West Seattle, Washington
07 Sunday
(WSB photo, California/Alaska this afternoon)
As we get closer to thawing, Metro has announced it’ll start getting transit service back to normal:
Metro will deactivate the Emergency Snow Network (ESN) at 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2. All Metro bus routes active on weekends will operate on their regular schedules starting Jan. 2 where road conditions allow.
Metro vehicle maintenance crews have shifted away from chaining and retrieving stuck buses and have started repairs to damaged buses that operated during the winter storm. Metro is assessing the number of available buses and whether any routes may need to remain temporarily suspended on Monday, Jan. 3, as additional repairs are completed.
“Our transit professionals kept the region moving safely during the recent snowstorms,” said King County Metro General Manager Terry White. “Now we turn our attention to repairing buses damaged over the past week and again operating the broader all-day transit network that riders rely on.”
Riders traveling on Saturday, Jan. 1, should review what routes are operating on the Emergency Snow Network before traveling. On Sunday, Jan. 2, online resources will be updated to reflect any lingering snow routes where road conditions continue to be difficult for transit service. Masks are required on all public transportatio
Water taxi, Access and on-demand services
· Water taxi: The West Seattle route is not operating Jan. 1. Service will resume on Sunday, Jan. 2.
· Access paratransit currently provides only lifesaving and emergency trips depending on conditions and availability. Access continues to provide life-sustaining medical transportation. For Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, Access will continue to provide only lifesaving and emergency trips and will increase availability as routes become clear. Some roads in outlying areas of the county might continue to be impassable. Rides requested for riders who are not yet certified by Access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. During this time, customers who are not certified to use Access that need to connect to life-sustaining medical services can call 206-205-5000 to request services between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access is working closely with bus service to meet the needs of all of our customers.
5:06 PM SATURDAY: Just when you thought the extreme weather was over, with the snow past and the temperatures rising, there’s a new weather alert for our area – the National Weather Service has a Wind Advisory for 10 pm tonight through 4 pm Sunday. The alert predicts south winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50. Separate from this alert, the forecast calls for rain to return by late Sunday afternoon.
UPDATED SUNDAY MORNING: The alert’s been canceled for the metro area. Breezy weather is expected later today/tonight, but not alert-level wind.
Thanks for the updates from the early-morning hours:
That photo is from Kathleen, who says the midsize Seattle Fire callout at 16th/Cambridge just after 5 am was for an RV fire. No medic unit dispatched, which indicates no major injuries, but we are checking with SFD.
From Ann:
3 cars were involved in an accident on the 3000 block of SW Andover last night / early morning 4 AM -ish. The black Kia crashed through a residential fence.
Same Kia is completely blocking the sidewalk. SPD said tow trucks won’t / can’t come until conditions are better so sidewalk is completely blocked for now.
Another great grea example of why steep streets get closed under icy conditions and why it’s a good idea to heed the signs.
No SFD dispatch with this one, which indicates no injuries reported.
5:19 PM: Another frosty day wrapped up 2021. Thanks for the photos! Above, Tom Trulin photographed the Olympics, and walkers, at Lincoln Park. Not far away, a texter sent this view of icy Lincoln Park Way:
In Gatewood, Kanit Cottrell discovered this snowwoman:
On the other end of the peninsula, David Hutchinson photographed the waves against the Alki seawall:
He noted that something’s missing in his photo: “Sadly, The Whale Trail interpretive sign near the Bathhouse is missing along with one of the two mounting posts (just to the left of the people in the photo). Possibly taken out by the log shown in the photo or vandalism. Either way, it’s a shame as we have noticed that lots of folks out walking will stop and take advantage of the educational material presented.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The National Weather Service predicts a very cold night, possibly into the teens, but then tomorrow’s high might get above freezing. After that:
The true warmup will begin Sunday with highs in the low 40s expected for much of the area, and snow levels rising to 1500-2500 feet. Along side these warmer temperatures we are expecting widespread lowland rain as a cold front moves through the area. Lowland areas with snow remaining on the ground could see some localized urban flooding and ponding of water as storm drains could become clogged with ice.
ADDED 9:27 PM: Thanks to Ben for sending a photo of this igloo-in-progress:
(Lincoln Park photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Even before the snowfall, closures were planned for today because of the holiday observance. So this list covers both. Please let us know if you have something/someplace to add:
CLOSED
–Senior Center of West Seattle
–West Seattle Food Bank
–Delridge, Admiral Seattle Public Library locations
–Most Seattle Parks facilities
-City residential solid-waste pickup (all collection days put out double next week)
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
–West Seattle YMCA open until 4 pm
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am
(We’ll add a business list if needed but so far we have no new closure/change info.)
6:16 AM: Good morning. It’s New Year’s Eve and the sixth day with snow on the ground. Links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed/treated/closed roads, here
-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
–Metro continues Emergency Snow Network reduced service
–No Water Taxi service today (and tomorrow); 773/775 shuttles also not running
WEATHER
-Just below freezing again this morning. The forecast says “isolated snow showers” are possible this morning, clearing later.
Tips/pics to westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Was Christmas really just five days ago? Rene‘s photo is from The Admiral District, on this fifth snow-blanketed night since the holiday. Lots of snow fun still happening – Stephanie sent this photo of a West Seattle igloo and the crew that built it:
Kim sent video of Georgie‘s sled ride on 51st Place SW:
Looking across the bay from Alki, Gene Pavola captured a state ferry in the shortlived sun glare, with the snowy roofs of Magnolia beyond it:
Not far away, Gary Jones caught a juvenile Bald Eagle high above it all:
Jerry Simmons found a hummingbird trying to stay warm:
And Deb Haller in North Admiral rigged up a shop lamp “to keep the hummingbird nectar warm. It’s been on all week and working great. The birds sit and warm themselves too!”
One chilly snowbird pic – Mark in Arbor Heights photographed this Ruby-crowned Kinglet as it scavenged around in the snow:
Thanks again for all the photos and info … community collaboration is particularly vital in times like these. Year-round, in sun or snow, day or night, you can reach us at 206-293-6302 (text or voice) and westseattleblog@gmail.com.
Seattle Public Utilities made it official tonight – no solid-waste pickup Friday, so that makes it a sweep – double pickup for everyone on their regular days next week. Here’s the announcement:
Due to remaining icy and unsafe conditions on many residential streets, residential and most commercial solid waste collection services are cancelled for Friday, December 31.
Transfer stations and the Household Hazardous Waste Facility will remain open with normal hours.
All collections are scheduled to resume next week beginning Monday, January 3. All missed residential customers are permitted to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and compost on their collection day for no additional charge. This includes recycling collection, even if it’s not a customer’s typical week for collection. Contractors will attempt to collect this ‘off-week’ recycling, if possible, but may not be able to collect all.
For tips on setting out extra waste, (go here). Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.
Temperatures are supposed to be close to normal next week.
Another day of closures/schedule changes. We’re updating as info comes in – please let us know if you have something/someplace to add:
CLOSED/CANCELED
Facilities/services:
–West Seattle YMCA
–Senior Center of West Seattle
–West Seattle Food Bank
–All Seattle Public Library locations
–All Seattle Parks facilities
-City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)
Businesses
Admiral Theater
Alki Bike and Board
Alki Mail & Dispatch
Cherry Consignment
C & P Coffee (closed for COVID exposure)
Illusions Hair Design
Grillbird
Head To Toe Day Spa
McDonald’s (Admiral and Morgan Junction, per readers)
Paper Boat Booksellers
Pecos Pit BBQ
Rambo Total Pest Control
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
Facilities/services:
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am
West Seattle Golf Course (“snow activities” and walking allowed, but no golfing)
Businesses
Bakery Nouveau (10 am-3 pm)
HomeStreet Bank (closing at 4)
Metropolitan Market (closing at 8)
The Birdhouse (open until 1 pm)
West Seattle Animal Hospital (open until 4:30 pm)
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)
If you have info to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Current image from SDOT camera at 5-way)
5:26 AM: Good morning. The snow (re)started just after 9 pm and is still falling. We start with info links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed/treated/closed roads, here
-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
–Metro continues Emergency Snow Network reduced service
–West Seattle Water Taxi is running (with Spirit of Kingston)
WEATHER
-Just below freezing right now. The Winter Weather Advisory is now only in effect through 2 pm
Tips/pics to westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Current image from SDOT camera at Holden/Highland Park Way)
6:17 AM: Still quiet on the streets.
6:43 AM: The snowfall has stopped, for now.
7:18 AM: As pointed out in comments, the SDOT real-time “winter response” map is currently blank. We’re checking to see if they’re working on it.
7:51 AM: No reply yet. But a check of cameras around the peninsula shows arterials have been addressed. Meantime, light snow has resumed.
8:07 AM: We’re assembling a closures/changes list again today, planning to publish around 9 am (with updates throughout the day as info comes in), First major new closure just in – the West Seattle YMCA.
8:22 AM: Reader photo just in:
Texter reports, “Here’s a pic of Cali Ave looking south at College near Admiral Junction. Taken at 8 am. Mostly slushy with pavement visible.”
8:50 AM: Another photo, this one sent by Sandy and Vanessa:
The Olympics’ peaks made a brief appearance, glowing pink, before clouds moved back in.
8:58 AM: The SDOT real-time map is now working, but slow to load (wait a moment or two), Paul texted to point out. Its road-closure info is suspect, though – for example, it shows SW Alaska east of California as closed, but the cameras for that stretch clearly show it open. (P.S. For non-road matters, we’ve launched today’s closures/changes page.)
Seattle Public Utilities has officially canceled residential solid-waste collection for tomorrow (Thursday), too – here’s the grid:
As we reported this morning, if your missed collection day this week would have included recycling, they’ll try to make that up next week. Tonight’s update reiterates that and answers a few other questions:
Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.
If you are setting out extra next week, here are a few tips:
-Extra garbage can be set out in bags or a personal can.
-Extra recycling can go out in a cardboard box or paper bag.
-Extra compost shouldn’t contain food and can go in a personal can or paper bag.
-See more details on our website.Customers whose recycling was not picked up this week due to unsafe conditions created by snow and ice should set out their recycling carts (along with garbage and food/yard waste carts) on their next collection day, even though it is not their scheduled week for recycling pickup.
Our Solid Waste contractors will make every attempt to pick up recycling next week but this requires servicing an additional set of routes they are normally not equipped to cover, in addition to collecting double volumes on regular routes, during the recovery week.
If a customer’s recycling is not collected next week, they can set out extra recycling, at no additional cost, on their next scheduled recycling pickup day.
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
4:20 PM: The National Weather Service is out with an official alert for the next wave of snow. It’s a Winter Weather Advisory for 1 am to 7 pm Thursday. They’re anticipating 1″ to 4″ of snow. (For context, the official amount from last weekend was 3 1/2 inches.) The city-specific forecast narrows that down to 2″-3″, and offers the heartening news that the temperature should get back into the 40s by Saturday.
11:50 PM: The snow started shortly after 9 pm, and the NWS put the advisory into effect a few hours earlier than planned, shortly after 10 pm. We’ll be on morning snow watch by 5:30 am.
(Photo by James Borrow, taken from Alki Point)
Still snowy out there, so we have another day of closures/schedule changes. We’ll be adding as announcements are made – thanks to everyone who’s shared info:
CLOSED/CANCELED
Facilities/services:
Senior Center of West Seattle
West Seattle Food Bank
City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)
Seattle Public Library‘s Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral) branches
Businesses
Alki Beach Pub (broken pipe)
Illusions Hair Design
Head To Toe Day Spa
Rambo Total Pest Control
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
Facilities/services:
West Seattle YMCA (9 am-4 pm)
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am
Seattle Public Library‘s High Point (11 am-6 pm), Southwest (noon-6 pm) branches
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but “snow activities” and walking OK)
Other Seattle Parks changes
Businesses
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)
HeartBeet Café (9 am-2 pm)
The Birdhouse (open until 1 pm)
Alki Mail & Dispatch (open until 5 pm)
If you have info to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
“The phone will not quit ringing.”
That’s what Keith Hughes told us – between phone calls – when we stopped by American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) this afternoon to see what he needs to keep running West Seattle’s only cold-weather shelter.
12 people slept there last night, and he was expecting more tonight. So he needs more cots, and blankets for the people who will sleep on them. Socks and gloves, too – those go fast, dozens of pairs so far.
And of course, he still needs more volunteers to help keep the doors open, as a daytime warming center – some people drop in for a cup of coffee, maybe a pair of socks, and then go back out – and overnight shelter.
He is serving two meals a day, as the whiteboard outside says:
But he says they have plenty of food – including six 5-pound pans of frozen lasagna – so they don’t need more food right now. And please don’t bring clothing – that takes more volunteers to sort and wash, and that’s more than he can handle. Socks and gloves, he can just keep on a table by the door to Pershing Hall, the event room that’s doubling as a shelter.
Running the shelter is more than a matter of just keeping the doors open. Hughes has also been kept busy handling logistics for the people who show up, or who are brought there; some of the phone calls he took while we were there had to do with someone dropped off there who really needed to be in a hospital instead.
Since the last time we talked with him, the city has started including Post 160 on its resource list of emergency shelters. And the new King County Regional Homelessness Authority has someone calling twice a day to check in. But the only government help he’s getting, says Hughes, is a city promise to cover the utility bills for December – running two furnaces, doing laundry, and providing showers adds up.
If you have questions, or are interested in volunteering, call Post 160 any time between 8 am and 6 pm at 206-932-9696, or call Hughes directly at 206-941-6654.
WEDNESDAY NOTE: Please see the comment discussion below for updates. In short – volunteers still needed, everything else is good for now, thanks to some fast-acting generous people!
(WSB photo)
7:14 PM: For the third consecutive day, with most residential streets still coated in snow and ice, Seattle Public Utilities has canceled residential solid-waste pickup for Wednesday. Here’s the full announcement from SPU:
Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets in Seattle, solid waste collections will not be able to Due to remaining ice and snow, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle on Wednesday, December 29. Commercial & multifamily collections will resume on 12/29. Transfer stations and Hazardous Waste drop-off remain open with normal hours.
Collection schedules should resume as follows:
Monday (12/27) residential customers will be collected Monday (1/3).
Tuesday (12/28) residential customers will be collected Tuesday (1/4).
*Wednesday (12/29) residential customers will be collected Thursday (12/30).
*Thursday (12/30) residential customers will be collected Friday (12/31).
Friday (12/31) residential customers will be collected Friday (1/7) due to the holiday on 1/1.
*Both Wednesday & Thursday collections will be as conditions allow.Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.
P.S. We’re asking SPU whether missed recycling pickups will be made up next week too, for the customers who aren’t getting any collection this week.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The reply to that question, via SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register:
Customers whose recycling was not picked up this week due to unsafe conditions created by snow and ice should set out their recycling carts (along with garbage and food/yard waste carts) on their next collection day, even though it is not their scheduled week for recycling pickup.
Our Solid Waste contractors will make every attempt to pick up recycling next week but this requires servicing an additional set of routes they are normally not equipped to cover, in addition to collecting double volumes on regular routes, during the recovery week.
If a customer’s recycling is not collected next week, they can set out extra recycling, at no additional cost, on their next scheduled recycling pickup day.
And a friendly reminder for customers-don’t forget to break down those holiday boxes before putting them in the recycling cart.
Another day with snow on the ground means another day of closures/schedule changes. Here’s what we have so far – we’ll keep adding as the info comes in:
CLOSED/CANCELED
Facilities/services:
Senior Center of West Seattle
Curative COVID test site at Don Armeni
West Seattle Food Bank
Seattle Public Library Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral), South Park branches
City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)
Businesses
Alki Beach Pub (broken pipe)
Illusions Hair Design
Head To Toe Day Spa
Skylark
Cherry Consignment
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
Facilities/services:
West Seattle YMCA (9 am-4 pm)
Seattle Public Library Southwest (noon-6 pm) and High Point (1-6 pm) branches
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but “snow activities” and walking OK)
Other Seattle Parks changes
Businesses
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)
HeartBeet Café (9 am-2 pm)
Chupacabra (noon-7:30 pm)
If you have info to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
6:30 AM: Good morning. A bit of new snow overnight. First, we have links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed/treated/closed roads, here
-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
–Metro buses are running Emergency Snow Network service reductions again today
–West Seattle Water Taxi is running (with Spirit of Kingston)
–Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on regular two-boat service
WEATHER
Mid-twenties right now. Today’s forecast – mostly cloudy, high near 30.
Again today, if you’re headed out this morning, consider letting us know how your drive/ride went, once you get to where you’re going.
7 AM: No incidents reported so far this morning. Two West Seattle road closures are officially marked on the city map – SW Andover east of Delridge (the hill to/from Pigeon Point) and 47th SW south of Fauntleroy. Larry Snyder sent this photo of Andover late last night:
7:55 AM: Speaking of closures, we’re starting a list again today – if your facility/business plans a closure or changed schedule today, please let us know so we can add it to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
8:20 AM: Snowing lightly again.
9:09 AM: Big news from Junction True Value – snow shovels and ice melt are back in stock. (They’re limiting the latter to 50 pounds/person.)
10:14 AM: The city map has added some closures – check it before you head out.
Seattle Public Utilities has just announced that it’s canceling residential solid-waste pickup tomorrow, too. Monday and Friday customers are now scratched until next week; what happens to everybody else depends on how Wednesday goes. Here’s the full announcement:
Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets in Seattle, solid waste collections will not be able to safely operate Tues Dec 28. Garbage, recycling and yard/food waste collections are canceled.
Monday customers will be serviced next week – Monday Jan. 3
Tuesday customers will be serviced Wednesday, if conditions allow
Wednesday and Thursday customers will be collected this Thursday and Friday, if conditions allow
Friday customers will need to be delayed to next Friday, Jan. 7, due to the Jan. 1 holiday on SaturdayEssential customers will continue to be serviced this week.
SPU transfer stations will be open normal hours tomorrow (Tuesday) and the rest of the week. Household hazardous material locations will also remain open.
1:17 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s been sending photos! The day was off to a spectacular start – sunrise glow on The Olympics. The photo above is from James Tilley; below, from Michael Burke:
This snowy Schmitz Park scene is from Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:
Joan Cooper photographed the shoreline snow at Alki/54th:
And via text, another snow creature on the Harbor Avenue shore:
ADDED 3:32 PM: Thanks to Genevieve Williams for this view of Westcrest Park:
ADDED 11:20 PM: From Brandi Bigford, geese on the Harbor Avenue shore:
Virgil‘s backyard, photographed by Al:
Cowboy the cat:
And Jemma, Megan‘s pup:
Got a West Seattle snow pic to share? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 … thank you!
Though the major snowfall is over for now, getting around remains icy/dicey, and subfreezing temperatures persist, so some facilities/businesses have closures/cancellations again today. We’ll be updating this list throughout the day as we get announcements/info (got an addition or update? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302) – here’s what we have so far:
CLOSED TODAY (MONDAY, DECEMBER 27) – FACILITIES/ORGANIZATIONS
Senior Center of West Seattle
West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA
West Seattle Food Bank
Delridge, Admiral libraries
Seattle Parks community centers, pools
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but you can sled or walk)
CLOSED TODAY (MONDAY, DECEMBER 27) – BUSINESSES
Bakery Nouveau
Cupcake Royale
Good Day Donuts
Head to Toe Day Spa (also Tuesday)
Illusions Hair Design
Itto’s Tapas
HeartBeet Café
Marination Ma Kai
Mission Cantina
Mode Music Studios
Patrick’s Café and Bakery
Pecos Pit
Skylark Café
Southgate Roller Rink
Starbucks shops (except Westwood Village)
The Birdhouse
Three 9 Lounge
Walgreens 35th pharmacy (though rest of store is open)
Youngstown Coffee
CHANGED/CANCELED TODAY
No residential solid-waste pickup – every collection day this week will be delayed a day
COVID testing site on SW Thistle opening at 10:30
OPEN BUT CLOSING EARLY
Circa open for lunch, closing at 4
6:12 AM: Good morning. For everyone who has to head out on this post-snowstorm morning – first, we have links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed routes, here
-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
–Metro buses are running Emergency Snow Network service reductions (continuing Tuesday)
–West Seattle Water Taxi (update) IS NOT running this morning (the shuttle routes are canceled too) – UPDATE, resumed 11:30 am
–Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on regular two-boat service
WEATHER
Upper teens right now. Today’s forecast – partly sunny, 20s.
More to come … If you’re headed out this morning, consider letting us know how your drive/ride went, once you get to where you’re going.
6:45 AM: Just announced – the West Seattle Water Taxi is canceled for the rest of this morning – we’ve updated the list above, “High winds and conditions at the Seacrest dock” are cited. The shuttles (Routes 773 and 775) are also canceled.
7:29 AM: We’re continuing to monitor but still no problems reported on the peninsula or nearby outbound routes. We do have one report of a downed tree across a path east of High Point, from Jethro:
This is “facing south on the paved path between the intersection of 28th and Myrtle and the stairs down to Sylvan Way. It’s a very large cottonwood that fell out of the church property to the west.” Also, Jethro adds, “We just sampled some driving and it’s not bad; Holden is covered in compact snow but quite grippy.
8:17 AM: Still uneventful out there.
11:58 AM: One more transportation note – West Seattle Water Taxi service has resumed.
3:13 PM: From a bus rider: “Tthe outbound C line is not serving Columbia and Western – it’s keeping going down 3rd instead, just let a bunch of people waiting at the stop know. It’s not very clear on Metro’s website. In fact the service advisory says ‘Regular route to WB SW Avalon Way & 35 Av SW,’ which is not correct.”
ADDED MONDAY EVENING: Metro says it’ll stay with the Emergency Snow Network routes/schedule for Tuesday, too.
Just in from Seattle Public Utilities – no residential solid-waste pickup tomorrow, tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday, depending on conditions. That means every day this week slides by at least one day – Tuesday pickup on Wednesday, etc. Read the full announcement here. (Also mentioned: “Contractors will attempt to serve priority commercial locations” tomorrow.)
1:50 PM: As the snow continues – with wind-chill temperatures in the teens – West Seattle’s only cold-weather shelter is open, at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska). This is an all-volunteer effort, no city or other help, and more volunteers are needed – as mentioned here earlier this week. Post commander Keith Hughes, meantime, says if you or someone you know needs somewhere to go, “The warm-up center is open all day, and the Shelter will be open tonight. I have cots, mats, and blankets for up to 16 people.” Meantime, our coverage continues, first with the lists that started our earlier coverage:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed routes, here
-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
–Metro buses are on snow routes – advisories here; Emergency Snow Network activated for Monday
–West Seattle Water Taxi CANCELED for the rest of today
SNOW CLOSURES/CANCELLATIONS
–West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (closed Monday too)
-All Seattle Public Library branches
–Fauntleroy Church worship service (both online and in-person)
–City transfer stations (including the nearby one in west South Park)
–Junction & Morgan Junction Starbucks closed
-Also closed: Mission Cantina, The Bridge, The Birdhouse, The Westy, Southgate Roller Rink, Marination Ma Kai, West Seattle Bowl, Grillbird Teriyaki, Beveridge Place Pub, Greenbridge Café, Curious Kidstuff, Avalon Glassworks, Meeples Games, Best of Hands Barrelhouse, Lady Jaye, Northwest Art and Frame, Pegasus Books, Head to Toe Day Spa, Supreme, Ma’ono
-Closing early: Whole Foods (5 pm), Westwood QFC (7 pm), Metropolitan Market (8 pm)
-Closed Monday: Senior Center of West Seattle
WEATHER INFO
–Special Weather Statement alert now in effect
–National Weather Service‘s snow-totals map
Yards are buried – Scott and Maria sent this photo of theirs in Gatewood:
And down at sea level, Sirkka Saboe photographed the Alki Point Lighthouse:
Got a photo or something else to contribute to our coverage? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! More updates ahead.
2:47 PM: Alki remains the epicenter of storm photos so far. This one’s from Andrew – look at what happened after all those wind-fueled waves crashed over the seawall:
Wherever you are in West Seattle, you’ve probably noticed the snow has all but stopped. The weather advisory has expired, too. Now the cold is the biggest concern – it’s not forecast to get back above freezing until Thursday.
3:19 PM: Thanks for the tips – added to our list above, some early-closure plans. … There’s some fun stuff out there too:
Brandon has done it again: “Softy the Sea Lion 3.0. This year, did it for our son. No tools or shovels. Encourage community to come build their favorite sea animal.” (From our archives, this story contains Softy 2.0!)
4:05 PM: The city has just sent out a long roundup from various departments. We’ll link it here once it’s on the city website; no major news in it that we’re seeing – for example, no word from SPU yet on whether Monday solid-waste pickup is still a go. Otherwise – SDOT says it has 35 “winter-response vehicles” out on the roads. One other note from SDOT – tomorrow (Monday 12/27) “will be treated as a holiday for on-street parking to discourage unnecessary driving during the storm response.” Pay-station on-street spaces will be free, and time limits won’t be enforced. … Also from the city news release, a passage of note:
The online Storm Response Map [linked above] shares real-time information on which roads have been recently plowed. The technology transferring information is not functioning on a few snow-response vehicles at this time and will not be repaired until the storm has passed, so more routes are being treated than shown.
5:04 PM: New weather alert is in effect – a Special Weather Statement about the subfreezing temps, calling the next few days “dangerously cold.” The snow, however, is largely over.
6:21 PM: A few more scenes from today – from Paula Grassell at Lincoln Park:
And from Yazmin Penzien, who says, “What a day! This was like a dream come true for our twin girls.”
6:49 PM: We’ve published this separately, but also noting here – the city has announced there’ll be no solid-waste pickup tomorrow – every pickup day this week will slide at least a day.
7:06 PM: Just in from Metro, they’ll activate the Emergency Snow Network service reduction for Monday. This takes effect at 4 am. Here’s what that means.
9:18 PM: Two more photos before the night’s out – more road-clearing equipment, spotted by Admiral 7-11 this evening:
(Major) new snow is NOT expected overnight, but the roads will be icy, so we’ll be on watch for that early, in case you have to commute. We also have one more fun photo here at night’s end – Eugene‘s son Silas, enjoying the snow:
The official total (measured at Sea-Tac) was just short of three and a half inches.
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