That’s what we saw at the north end of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook on Beach Drive a short time ago. The National Weather Service has a Wind Advisory in effect until 11 pm tonight, with wind out of the south, 25 to 35 mph and gusting to 45 mph, expected. This is all supposed to calm down somewhat by tomorrow. Today’s temperatures are in the upper 50s, but you’ll want to start thinking cold-weather preparation for next week – the extended forecast suggests a chance of rain/snow mix Monday night through Thursday, with sub-freezing nighttime lows.

ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: More wave vs. seawall video – this time via Twitter:

(WSB file photo)

No, there’s no snow in the forecast, but SDOT crews need to do some test driving before it arrives, so they’re planning to do that tomorrow (Thursday, November 3rd). You might see snowplows on the streets as drivers test the equipment and familiarize themselves with plow routes, which you can see on this map. SDOT asks that while it gets ready for winter weather, you do the same, and has some suggestions here.

8:02 PM: Thanks to everyone who has sent photos of tonight’s “so long, smoke” sunset:

David Hutchinson‘s photo features sunset-watchers looking toward the Olympics, which were invisible behind the wildfire smoke at the same time a night earlier. Here’s a wider angle from Jan Pendergrass:

8:33 PM: Thanks to Mike Burns for the time lapse:

ADDED: From Greg Moore at Luna/Anchor Park:

And from Vicki Takahashi:

9:45 PM: Last night just before sunset, the reddened sun was visible through the smoke. Tonight, we took the photo above just before sunset, and nothing was visible looking west but the hazy outline of Blake Island. A few minutes later, here’s the view looking downtown.

The National Weather Service’s Air Quality Alert remains in effect through 6 pm Sunday, and the NWS expects things to start improving “late Sunday”; the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says so too. But for now, tonight many areas are showing “unhealthy” air quality – either for “sensitive groups” or for everyone.

P.S. If not for the smoke, we’d be seeing a full moon tonight. The moon was in view last night/this morning before more smoke swept in, so as consolation, here’s this morning’s moonset, photographed by James Bratsanos:

11:33 PM: The moon is visible after all, and red-tinged – we’ve received a few photos including this one from Jerry Simmons:

3:54 PM: It’s what you don’t see in our early-afternoon photo from Upper Fauntleroy that tells the story – the Olympic Mountains would usually be the backdrop, but today all but their foothills are obscured by wildfire smoke. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says air around much of Puget Sound hasn’t reached “unhealthy” status yet but by tomorrow (Saturday, September 10th) it could be at “unhealthy for sensitive groups” status. Here’s the PSCAA map; here’s the PurpleAir map with more locations’ readings. The National Weather Service has issued an air-quality alert for 6 am Saturday to 6 pm Sunday, in effect for the four metro-area counties. Wondering where the fires are? Here’s a regional map. You’re also warned to take fire precautions here because it’ll be hotter, dry, and breezy – our area is also under a “red-flag warning” alert for that.

4:47 PM: A Stage 2 burn ban is in effect throughout our area. It’s explained here, but in short:

During a Stage 2 burn ban, any outdoor fire such as a backyard fire pit or campfire using chopped firewood or charcoal is prohibited. … Manufactured portable outdoor devices are allowed, including barbeques and patio warmers that are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Approved fuel devices – including those that rely on charcoal, natural gas or propane gas – are also allowed.

The National Weather Service has just added two days to the Heat Advisory alert – originally set to expire tomorrow night, now in effect through Friday night. The NWS says temperatures will cool a bit on Thursday but then rise again Friday. Today’s official high at Sea-Tac was 90, so this year has tied the record for most 90-or-warmer days in a year, 12 … so far.

(Sunday night sunset, photographed by Mike Burns)

For the fifth time since late July, the National Weather Service has issued a “Heat Advisory” alert for our area. This time it’ll be in effect noon Tuesday through 9 pm Wednesday. Today we’re already into the mid-80s, and the next two days could be just a few degrees warmer, but nonetheless this is hotter than usual for this time of year – normal high is 76.

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of tonight’s splashy sunset – hot pink on a not-so-hot night. The photo above is from David Delgado; the one below, from Ken Maier:

Though today’s high, 81, was only four degrees above normal, the next two days are expected to be notably warmer – then a big cooldown Friday.

For the third consecutive week, a two-day heat wave is in the forecast, and it’s generated a Heat Advisory alert from the National Weather Service. The alert is for noon tomorrow (Wednesday, August 24th) to midnight Thursday night; temperatures could get into the low 90s. Because of the hot weather, the two local branches of the Seattle Public Library that are not, or not fully, air-conditioned will change their hours: The Southwest (9010 35th SW) and West Seattle/Admiral (2306 42nd SW) branches will both open early tomorrow, at 10 am, and will both be closed Thursday.

(Photo by Jan Pendergrass)

You probably won’t be sad to hear that today’s clouds kept the official Sea-Tac high from hitting the 90s, which would have been a record-tying 12th day in the 90s in one year. It stopped at 87. The clouds did bring a colorful sunset – thanks to those who sent photos.

(Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)

There was one record high at Sea-Tac – the highest low for this date, 68 degrees, previous record 61.

(Added: Photo by Hana Alishio)

>small>(Before this morning’s short-lived fog, sunrise colors – photographed by Stewart L.)

By this time tomorrow, we’ll be under another Heat Advisory alert, decreed by the National Weather Service with two days of 90s expected instead of one. The alert is for noon Wednesday through midnight Thursday night. If we really do see two days in the 90s, that’ll tie the record for 12 90-or-more-degree highs in a year (set in 2015),

Because of the forecast, the Seattle Public Library is already planning to open the two A/C-lacking local branches – West Seattle (Admiral) and Southwest – early on Wednesday and Thursday, at 10 am. (Early closure is likely but not yet announced – watch this page.) Anybody else with planned changes (businesses, etc.), please let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(Photo sent Saturday by David White)

We might see 90-degree weather again this week. No alerts yet but the newest National Weather Service forecast suggests the high on Thursday could reach the lower 90s. Every other day this week has 80s as a possibility. “Normal” high right now would be upper 70s. The NWS says record number of 90+-degree days in a year is 12, set in 2015; if Thursday does get to 90 or higher, that would be the 11th this year.

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, August 9th.

WEATHER

Today’s forecast is back closer to normal – sunny after some morning clouds, high near 80.

FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI

Ferries: WSF is on the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.

Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

ROAD WORK

The crews doing soil cleanup at the ex-encampment site along Andover between 26th and 28th were expecting to be back this morning/early afternoon, so Andover may be closed again.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

870th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 33 days until the week SDOT hopes to reopen it.

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)

1st Avenue South Bridge:

South Park Bridge – camera malfunctioning, as are a few others in eastern West Seattle (still no estimate on when they’ll be fixed)

Highland Park Way/2nd SW (one of four recently installed cameras):

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.

All city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page

Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.

Just as the mini-heat wave was officially ending with the expiration of the weather alert, the sky filled with sunset colors. Thanks for the photos – the one above, overlooking Luna/Anchor Park, is from Jan Pendergrass, while the next one is from James Bratsanos.

Today’s official area high was 91 degrees; “normal” for this date is 79, and tomorrow should be in that vicinity.

The National Weather Service has shifted the timing of its Heat Advisory alert for our area. Now it’s set to take effect at noon Sunday and continue until 9 pm Monday. Though the NWS says temperatures might reach the 90s the next two days, this afternoon has only been 80ish.

(Photo by Marc Milrod)

Though the mini-heat wave ahead doesn’t look anything like our recent almost-weeklong 90+-degree streak, a weather alert has been announced: The National Weather Service has a Heat Advisory in effect noon Saturday through 9 pm Sunday. The current forecast would seem to suggest Monday will be hot too, but we’ll see how it goes.

Thanks to Lorabeth for that photo of a storm cell visible from Admiral about an hour ago. Since then, at least part of the peninsula has seen a brief rainshower! @WestSeaWX says it might not be the only one we see before the day’s out.

Just in case you had any doubt – that map from the National Weather Service website is proof, the heat alert really did expire at 9 pm and closer-to-normal temperatures are on the way. This after a two-record day – the sixth consecutive day with a 90+-degree high, and the hottest recorded high for this date (95, 16 degrees over the normal high for this date). The NWS says, “A weak trough and stronger onshore flow will bring cooler weather on Monday although still slightly above normal – high in the 80s.”

Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the beautiful dusk view, following a record-tying day – fifth consecutive day with a high past 90. If the temperature passes 90 again Sunday – as the forecast suggests it might – that’ll be a record-setting sixth day. But the Excessive Heat Warning alert is still set to expire at 9 pm Sunday, and Monday is supposed to be close to the upper-70s norm. The quest to keep cool led to a busy day at Alki Beach, as photographed by David Hutchinson:

If the forecast holds, next Thursday might not even get to 70.