Thanks for the photos of this afternoon’s sky sight. First, from Richard at Constellation Park around 4:20 pm:

Then about 15 minutes later, a photo by Dharmamitra:

Online consensus seems to be that this is simply a “halo,” caused by ice crystals.

Thanks for the photos capturing this multi-faceted stormy afternoon/evening! Above, Chris Frankovich photographed one of the approaching cloudbursts. Below, Wyatt was first to send a view of the full rainbow arch:

Next, Steve Pumphrey caught it from Duwamish Head:

Further west, Karen Carlson photographed it at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza:

More to come.

Thanks for the photos of the beautiful sunset that concluded this warm Friday! The one above was sent by Carol Ann Joyce; below, from James Bratsanos:

And as the colors started to fade, Dave Gershgorn caught the clouds streaking the sky:

Tomorrow, like today, is forecast for a high in the mid-60s.

Rainbow sightings to the north late in the day! Above is from Kevin Stock, who explains, “We caught this photo of the Kittitas headed to Fauntleroy as we were docking at Vashon about 5 p.m. today.” The next view is from John-Michael Bennett III:

And from longtime WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen at Walt Hundley Playfield:

Tomorrow’s likely to have some sunshine as well as some showers, according to the National Weather Service.

3:55 PM: The official regional alerts map for the National Weather Service is finally showing an alert for the possible “severe thunderstorms” that have been looming. The Severe Thunderstorm Watch alert is in effect until 9 tonight. That’s an upgrade from the “outlook” announced previously, but a “watch” is lower-level than a “warning,” which indicates some level of uncertainty. Of course, it’s important to prepare anyway! Seattle Public Schools is closing all buildings as of 5 pm and canceling after-school/evening activities. Updates to come.

5 PM: In case you’re nowhere near a window, but wondering … quiet so far, still partly sunny here. Regional radar shows the most intense storm cells currently in southwestern Washington.

(Added: Photo sent by Christopher)

6:30 PM: Still quiet but folks at the HPAC meeting have commented on seeing people covering their cars along streets they traveled to get here; co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick said her goal is to gavel the meeting in an hour so everyone can get home before the (potential) storm.

7:10 PM: Radar shows some intense cells not far south of here. Whether they’ll move directly north over us, or skirt us by moving east, we should know before too long. In the meantime, it’s raining now, at least here in North Delridge…. Added above, a storm photo by David Hutchinson.

(Added, lightning bolt photographed by Jerry Simmons)

7:38 PM: More thunder and lightning.

8:28 PM: That wave was over by the time we left Delridge Library around 8 – just light rain along the way. (No one’s reported hail so far tonight, 2″ or otherwise.)

ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Mark in Arbor Heights for sending his video of a lightning bolt:

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

After a record-for-the-date high on Tuesday (73), we’re looking at mid-60s today – but possibly accompanied by “severe” storms! Check here for updated alerts. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 6:59 am and 7:31 pm.

TRANSIT TODAY

Water Taxi – West Seattle service is back to normal.

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Sealth serving as the “bonus boat.”

ROAD WORK

-Utility crews have been working this wee on SW Holden west of 16th and on 16th north of Myrtle.

-In White Center, the 16th SW closure at 104th continues, with detours.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides 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!

(National Weather Service infographic)

It might just miss us … or not. Thanks to Guy for the tip that the National Weather Service is beginning to get a bit clearer about the wild weather that might sweep through Puget Sound tomorrow afternoon. From the NWS’s latest “forecast discussion” – again, this is all for Wednesday:

* MID MORNING: An initial wave of moisture will move toward the Olympic Peninsula, and showers and embedded thunderstorms may develop west of the Puget Sound. The primary threats of this initial wave will be lightning and the potential for small hail/graupel. However, a large amount of uncertainty exists over the intensity of this precipitation and how far inland these showers will develop.

* EARLY AFTERNOON: Activity will decrease across western Washington with a lull in shower and thunderstorm activity midday. Southerly flow aloft will continue to advect warm air into the region, and daytime heating with some cloud clearing will allow the environment to become very unstable by the early afternoon. …

* AFTERNOON/EVENING: The offshore low will lift a vigorous front northward across western Washington throughout the afternoon and evening hours, bringing a round of strong to potentially severe thunderstorms across the region from the south moving northward. The primary threats of these storms will be hail and gusty winds alongside frequent lightning and locally heavy rain. The strongest storms are favored to develop east of the Puget Sound Wednesday evening along the I-5 corridor, potentially impacting the evening commute. The strongest storms that develop could become severe and capable of producing hail up to 2 inches or more in diameter, outflow wind gusts as high as 60 mph or more, and/or an isolated brief tornado.

The NWS usually updates its forecast discussions around 9 pm, so look for another update then.

12:35 PM: The foghorns have finally stopped sounding, after a murky morning! Thanks to everyone who sent photos. Above is Chris Frankovich‘s view of Alki from above; below, two views from James Bratsanos:

And two views looking east – first from Michael Reilly:

And from Greg Snyder:

As the fog clears, the promise of warmer weather has already been fulfilled – the temperature has already hit the mid-60s! Tomorrow is expected to approach 70 but showers are a possibility, too, so today’s the best day to get outside for a while if you can.

ADDED 1:50 PM: A sixth view – a “fogbow,” photographed by Curry Gibson:

In case you missed tonight’s vivid almost-spring sunset, we have three views. Above and below are from WSB contributing photographer Dave Gershgorn:

And this one is a reader photo sent by Kay Kendall:

Thanks to all who contribute photos, from sunset scenes to breaking news – westseattleblog@gmail.com if it’s not urgent, 206-293-6302 if it is!

Good morning – it’s Tuesday, February 25, and strong wind has been pummeling our area all night. Updates below, as they happen.

WEATHER UPDATE

The High Wind Warning alert remains in effect until 10 am. Otherwise, the forecast is for on-and-off rain, high in the low 50s.

POWER OUTAGES

6:08 AM: The Delridge/Thistle tree mentioned below has also just taken out power for 6,100 homes/businesses from Highland Park to White Center to South Park.

7:11 AM: Some if not all of those in the biggest outage say they’re back on.

7:39 AM: New big outage – almost 5,000 customers mostly in western West Seattle – here’s that part of the map:

Update: Per commenters, that outage was resolved around 9:30 am.

EARLIER: The Seattle City Light map shows scattered outages around the peninsula (as well as elsewhere in SCL territory) – the largest is about 500 customers in the Puget Ridge area, and about 200 around Alki Point, plus the 100-customer second Seaview outage noted earlier.

TRAFFIC TROUBLE, INCLUDING TREES

6 AM: The wind has brought down some trees that SDOT crews are dealing with; we’ve just heard a dispatch for a tree blocking Delridge/Thistle, while earlier tonight, one was reported on 35th near Holden. 7:30 UPDATE: SDOT crew on scene; RapidRide H rerouted until this is cleared … 7:55 AM: Now cleared!

ADDED 6:41 AM: And this tree’s blocking Holden about a block west of Delridge, per the texter who sent photo:

8:33 AM: Holden is now clear.

ADDED 7:28 AM: Two more road-blocking trees – one at 31st/Myrtle, this one on 47th between Oregon and Alaska (thanks for the photo):

ADDED 7:43 AM: A tree down on Olson Place at the east end of the Roxbury corridor is blocking eastbound traffic and rerouting Route 60.

Please let us know if you come across any closures – 206-293-6302 text or voice.

SCHOOL CHANGES

Added 6:33 am: The Highline district just south of West Seattle is on a two-hour delay.

Added 7:53 am: Vashon Island School District 1 1/2 hours late … Genesee Hill Elementary lost power in the newest outage but is carrying on …

Update, 8:02 am: Vashon Island SD has now decided to CLOSE for today.

Any other changes? 206-293-6302.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides 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 trouble 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!

The National Weather Service has upgraded the wind alert for our area to a High Wind Warning, in effect now through 10 am Tuesday. In part, the alert says, “South winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 to 60 mph (are) expected.” As always, we appreciate hearing from you about storm effects – power outages, toppled trees – so once you’ve reported to authorities (206-684-3000 for City Light, 206-684-ROAD for SDOT, or 911 if it’s an immediate safety risk), you can text/phone us at 206-293-6302.

Keep everything charged and make sure your outdoor items are secured – strong wind may be on the way. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory alert that takes effect at 1 pm Monday and continues until 7 am Tuesday. In part, it projects “south winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph.”

Thanks for the photos! A multi-colored sunset has just finished fading away – Mark Dale sent the view above, and Curry Gibson sent the view below, showing the peach that preceded the pink:

(added) Bob Spears sent a wider view of the peach-color stage:

(added) This is what Jeff Johnson saw:

And just before it all, Marc Milrod caught this rainbow through the mist:

Tomorrow, by the way, marks one month until spring!

WSB contributing photographer Dave Gershgorn got that aerial photo from Arbor Heights, looking north, around sunset tonight – that’s Fauntleroy Park in the foreground, with the Barton Standpipe [map] just past it, at center. The sky, you’ll note, is mostly clear, and a sub-freezing low is predicted tonight, which is why a Cold Weather Advisory is now in effect through 10 am Thursday. The forecast is flake-free until after that.