IS MOVING.
7:32 PM UPDATE: Commenters are continuing to share updates on road and bus conditions. A long-suffering 54 ridership is apparently getting closer to home. Meantime, some other problems. Thanks to Mike Jensen for this photo of a tree down by VCA on California SW south of The Junction:
7:48 PM UPDATE: Some of the people walking from SODO have made it into Skylark Café (WSB sponsor), according to a comment from proprietor Jessie SK on the WSB Facebook Wall. Meantime, we checked with the City Light outage tracker, since the wind’s been up quite a while and many have reported flickers – so far, only two small outages in West Seattle, pockets in the north (see them here), although on a night like tonight – with temperatures already into the low 20s – even a 1-person outage is especially bad news. Back to the walkers – Kristina’s husband took this, walking up Highland Park Way:
Kristina says he saw at least 10 abandoned, stuck, or “trying to get unstuck” cars, some even in the bushes.
8:08 PM UPDATE: Hope Lutheran School parent says she got the call they’re closed tomorrow. We started a separate page with Tuesday school info – here’s the link. Also, Twitter note says a new problem blocking the low bridge westbound – stalled truck.
8:20 PM UPDATE: Now there are several small outages in northern West Seattle. Biggest one is along Admiral in Alki Mail vicinity – 145 homes/businesses, according to the City Light tracker.
8:30 PM UPDATE: Seattle Public Schools now canceled for Tuesday. More school info here (and we’ll continue updating that page as we get updates from private schools, Highline, Vashon, etc.). Also note – safety problems with some wires blown-down, 35th/Dakota is the latest report.
9:18 PM UPDATE: Metro will be on snow routes again Tuesday. Low bridge now having new trouble with a jack-knifed bus. We are hearing from more and more people who have been on buses for up to FIVE HOURS trying to get home to West Seattle. Here’s one pic we received of some of the earlier-reported walkers going across the low bridge:
We also have another tree down – Eric sent this photo of the tree at California/Walker:
9:48 PM UPDATE: More school closures – Seattle Lutheran and Northwest Montessori (all branches including West Seattle) also closed tomorrow. Go here for the full list of Tuesday school closure/delays reported so far. Also we’re inviting businesses to share word of changes – so far, The Little Gym of West Seattle is closed tomorrow, 8 Limbs Yoga in The Junction is canceling 6:30 and 11 am classes. Our favorite TV meteorologist, former Q13 co-worker Walter Kelley, says one more big band of snow will come through before 4 am – after that, the big problem foreseen is the ice.
10:22 PM UPDATE: From Bill Schrier, video of some of the bridge walkers:
They and the 4- to 6-hour bus ride endurers are the story of the night.
10:29 PM UPDATE: Metro contacted us to say that not only will they be on snow routing tomorrow, they are already certain there will be cancellations, so they’re urging people to stay home if they possibly can. Here’s their complete news release, including details on Access buses.
10:56 PM UPDATE: More school closures/delays – West Seattle Montessori/Academy, Explorer West Middle School closed, Highline Public Schools now closed, Holy Family expecting a one-hour delay. Also note that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is open and fairly clear – we just got a phone call from a long-ago co-worker who mentioned he had taken The Viaduct to The Bridge from Queen Anne within the past hour or so and made decent time.
Though the fire response in the 3200 block of 41st SW (map) wasn’t described as major when we checked it out about two hours ago (mentioned briefly in our morning snow coverage), the Seattle Red Cross now says it’s helping the residents, “providing assistance to six people which could include shelter, food, clothing and other immediate needs.” Meantime, SFD’s report isn’t final so we don’t have an official cause – WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen went by the scene a while after we were there and was told it was in the attic; original call, per SFD’s Helen Fitzpatrick, was “wall fire.”
**NOTE: We’ve now started afternoon coverage – go here – thanks!**
(TOPLINES: *Winter Storm Warning now in effect till 10 pm* … Metro on snow routes. Seattle Public Schools is now ending ALL activities @ 12:35 pm (update from early am), Vashon School District 2 hours late, Explorer West out 12:35, Our Lady of Guadalupe out 12:30, Seattle Lutheran HS out 12:15, Hope Lutheran, WS Montessori and Holy Rosary out 12 noon, Shorewood Christian canceled. Continuing coverage below.)
(Refresh for latest pic from WS Bridge camera, looking eastbound, and Junction cam, more on the WSB Traffic cams page) FIRST REPORT, 5:01 AM: Starting our morning weather/traffic watch: It’s snowing here in Upper Fauntleroy, and sticking. Remember that Metro already was planning to be on snow routing to start the day, in ALL areas. Please share info on what it looks like where you are. Here’s an iPhone pic of snow on car/road right outside:
It’s a thin layer, though, as of that 5:05 am photo.
BUS INFORMATION:Here’s the snow routing info from Metro (which reminds you to PLEASE sign up for alerts for your route/s and is advertising that fact here and on other media sources).
SCHOOL INFORMATION, ONGOING UPDATES: Seattle Public Schools says it will dismiss middle and high schools EARLY today, 12:35 pm, because of “the snow expected this afternoon.” (Update at 9:54 am – They’re now ending ALL activities at 12:35 pm.) Vashon Island School District is 2 hours late. (We’re checking on local independent schools, but direct reports are welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com – so far, Explorer West getting out at 12:35 pm, Seattle Lutheran HS out at 12:15 pm, West Seattle Montessori, Hope Lutheran, Holy Rosary out at noon, OLG out at 12:30, Holy Family dismissing after lunch, Shorewood Christian CANCELED.)
6 AM UPDATE: That’s California/Thistle near WSB HQ, photographed a few moments ago. Checked the depth on our car – about 1/4″. No road problems reported so far in our area but drive VERY carefully. Light-to-moderate snow still falling here, has been steady for at least an hour and a half.
6:20 AM UPDATE: Adding to the school information higher up in this story – Vashon is 2 hours late. Note that the forecast calls for more snow later; the Winter Weather Advisory is in effect till evening. From SDOT via Twitter:
Snow routes pre-treated overnight. Two pre-treatment trucks working on SR99 and West Seattle high rise now. Snow routes in solid condition.
6:50 AM UPDATE: From the mayor’s office:
With a winter weather advisory calling for snow throughout the day, Mayor Mike McGinn activated Seattle’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) this morning. The EOC will remain open as needed to monitor weather conditions and provide support and coordination with city departments.
The winter weather advisory is calling for unusually strong winds, with sustained winds at 25 mph, and gusts up to 40 mph. Temperatures are expected to remain at or below freezing all day. Snow flurries will continue this morning with snow at times this afternoon and early evening.
7:02 AM UPDATE: Starting to get light, will wait till then for next photo. Snow much lighter than it was two hours ago. Still no notable trouble reported on any area roads.
7:27 AM UPDATE: And – the snow’s picking up again. We’re checking out a fire response around 41st/Hinds, “4 Red” so not a full house fire.
7:38 AM UPDATE: Explorer West Middle School will close at 12:35 pm, per Tanya via FB. Meantime, from Fauntlee Hills, Cheryl sends this view looking north on SW Trenton (including her neighbor’s “authentic train signal):
We’re not too far north of there, a little bit higher elevation, but much snowier here. New photo shortly. Yours are welcome too.
7:51 AM UPDATE: East Marginal is “not an option,” we’re hearing via cdawg 2610 on Twitter – took a long time. Also note that Fauntleroy ferry dock is slippery, per DLGordo on Twitter (see the “live camera” on the WSB Traffic page). Meantime, the photo immediately above was taken a few minutes ago looking north on California from Thistle (our HQ vicinity) – both arterials but starting to get some snow sticking on the surface despite ostensible earlier deicing. And here’s California looking southbound, just north of The Junction, taken about 20 minutes ago:
8:16 AM UPDATE: More reports of slippery roads (co-publisher Patrick took the north-of-Junction photo on the way back from checking 41st/Hinds call and he says the Charlestown vicinity was especially slippery). Thanks again to everyone sharing road and bus reports in the comments. After the commute, we will start adding non-snow news BELOW this story, since it’s programmed to stay atop the page (yes, there IS some non-snow news to talk about!). Meantime, Cathy shares this photo taken about 7:45 am from Upper Alki – they’ve got about half an inch so far:
8:32 AM UPDATE: SDOT says that as of 8 am, they were planning to send out snowplows as needed. Meantime, a couple scenes from Sunrise Heights; first from Ty, looking toward Westside School (WSB sponsor):
Ty has also posted an update on his neighborhood site Roxhill Rox. And via Facebook from Michelle – including the iconic cow-topped John’s Corner Deli, at 35th/Webster:
9:22 AM UPDATE: The snow’s back to falling more seriously. Very off-again, on-again. We have a beach-level photo of Alki, courtesy of Cami:
9:49 AM UPDATE: The National Weather Service has now issued a winter-storm warning for our area. Also, an UPDATE from Seattle Public Schools – they are now ending ALL activities for the day at 12:35 pm – no after-school activities, no conferences after 12:35, and as reported earlier, middle- and high-school classes are ending for the day at that point too. Also just in: Seattle Lutheran HS out at 12:15 pm, West Seattle Montessori out at noon. (added) Holy Rosary’s dismissing at noon, Our Lady of Guadalupe at 12:30.
10:23 AM UPDATE: Seattle City Council is in the middle of a prescheduled briefing on the city’s snow/ice response for the year. You can watch live on channel 21 or online at seattlechannel.org. Nothing new you hadn’t heard of before, but SDOT notes they currently have 25 of their 30 snow/ice/deice etc. trucks out, and they reiterate they are not clearing/deicing residential-only streets. SDOT official notes dryly, “We are the second hilliest city in the nation after San Francisco.” P.S. The snow here stopped almost the moment the “winter storm warning” came in.
11:11 AM UPDATE: And … the snow’s back. Pretty good shower (?) right now. Meantime, thanks to Sully for a photo from Westwood Village:
Sully also reports, “Parking lot looked really good. Rt. 21 snow shuttle running south of Roxbury, Arbor Heights loop.”
12:15 PM: We’ll be starting the afternoon story shortly – latest info will be there. (Update – here’s the link.)
The Westside Wildcats Senior Blue team won the South King County Junior Football League Championship this morning … at Highline Memorial Stadium in Burien. They faced the Rainier Beach Vikings. The Wildcats won 31-0. This was the finale of an undefeated season.
The team is coached by Lee Fetui, and you can find out more information about the Wildcats at westseattlejrfootball.com.
(Our afternoon snow coverage, with video, is here; this update will stay atop the home page through the night, with newer stories published beneath it for now)
As originally noted toward the end of our morning/afternoon weather coverage, Metro is going to start the day with buses on snow routes in all areas, just because the forecast is dicey and this kind of decision can’t be made at the last minute. Sound Transit also has made some changes: Route 560 will not stop at Alaska/California, but will pick up at 44th/Alaska instead. And from SDOT via Facebook:
Several SDOT trucks pre-treated snow routes in the late afternoon. Several more with pre-treat this evening. Standing by on whatever this storm delivers.
As for the weather – the evening forecast update isn’t out yet; the one suggesting snow and gusty winds tomorrow is still in effect. (But famous forecaster Cliff Mass has just published an update; he insists no Seattle snow.) We’ll add more information as it comes in tonight, and we’ll be up early to report here on what actually happens – or doesn’t happen – weather- and traffic-wise.
Not snow, nor sleet, nor rain, etc., will deter … not only postal carriers, but also artists. Above, that’s Linus Von Moos, who’s visiting West Seattle all the way from Switzerland. This afternoon, despite the snow and chilly wind, he’s out painting a mural in front of Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction. He’s a traveling artist, Twilight co-proprietor Erin explains, who’s been couch-surfing, including a stay at co-proprietor Mary’s place: “He was itching to leave his mark in Seattle, so we offered TwAC’s wall outside, under the main window.” While he was inside the gallery/shop taking a break, we asked him about the mini-project:
Also from The Junction: If you’ve been there lately, you might have noticed the work going on along the sidewalk on the north side of Alaska, between the Cupcake Royale corner at California SW and the Junction Plaza Park corner at 42nd SW:
Several people have asked us about it or even sent photos; we took that one when we spotted the SDOT truck there on Saturday. According to Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association, the crews are installing more “decorative lampposts” along Alaska, and are working hard to finish the job before Thanksgiving. (Junction Plaza Park is where West Seattleites will gather for the Christmas Tree lighting in less than two weeks – Saturday, December 4th, 5 pm.)
(Patrick Dunn and Christina Hahs with the cider press)
Got apples? Pears? The cider press demonstrated at today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market by Sustainable West Seattle is available to borrow from the WS Tool Library – as is a smaller one, SWS tells us. The library’s open Saturdays and Sundays (hours and location here). And Sustainable WS is looking ahead to a big annual event next Saturday – it’s the Money-Free Shopping Spree, and you don’t have to be a member to be part of it. 4-8 pm on Saturday, November 27 – which has been dubbed “Green Saturday” as a counterpoint to “Black Friday” – at Camp Long Lodge, bring handmade crafts, food, or certificates of services you can provide. This is an exchange event, not a sale. Full details, and ideas of what qualifies, can be found in this update on the SWS website – they’re also requesting that would-be participants add comments there with information on what they will bring. (And this comment from SWS’s Stu Hennessey also addresses the potluck that’ll kick off the Money-Free Shopping Spree.)
(SUNDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING NOTES: Since the weather is the big news, we are keeping this story atop the WSB home page. *But* we have published more, newer news too – scroll past this story to find those other stories while this remains at the top of the page. We’re updating this story too, until we start a new weather story around mid-evening – latest update: Metro will run SNOW ROUTING Monday morning.)
(Video added 2:10 pm, a few minutes after we shot it outside WSB HQ) ORIGINAL 11:14 AM REPORT: Some flakes are falling in Upper Fauntleroy. That follows the 6 am-ish sighting in Sunrise Heights mentioned in our previous weather report, and a Twitter note reports light snow in Admiral about an hour ago. Seen any where you are? Meantime, the National Weather Service has changed its forecast again. Latest one (which is accompanied by a new “special weather statement”) says:
This Afternoon: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming east northeast. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North northwest wind between 6 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Windy, with a calm wind becoming north between 27 and 30 mph. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
2 PM UPDATE: A somewhat serious snow flurry? shower? up here right now. Recording video. Meantime, the National Weather Service has upgraded its alert to a Winter Weather Advisory.
2:27 PM UPDATE: The video we added atop the story is from our HQ, about 340 feet up, but it’s snowing close to sea level too – Lola shared this video from Fauntleroy/Findlay in Fairmount Springs:
Your photos, video, and info VERY MUCH welcome, as this goes on – not just “isn’t it pretty” but also, if it starts to affect roads (etc.), there’s huge value in showing what’s happening where you are – here’s all the ways to get it to WSB – thanks!
Temperatures are expected to drop later today on Seattle streets. Crews will begin late this afternoon applying anti-icing material on hills, curves and known icy spots. They will continue with anti-icing operations through the evening and night while continuing to carefully monitor the temperature and condition of the pavement. If any snow starts to accumulate Monday morning, the crews will begin to plow snow routes.
Still not sticking so far as we can tell. No sign of that in the cameras on the WSB Traffic page, either. (Remember that there are more cameras on that page than last time we saw snow, since the city has added “live” cameras in The Junction and Fauntleroy, among other places.)
4 PM UPDATE: WSDOT is out with its “we’re ready” news release. Haven’t found it linked on their website yet and it’s a little long to run the whole thing here, so we’ve put it on a page here. Meantime, Danny Gawlowski of the Seattle Times (WSB partner) has compiled some scenes from around The Junction:
The artist you see, briefly, in Danny’s video is Linus Von Moos, painting outside Twilight Artist Collective – we’ve just published a separate story about what he’s doing. (Remember that for now, we’re keeping this atop the home page, but there are newer stories below it; when we’re ready to “unstick” this story later, it’ll fall back down into its chronological place.)
5:21 PM UPDATE: Just in from Metro’s Linda Thielke:
Due to the potential for snow during the morning commute, King County Metro Transit will start service on Monday with buses in all areas on snow routing. Metro has been monitoring the weather over the weekend and preparing for the possibility of snow. The Monday forecast from the National Weather Service indicates that cold temperatures and more moisture could cause snowfall in King County starting in the morning and lasting throughout the day. Check Metro Online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow before traveling on Monday.
BENEFIT CONCERT FOR HAITI: The 80-member regional choir in that video, Breath of Aire, is dedicated to benefit concerts – and you can hear the singers at one in West Seattle tonight, to raise money for ongoing relief efforts in Haiti. Hope Lutheran Church is the site (free but donations accepted), 6-8 pm (42nd/Oregon)
FAUNTLEROY ART SHOW/GIFT FAIRE FINALE: The third and final day brings a two-hour window to admire and shop more than a dozen artists’ creations at Fauntleroy Church, 11 am-1 pm (9140 California SW).
ADMIRAL CHURCH’S COUNTRY STORE: Open for shopping noon-1 pm, “gifts made with loving hands,” Admiral UCC Church, (California/Hill).
PRO PET PHOTOS: Stella Ruffington’s Doggy Playcare in Morgan Junction has Kathryn Sauber on hand all day. Call 932-7833 to make an appointment for a half-hour, $45 photo shoot (7003 California SW)
CIDERPRESS DEMONSTRATION AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET:Sustainable West Seattle will show off the ciderpress from the West Seattle Tool Library during today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm (44th/Alaska)
Tentative agreement reached between Allied Employers and UFCW 21, UFCW 81, and Teamsters 38. Details of the agreement will not be released until after the grocery store workers’ vote on the offer has been concluded.
Allied Employers is the representative of QFC, Safeway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyer, whose workers’ last contract expired in March. The workers voted to authorize a strike, but negotiations continued; the latest round was set for this past Thursday-Friday, but continued into Saturday, and Geiger’s note indicates the deal was reached very late Saturday night. 6:26 AM NOTE: No word so far on when the workers will vote.
It’s the kickoff, or perhaps the roll-off, to the heart of the helping-for-the-holidays season in West Seattle: The Beer Church Turkey Bowl, a festive fundraiser/foodraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, which had its 12th annual edition tonight. Above, organizers Kendall Jones and Kim Sharpe Jones (also of the Washington Beer Blog), West Seattleites whose brainchild has just kept growing over the years, as have the donations. Tonight, they even introduced the Beer Church’s own Pale Ale (release party next Tuesday), made with the help of White Center’s Big Al Brewing. Local bars/breweries traditionally participate in the Turkey Bowl – including West 5 in The Junction, whose proprietor Dave Montoure is pictured below with West Seattle breast-cancer-fighting activist Tracy Dart:
According to Sarah via Twitter, Montoure’s team and Elliott Bay Brewery took the trophies again this year (here’s our coverage of their wins last year; all of this year’s brewery/pub participants were listed on the Beer Church Facebook page.). But the real winners, of course, are the people who rely on the West Seattle Food Bank – Kim just reported via FB that the donations totaled more than a ton!
Even if you weren’t part of tonight’s event, you can help the WS Food Bank with an online donation (go here), and/or by donating turkeys and/or pies for this week’s distributions (details here).
Our morning weather report carried a photo and information from JayDee about whitecaps and the north winds. This afternoon, once the tide rose, those winds brought these spectacular scenes. Thanks to David Hutchinson for the top photo and this next one:
As for the latest forecast – here’s the link – the “s” word only makes a cameo; the National Weather Service also has a “special weather statement” in effect regarding the even-chillier temperatures on the way. 9:40 PM UPDATE: Cliff Mass has published his latest forecast within the past half-hour. Seattle snow? His answer: No.6:01 AM UPDATE: Overnight, the NWS lifted the “special weather statement” – the lows don’t look to be heading quite so low. 6:27 AM UPDATE: Paul in Sunrise Heights reported a little light snow as of a little while ago – not seeing it here in Upper Fauntleroy, though.
(Photos courtesy Bil Hood)
Congratulations to the Seattle Lutheran High School soccer team – they have won the state 2B/1B title, beating Napavine this afternoon in Sumner, 1-0. ADDED 4:32 PM: Photos courtesy of SLHS’s Bil Hood – including this one of longtime coach Jeff Norton with the trophy:
We talked with Coach Norton last month after his 200th career victory. He was the SLHS boys’ coach when that team (the girls’ team is the school’s only soccer team now) won the state championship in 1991. For SLHS athletics overall, this is the second state title this year – they took the 2B baseball championship in May (WSB coverage here).
ADDED 6:57 PM: More photos – courtesy of Bike Hugger, a West Seattle-based blog about bike culture; Angela Wissmar, the publisher’s daughter, played in the game:
(Photo courtesy Annette Herrick/Fitness for Vitality)
Since the weather’s not expected to get too serious before tomorrow night, things are looking good for the last of this season’s Fitness for Vitality (WSB sponsor) 5K walk/runs along Alki. Organizer Annette Herrick says anywhere from 100 to 200 runners have turned out for her two previous runs this fall and this marks three years of having 5Ks on Alki. The route starts at the bathhouse and heads north to the anchor at Anchor Park, where the walkers and runners then turn around and head back. Annette says the typical turnout has grown to more than 100, from 15 or so when she started presenting these run/walks in 2007. She’s been a lifelong runner and created the series to fill in the gaps between the big events around the city during the year. Some of the regular participants have even spun off a social group of sorts. Tomorrow’s run starts at 9 am, with prizes for top finishers, and proceeds helping buy shoes for foster kids. Register online now for $25 or at the bathhouse tomorrow (registration is open 8 to 8:45 am) for $30.
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