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.

(Sunday sunset, photographed by Lynn Hall)

As hot weather approaches, the National Weather Service has changed the alert level again. Now it’s an Excessive Heat Warning, in effect from noon Tuesday to 4 pm Friday, and temperatures in the upper 90s are possible. (“Warning” is the highest alert level, compared to “watch” or “advisory,” both of which were issued earlier.) The city has sent out a list of where you can go to cool off if you need to. For West Seattle, the Senior Center (California/Oregon) is air-conditioned and will be open weekdays 8:30 am-4:30 pm; the Delridge and High Point branches of the Seattle Public Library both are fully air-conditioned – both are open 1 pm-8 pm Tuesday, 11 am-6 pm Wednesday and Thursday, while Delridge is closed Friday but High Point is open 11 am-6 pm. Got a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or other facility that will be air conditioned and open for public use? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

P.S. Today’s official high = 87.

(Tetherball at sunset, photographed by Anjanette Nelson-Wally)

4:34 PM SUNDAY: The National Weather Service is still predicting a heat wave Tuesday through Friday, and this afternoon it upgraded the alert level to Excessive Heat Watch. The alert is for Tuesday afternoon through Friday night; the forecast still suggests Wednesday and Thursday are likely to be the hottest days, possibly into the mid-90s.

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: The alert is now a “heat advisory,” kicking in at noon Tuesday.

We’ve been hearing for days that hot weather, likely in the 90s, will return next week. Now the National Weather Service has issued an alert about it. Here’s the Special Weather Statement saying 90+-degree temperatures are “likely” Tuesday through Friday, and that could raise the risk of heat-related illness for people and pets.

(WSB photo – Saturday beachgoers on Alki)

4:28 PM: The National Weather Service‘s afternoon forecast update is in, and it’s still projecting a high in the 90s on Monday, with the heat advisory continuing in effect until late Monday night. Tuesday might not even get out of the 60s. So what about the Fourth of July weekend? The NWS says it’s still too soon to predict with confidence, but they’re tentatively forecasting clouds for at least part of the weekend.

5:26 PM: Today’s high so far at Sea-Tac is 90 degrees – but that’s cool compared to last year, when the June 26th high was 102.

(Recent Alki sunset, photographed by Jen Popp)

If you were having a hard time believing it’s really going to be hot in a few days, here’s something to make it more real: A National Weather Service “Heat Advisory” alert, in effect noon Saturday to 11 pm Monday. Temperatures could get into the 90s Sunday and Monday. Nothing like a year earlier, though – Tuesday will be the first anniversary of the record-smashing 108-degree Seattle high.

(Photo by Gene Pavola)

Wish we could say the sudden burst of color at sunset tonight was a preview of a bright holiday weekend ahead. But so far, the National Weather Service‘s forecast looks cloudy and cooler, even rainy at times. However, there’s one point from which you can take solace:

(Photo by Adam Gosztola)

On many recent days, the weather has tended to be better than forecast – today, for example, brought plenty of unpredicted sunshine. So you can hold onto hope that the Memorial Day weekend might not be as gray as predicted.

6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 19th.

WEATHER

Mostly cloudy forecast, high near 55.

ROAD WORK

*Second day of the two-week WSDOT closure of the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street ramp to northbound 99 for pavement repair.

*SPU‘s pavement-restoration work on California SW in the SW Myrtle could start this week – it hadn’t by day’s end Monday, but the no-parking signs are out.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. Note that you’re still required to wear a face covering on the bus despite Monday’s federal-court ruling – as explained here.

Same goes for the West Seattle Water Taxi, which is operated by Metro. Also, no midday service again today, because of training. Check its status via Water Taxi Vessel Watch. Summer schedule – adding later evening runs on Fridays and Saturdays – starts at the end of this week.

Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates. And note that WSF *is* dropping its mask mandate, while noting they’re still recommended.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

757th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

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:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

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

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

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

Thanks for the photos! Here are four we received today – above, from Vlad Oustimovitch, out flying late this afternoon; below, from Theresa Arbow-O’Connor early this morning:

A different sunrise view from Debbie Taylor, at Forest Lawn in High Point for the Easter Sunrise Service:

And Jerry Simmons captured the egg-decorated edition of the 49th/Spokane walkway:

Not much hope of sun this week, so we’re glad to have the memories!

10:44 AM: We noted in the morning traffic/weather watch that snow showers were a possibility, according to the National Weather Service. And we’re getting word right now that it’s happening in east West Seattle. Let us know if you see snow too!

10:50 AM: Now we’re seeing a “wintry mix” here near the Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood line.

Got a report from Arbor Heights, too.

11:17 AM: More like “chunky rain” now, even up here on a hill, and no accumulation – so far.

11:33 AM: And now the sun breaks through! Here’s our photo from The Junction as the blue sky moved this way:

10:48 PM: That’s one of the storm cells that passed to the south at midday today, photographed by Troy Sterk from Lincoln Park. Later in the day, another one got as close as downtown – Kevin Ainsworth sent this photo from Harbor Avenue:

A short time later, we were in the same area and saw it moving south:

Today’s high was only 49, nine degrees below normal. The forecast for Sunday is also somewhat unsettled – breezy and cool with a chance of showers.

11:32 PM: But before we get to tomorrow – we have reports from Arbor Heights and The Junction of snow mixed in with rain!

(Photo by Dan Ciske)

After a day of alternating storm squalls and sunbreaks – wind, rain, even hail along the way – the National Weather Service‘s Wind Advisory alert has ended, and the weather should be settling down. We have a few photos to share from the day – above, surfing Brant at Constellation Park, photographed by Dan Ciske; below, a double rainbow seen from Don Armeni Boat Ramp:

That photo is from Stewart L.; thanks to everybody who sent a version of that view (which we saw too while in the area). Earlier in the morning, Brooke Gosztola caught a morning rainbow and whitecaps looking west across the Sound:

At times today, icy pellets coated the ground – or, as at Christopher Grupp‘s home, the deck:

For some, like the squirrel photographed by Rene Karn, there was nowhere to hide, just trees in which to try to take refuge:

The forecast brings some hope of warmer, calmer days – Wednesday and Thursday, the forecast is for some sunshine and highs possibly into the 60s.

12:28 PM: Could get windy starting early tomorrow morning, the National Weather Service says, so it has our area under a Wind Advisory alert for 2 am to 8 pm Monday. According to the alert, “Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected.” So far the full forecast suggests the strongest gusts are due Monday afternoon.

ADDED EARLY MONDAY: The NWS moved the alert two hours earlier, so it took effect at midnight. If you see or experience weather trouble – power outage, downed tree, etc. – please let us know after you’ve notified authorities – texting 206-293-6302 is always the fastest way to reach us – thank you!

(Photo by James Bratsanos)

4:29 PM: Ever since that fog burned off, the day has been busily fulfilling the promise of above-normal temperatures – 64 degrees at the top of the hour, in hazy sunshine. (Not a record, though – that’s on the books as 71.) But don’t miss the chance to get out and enjoy it tonight while it lasts – tomorrow’s high is due to drop back into the 50s.

6:07 PM: Photo just in says it all – a sea lion basking off Alki Point:

Thanks to Reiner Peery for the photo!

What a sunset! Thanks to everyone who sent photos. Above, the first one in was from Mel in Highland Park; the view below is from Brooke Gozstola:

Tom Trulin had this view overlooking the Fauntleroy ferry terminal:

Doug Eglington caught the reflection from downtown buildings:

And here’s Bill Johnson‘s view from Upper Fauntleroy:

Savor the colors – could be another gray day tomorrow.

Just noticed the forecast for “a slight chance of snow after midnight” has come true. The photo shows the scene up here in 300’+ Upper Fauntleroy. Very light snow right now; @WestSeaWX says the flurries may continue all night. Whatever falls is even less likely to stick around than our Monday night/Tuesday morning snow, as we’re on our way this time to a more-seasonal daytime high in the 40s.

(Reminder to take care of your neighborhood birds – hummingbird feeders, too – in the cold weather)

The National Weather Service insists sunshine is on the way. Still very lightly snowing as of this writing, though. If any other weather-related changes come in (text 206-293-6302), we’ll add to this list, but here’s what we have for now:

WARM-UP CENTER/COLD-WEATHER SHELTER: If you or someone you know needs a place to go, as reported here last night, 3618 SW Alaska is the place. They’re also in need of various donations, as our story mentioned, to support the people they serve.

NO GOLF: Seattle Parks says the snowfall has closed the West Seattle Golf Course – too much for golfing, not enough to open the course for “winter activities.”

FOOD FUNDRAISER CANCELED: Chef Gino Williamson won’t be out at 5441 Delridge Way SW because of the weather, but look for him 11 am-7 pm tomorrow.

CITY COUNCIL: Their weekly meeting is at 2 pm, online, with items including a proposal to extend the eviction moratorium despite the mayor’s decision to end it. The agenda explains how to comment; Seattle Channel is where to watch.

DEMONSTRATION FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: 4:30-6 pm at 16th/Holden, Scott leads the weekly demonstration for racial justice. Signs available if you don’t have your own.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Meeples Games (3727 California SW) welcomes families 6-8 pm to this weekly hosted game-playing night.

BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School girls play a must-win regional-playoffs game at home (3000 California SW) tonight, 7 pm vs. Liberty High School from Issaquah. Our preview includes the ticket link.

TRIVIA X 2: Two venues to play tonight – 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).

BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!

There’s more on our calendar – and if you have something to add for the future, email us the info at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!