(Photo by Jan Pendergrass)

The setting sun was smoke-pink, but there was good news around sunset tonight – the National Weather Service‘s heat alert expired as expected, and normal temperatures are on the way back. Meantime, the sun had a followup act – a crescent moon:

(Photo by Dawn Roeder)

Labor Day is currently looking to be mostly sunny, with a high in the mid-70s.

(Clickable map is on National Weather Service site; basically, darker color = higher alert level)

A few hours into what was a Heat Advisory alert, the National Weather Service has raised it to an Extreme Heat Warning, in effect through early Tuesday morning. From the full alert:

* WHAT…Hot conditions with high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to mid 90s and low temperatures in the mid 60s. This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.

* WHERE…City of Seattle, Eastside, and Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties.

* WHEN…Until 5 AM PDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Summer’s not over yet!

Tonight’s golden sunset – and some pink highlights – was captured by three photographers. Above, from David Hutchinson; below, from Doug Eglington:

And from Curry Gibson:

We note the sunset times (sunrise too) in the traffic roundup every weekday morning, and we’re a little sad to see that the last 8 pm sunset is a week from tomorrow.

Tonight’s sunset had some pink tint from wildfire smoke, as Anne Helene Cagney‘s photo shows, but nowhere near the color of last night. Clouds are moving in for the impending weather change, though the smoke put on something of a show earlier – this photo is from an unidentified texter:

(Both pics were taken at Lincoln Park.) The National Weather Service says a westerly flow is pushing smoke from the Olympic Peninsula as far east as Montana. But with rain expected by late tomorrow night, we shouldn’t have to deal with it for long.

(This morning’s moonset, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Though the National Weather Service includes all of Seattle in a regional Heat Advisory alert for Sunday afternoon through Tuesday night, it’s looking like we won’t be all that sizzly. The alert says 90s are possible in parts of the region; the West Seattle-specific forecast, however, has highs in the low 80s all three days.

SUNDAY NIGHT NOTE: So much for the forecast … today’s official high was 88 degrees.

6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, July 17, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The heat alert has been extended until 5 pm today. Wednesday’s high was 94, but some cooldown is expected. Today’s high is expected to be in the 80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:29 am; sunset will be at 9:00 pm.

ROAD WORK

-Three weeks of major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center have begun – details here.

-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side instead of the north side.

PARKING ALERT

A film shoot will use the south side of Don Armeni Boat Ramp after 11 am today; it’s also chinook season. Here’s what we found out.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.

Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.

Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).

WEEKEND ALERT

The West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K on Saturday (July 19) mean parking restrictions and road closures on and near California SW from Admiral to south of Edmunds. Heed the signs – they tow on parade morning if necessary! There will be bus reroutes Saturday too. Restrictions are in place 7 am-3 pm

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

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

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

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.

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!

We missed it while packed into the West Seattle Summer Fest mainstage crowd for THEM (video to come), so thanks to the readers who sent photos of tonight’s sunset, including these three – the one above is by Curry Gibson (one of many nice people we chatted with at the festival today), the one below sent by Misa on behalf of husband Greg:

And this one from Dan Nye:

If you’re a fan of classic Seattle summer weather – sunny, not too breezy, not too hot, not cold – that’s what we had today, and that’s what’s forecast tomorrow (and Sunday too). We brought a sweater to the festival but didn’t need it, even after sunset.

Thanks to Allyne Armitage for the photo looking south around sunset, as clouds gather – they’re in the forecast for the next few nights, but days are still expected to bring sunshine, including the holiday on Friday. Temperatures are also supposed to be a bit cooler – staying in the 70s – after 87-degree highs the past two days.

“Cushiony” is the word that we chose, but there are many ways you could describe the cloud formation in Stewart L.’s photo from this morning. “Memorable” works too!The forecast suggests we’ll see more clouds than sun for the next few days.

Time to get the fans ready if you don’t have A/C – the National Weather Service has announced a Heat Advisory alert for Sunday and Monday. The alert warns of “hot conditions with high temperatures up to 85 to 90 degrees,” and is currently planned to be in effect 10 am Sunday to 10 pm Monday. The alert also warns, “Heat will significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.” Today’s high was 79 degrees, 10 degrees above what the NWS says is the seasonal norm.

Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photo from tonight’s sunset. The warm colors seem like a promise of the warmer weather to come – forecast currently projects 70s this weekend, a bit cooler on Memorial Day.

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: