1:49 PM: The snow has stopped – or at least paused – but temperatures are dropping, so what we have is likely to linger. Here’s our previous coverage; now we’re launching an afternoon report for weather-related info/updates. General advice remains, if you have to go out, avoid hilly streets – that’s where most of the trouble has been reported.

WEATHER/TRAFFIC RESOURCES (updated 4:13 pm)
National Weather Service (current alert expires at 2 pm)
SDOT Winter Weather Response map (where streets have been plowed/sanded/salted and how recently)
West Seattle traffic cams
Citywide traffic cams
King County traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center)
Metro on snow routes and has as of late afternoon suspended routes 55, 56, 57, 125

OTHER CLOSURES/CHANGES (updated 3:36 pm)
Residential trash/recycling collection delayed one day
Senior Center of West Seattle closed
Community School of West Seattle closed
South Park Library closed
SPL update: All neighborhood library branches closing at 5 pm

If you have anything to add, from a road report to a business/event change, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! Updates to come.

2 PM: Deep puddle reported in the southbound lanes of the 1900 block of Harbor SW; city crews have been notified.

2:58 PM: No further snow, but the temperature’s below freezing. … One note from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – we’ve reconfirmed that the reindeer and Santa/Mrs. Claus appearance at Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Drive SW) 5-9 pm tonight IS still on.

4:11 PM: We’re continuing to add updates to the lists above but wanted to note this here too: Metro has just officially suspended routes including West Seattle’s 55, 56, 57, and 125 for the PM commute period.

5:15 PM: No traffic problems reported in the area, and no new snow, but it’s icy. Tonight’s low is expected to be in the 20s; tomorrow’s high might not even make it to 30; and the Wednesday night low could drop into the teens. But by Christmas Eve – rain and almost 50.

(Photographed near Me-Kwa-Mooks by Patricia Boiko)

10:05 AM: As reported this afternoon, a Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for our area, and that could mean several inches of snow by morning. Many areas still have some lingering from the weekend; today’s high only reached 34 (12 degrees below normal) so there wasn’t much melting. With the anticipation of potential overnight snow, we have a few announcements in already:

–Senior Center of West Seattle will be closed Tuesday
–West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) plans to open late, at noon Tuesday
-If you have Tuesday solid-waste pickup, Seattle Public Utilities tells us they’ll be making their decision early in the morning, once they’ve assessed safety; if there’s a change, they’ll announce it here (we’ll have the info too)
–SDOT‘s out treating roads – this map shows where
-Citywide traffic cameras (with still image and video options) are here
–Metro is on regular routing as of right now

If you have changes, announcements, info, pics, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

5:45 AM: We’ll launch the usual morning traffic coverage shortly, but first a note that the alert was downgraded overnight to a Winter Weather Advisory – less potential snow.
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(SB 35th SW near Providence Mount St. Vincent)

12:11 PM: We’ve been out all morning covering two stories outdoors (details later), but wanted to share one observation in case you’ve been trepidational about going out – our side street was snow-coated when we returned between events an hour and a half ago, and now it’s mostly clear, so there is some melting happening. The arterials have been clear all along. SDOT crews have been out the past few hours – here’s the map that shows you where they’ve been and when. Meantime, the National Weather Service now has Seattle (among other areas) under a Winter Storm Watch alert starting at 7 pm tonight and lasting through Tuesday.

2:53 PM: The alert is now upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning – up to 8 inches of snow possible, but it may not last long, as the alert also mentions a possible transition to rain “across King County.”

6:18 PM: The first snow showers have arrived in parts of West Seattle. We were just in The Junction and Alki, where what was falling ta the time was more like cold rain, but as we drove south into High Point, Westwood, Gatewood, and Upper Fauntleroy, we saw a dusting of snow on cars and planting strips. The National Weather Service forecast has chances of snow off and on for the next few days, though nothing massive is expected so far. Are you seeing snow too?

7:03 PM: Still snowing lightly up here but radar suggests this will all end soon.

9:04 PM: Main point to note, temps will be at or below freezing overnight, so what’s fallen won’t be going away. Meantime, the newly updated NWS forecast discussion suggests the next chance of an inch or so of snow is likely Tuesday night into Wednesday; the longer-range forecast still suggests it’ll warm up to around 50 on Christmas Day,

The National Weather Service has issued an alert about the “freezing fog” that’s moved in. They say it could be around until 8 am or so, and it could lead to slippery roads, especially bridges, so be careful if you have to head out.

(Snow skull – photo sent today by Bradi)

We’ve seen snow/rain showers so far this afternoon – but after this, the word “snow” does not appear in this week’s forecast – temperatures are expected to inch back toward normal (40s day, 30s night) and precipitation will fall as rain.

(WSB photo – seen Saturday in Gatewood planting strip)

In the official gauge at Sea-Tac Airport, yesterday’s snow total was 2.6 inches – a record for that date – and so far this season the total is 4.4 inches. (December 3 is also in the weather-record books for 3.77 inches of rain in 2007 – Longfellow Creek deluged Delridge that day, as our photos show.)

(‘Live’ SDOT camera)

It’s been snowing for a few hours now, and we have a few notes:

ROADS CLOSED: We’ve been hearing about some tree trouble – Sylvan Way in particular, apparently a downed tree. Another one is reported around 14th/Holden but not blocking the street. INFOLINKS: Here’s the SDOT map showing which streets are closed and which have been plowed. … Here’s the Metro Winter page (some parts of the region are on snow routing but NOT us so far).

SPEAKING OF TREE TROUBLE: Connie sent this photo and report:

This tree is blocking the entrance to the parking lot of the dog park off of Southwest Cloverdale at 5th.

POWER OUTAGES: A few pockets of southernmost West Seattle (Seola, Myers Way) are part of a 4,300-customer outage – see the map here. ADDED 3:11 AM: Now a West Seattle outage too – more than 500 customers:

(4:39 PM: SCL says it’s hoping to have the South Park/SE WS areas restored by 7.)

FORECAST: This is expected to eventually change over to rain. But right now we’re still under a Winter Weather Advisory. (4:25 AM NOTE: We can hear the steady melt from the roof, so we’ll see what’s left by daylight.)

See trouble? Text us at 206-293-6302 – thank you!

As David Hutchinson‘s photo from Alki shows, this morning’s snow was followed by north wind and a 12-foot high tide splashing the Sound over the seawall. If the newest forecast holds out, that’s as lively as things should get until at least tomorrow morning, which is when the National Weather Service sees a “chance” of more snow. Tonight is likely to get icy again, with the temperature expected to drop below freezing.

Right now some wet snow is falling, but not sticking, and the temperature’s a few degrees above freezing. There’s a chance of more-serious snow overnight, the National Weather Service warns, so it has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect again, currently set to expire at 4 pm tomorrow.. The NWS’s analysis (aka “forecast discussion“) says colder air is on the way and that could mean, if not snow, icy streets, so if you have to head out in the morning, leave yourself extra time. The NWS says things will be “unsettled” into next week, but there should be breaks in the moisture, including parts of Friday and Saturday.

12:08 AM: Remember when the forecasters warned they wouldn’t really know what was coming with this system until it got here? We’re seeing another blast of unpredictability – a heavy snow shower just coated the cars again up here. And although the National Weather Service dropped the Winter Weather Advisory alert, now it’s issued a Winter Storm Warning, through 11 am Wednesday, saying we could see up to three inches of snow after all.

2:18 AM: The snow’s been coming and going; checking the traffic cams, things look slushy more than snowy. One more note: The National Weather Service has canceled the Wind Advisory – strong wind never did show up in this area.

2:40 AM: Metro has put its Central Seattle buses on snow routes. Our area – considered part of the South Seattle sector- remains on regular routes. (Check here for the latest.)

(Newest image from SDOT’s California/Alaska traffic cam)

12 PM: More than four hours after whqt’s been mostly light snow started falling, no notable problems reported so far. But more snow is expected – here’s the Winter Weather Advisory – and so is wind – here’s the Wind Advisory – so we’re keeping close watch on it all. Text or call 206-293-6302 if you have any info to share with the community. Here’s what we’ve received so far:

CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS: (updated 3:21 pm)
-No OST programs or related transportation or athletics for Denny International Middle School this afternoon
–West Seattle HS says, “Tonight’s Boys Basketball game vs South Kitsap has been canceled due to weather on the peninsula. Girls Basketball game @ Silas HS will continue as planned.”
–West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) is open but has canceled programs and services for the rest of the day

INFOLINKS:

SDOT winter-weather-response map (plowed/treated streets)
Metro service advisories
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here

1:32 PM: Just back from a trip to the north end of the peninsula and back. Currently, even up here in the hills, the snow is melting fast.

2:20 PM: The snow’s picking up speed again, Meantime, though it’s not weather-related, the King County Water Taxi is returning to full service this afternoon, with one boat’s propeller repairs complete.

3:21 PM: Bigger snowflakes now.

5:21 PM: Forecast update – the Winter Weather Advisory has been canceled – though the Wind Advisory remains in effect – and we’re not expected to see snow again any sooner than Wednesday night,

(Snow on the Olympics, photographed from West Seattle on Sunday by Chris Frankovich)

We’ve been talking about a looming chance of snow for days – and now the National Weather Service has issued an alert saying it’s likely: The NWS has our area under a Winter Weather Advisory starting at 1 pm Tuesday and continuing through 10 am Wednesday. From the alert: “Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 3 inches. … Snow accumulation likely over the higher hills of the area during heavy showers Tuesday afternoon. Greater chance of snow accumulations during the overnight hours into Wednesday morning.” However, the NWS forecast discussion notes, “There is a lot of variability with this system and precipitation amount is going to be very dependent on location, elevation, and timing. … With this type of set up, the forecast is still very variable and is going to change all the way up to the event.”

The Olympics are finally getting the kind of snowcap you expect to see by now – Ann Anderson took the photo (and calls your attention to the Surf Scoters on the water – a rarer sight than they used to be). The newest forecast still suggests we might see a bit of snow at times this week, but no one’s predicting anything major, so far, and we’re not yet under any weather alerts. The first possibility of a little snow could be early tomorrow morning, with a possible snow-rain mix. Snow or no snow, temperatures will be below normal, too, so be ready for a wintry week.

(Photo by Gene Pavola)

You’d have to call tonight’s colorful sunset something of a surprise. Less than an hour earlier, the all-day rain was still falling (two-thirds of an inch in the official Sea-Tac Airport gauge, according to the National Weather Service. Then suddenly – it stopped, and a gap appared between the clouds and the Olympics, soon allowing the sunset color through. Even if you had just a peek view, it was a sight to see:

(Photo by Laurel Taylor @ High Point Library)

(Photo by Eddie @ The Junction)

The forecast, meantime, suggests we might see some snow at some point next week. Almost every day starting Monday has a “chance” of snow, or rain/snow, in the prediction, and nighttime temperatures could get into the 20s (or colder), so any winterizing you’ve been delaying, now’s the time to get it done.

(Photo by Stewart L., from Harbor Avenue)

Another sunny day, after a spectacular sunrise – thanks for the photos! But change is on the way. The newest forecast suggests a chance of rain overnight, and is virtually certain of rain by Tuesday morning,

(Photo by Mark Rhea, from Marine View Drive)

The National Weather Service notes that Saturday was the 12th consecutive dry day – and that date, November 19, is historically the wettest day of the year.

In addition to the big power outage, here’s what else the north wind did today:

Wind-fueled waves battered the Alki seawall this afternoon – an example of the choppy seas that led King County Metro to cancel the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s runs for this afternoon/evening. Thanks to Jeremy Barton for the video. And via text, here’s a tree that fell on Ferry Avenue SW, no traffic or power effects:

It could be breezy again tomorrow – here’s the National Weather Service forecast – with wind from the northeast. First, we have a clear, cold night ahead, maybe even into the upper 20s; Suzanne emailed us to suggest a reminder that you need to protect your pipes from freezing, earlier than most years. Here’s some advice.