West Seattle, Washington
26 Tuesday
11:06 PM: Last weekend’s forecast hinted at snow tonight – and that’s come true. We’re seeing some here in Upper Fauntleroy, and hearing from other parts of West Seattle too, including Genesee Hill and The Junction. Anyone else?
(Photo from Patt in Admiral)
11:29 PM: We’ve heard in comments and tweets from people all over the peninsula. It’s lightly coating cars, planting strips, and decks. … No advisories, and the evening forecast update only had a “slight chance of rain and snow showers.”
(WSB photo, Upper Fauntleroy)
11:53 PM: Trouble on the streets already – crash at 63rd SW and Beach Drive. One person reported hurt, and SFD’s on the way.
(Shelter/center lobby, WSB photo from December)
Below-freezing nights are in the forecast all week, so West Seattle’s only emergency shelter has reopened its doors. It’s in the Veterans Center/American Legion Post 160 building in The Triangle, operated with volunteer help and donations, so center manager Keith Hughes emailed us with some requests for anyone who can help:
The Warm-Up Center and Cold Weather Overnight Shelter will be open this week and possibly into next week. We could really use the community’s support again, with men’s-size socks, gloves, stocking caps, T-shirts, and underwear. We have plenty of cots and blankets now, and we thank you all for those.
In the food department, our needs are: Coffee, creamer, pancake mix, instant oatmeal, instant hot-chocolate mix, granola bars, and grocery-store gift cards so we can get milk, eggs, and other fresh items. Thank you so much for your kind and generous support.
The center/shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska, 206-932-9696.
No official advisory about it, but the forecast today says wind gusts could get up to 40 mph – and so it’s a good idea to keep everything charged. Even more interesting in the forecast, the possibility of snow showers Monday night, at least on the hilltops. February snow, of course, is not unusual – last year we had some in mid-February. And winter officially has four weeks remaining.
One more set of sky shots, just in case you were watching a screen instead … Right after Super Bowl halftime, the sky turned blazing pink. The photo above is from Lynn Hall; below, from Scott Lipsky:
And from James Bratsanos:
Savor the colors – still looks like rain’s on the way tomorrow.
The fog has cleared now, but it made for a memorable – and loud – morning around the peninsula. Thanks to everyone who sent photos! Above, Carolyn Newman caught the sunrise from Harbor Avenue. Below, Theresa Arbow-O’Connor‘s view from further west on Alki:
Later, the fog still clung to the water for a while – Lars Lindblad photographed the Olympics peeking above the fog bank to the west:
Later, 
And James Bratsanos photographed the eastward view, looking toward downtown:
Fog isn’t in the forecast again until Tuesday – tomorrow is likely to bring rain.
Quick break for sunset beauty before we move on with the rest of the news – Thanks to everyone who sent photos! Tonight’s sunset moved through phases of orange and pink. The photo above is from Chris Goh; below, from Jan Pendergrass:
And below, from James Bratsanos:
Since it’s Wednesday, it’s not too soon to look ahead to the weekend, and that’s where we find hope (for everyone who enjoys sunshine) – Saturday and Sunday are currently forecast to be sunny with highs in the 50s.
During Monday’s weekly City Council briefing meeting, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda – the West Seattleite who holds citywide Position 8 – told her colleagues that the Department of Finance and Administrative Services was dealing with a high number of claims filed by pothole victims. We followed up with FAS to see just how high the stack was getting. Spokesperson Melissa Mixon looked into it and started her reply with one jaw-dropping, axle-busting stat: “The number of pothole claims for 2021 was 210 and the current count for 2022 is 300-plus.” She adds, “It is noteworthy though that pothole claims from the recent snowstorm already constitute approximately half of all our open claims.” The Risk Management division doesn’t have a geographic breakout, so we don’t know how many of those potholes are in West Seattle. SDOT does have a map showing fixed and reported potholes – here’s a screengrab:
Circles represent recently filled potholes; diamonds represent ones that are “pending.” You can report a pothole here. If you’ve sustained damage from one on a city road, here’s how to file a claim. We asked Mixon how that process works: Your claim is assigned to an adjuster. They reach out to the relevant city department (SDOT) in this case for a formal response. Then they can either close the claim for lack of contact or information, tender it (when another entity is responsible), deny it (if the city isn’t found negligent, or settle it.
Tonight’s sunset didn’t splash the entire sky with color – mostly a bright band of vivid pink over the horizon, as shown in Kersti Muul‘s photo above and Marc Milrod‘s photo below. Marc also shows us the view to the south from Constellation Park, with Mount Rainier’s pink-tinged cap:
Today’s high was 47, a few degrees below the seasonal norm, but the forecast says we’re in for a warming trend.
The next few days should approach 50, and then the high is expected to reach the low 50s starting at midweek.
Thanks to Brooke Gosztola (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for the views during and after tonight’s sunset.
If the forecast is borne out, this is likely the last sunset show we’ll see for at least a few days, as clouds are expected to move in tomorrow and rain by Sunday. Though tonight’s starting off with a clear sky, the temperature is not expected to drop as far as it did last night, with an official overnight low of 28, ten degrees below normal.
ADDED: One more sunset view, sent by Erin O.:
(Added: Photo from Duwamish Head)
The National Weather Service has extended the Air Stagnation Advisory alert – originally set to expire at noon today – until (updated) 11 am Friday. The NWS warns, “Air stagnation may lead to the development or worsening or poor air quality, and this may cause issues for people with respiratory problems.” (Here’s one place you can keep watch on the air quality.) So far there’s no chance of rain mentioned in the forecast before Saturday night.
The nighttime temperature is back into the 30s, so West Seattle’s only emergency shelter, at the Veterans’ Center in The Triangle, has reopened. From its operator Keith Hughes:
The overnight shelter is open, and will be each night this week, as well as the morning Warm-up Center. Warm-up hours are 7:30 – 11 am. Shelter opens at 5 pm, with hot meal at 6:30 pm. Check in for overnight closes at 10 pm.
The Shelter is located at the American Legion Hall at 3618 SW Alaska St in West Seattle.
Volunteers and financial support remain needed and appreciated, as noted here.
(Photo by Marc Milrod)
Beautiful sunset tonight, and no rain in the forecast for days – but there’s a new weather-related alert.
(Photo by Lewis Leiboh)
Starting Sunday at 4 pm, through Wednesday at noon, we’re under an Air Stagnation Advisory, which warns, “Air stagnation could result in the development and persistence of poor air quality.”
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
For now, though, enjoy the colors.
(Photo by Jan Pendergrass)
We can’t let Wednesday go without a few of the photos sent to us after the blazingly bright sunset, spectacular whether you had a view across the water as did James Bratsanos (above) or across a hill (Charlestown) as did Greg Snyder (below):
Greg called it a “sky on fire.” The colors even spread to the east, as shown in Carolyn Newman‘s photo:
And one more look at that orange sky in the west, from John Bartell:
If you’re treasuring the lengthening days … note that we’re just two weeks away from 5 pm-and-later sunsets.
A full-sunshine day seems almost as newsworthy as the rainy, snowy, windy days we’ve had lately. Here are three photos celebrating how this day began, from three directions – above, the sunrise in the east, from Doug Eglington; below, looking north at Mount Baker, from James Borrow:
And next, James Bratsanos gives us a westward view of the Olympics:
Thanks to everyone who sent photos this morning! Enjoy the sunshine – the forecast says clouds will be back tonight.
Weather conditions gave this morning’s “king tide” a turbocharge – almost two feet higher than the predicted high tide. Thanks to everyone who sent images of the result – first, above and below, video from Nils von Veh at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza.
Holli Margell was at Alki too and sent these views:
Further east at Alki, Michelle Riggen-Ransom‘s photo shows the sea swamping the sand:
And Elizabeth Butler sent photos from the Fauntleroy shore:
Tomorrow’s high tide, expected to hit 12.5 feet just after 9:30 am, is likely to be closer to what’s predicted, since the weather has calmed.
We’re getting multiple reports of street flooding in South Park this morning – in the wake of the 9 am high tide and the (now finally easing) heavy rain. The video above from 5th Avenue South and South Holden is by Clay DeRooy; the photos below are from Curtis Allan:
We just heard a police dipatch for a vehicle stuck in the water at 5th/Holden so steer clear of the area for a while. Drainage issues have been a longstanding problem in South Park – there’s some work under way now to try to alleviate it.
As promised, we asked Seattle Public Utilities today if Monday and Tuesday residential solid-waste customers who’ve missed two weeks of pickups should just give up until next week. We also asked if Waste Management will be working Saturday to catch up. Here are the responses from SPU spokesperson Shanna Christie:
Monday and Tuesday customers who have been missed twice, should bring their carts in and set out triple volumes next week. These customers also have the option to bring waste to SPU transfer stations for no charge, if they prefer.
Waste Management will be working Saturday to service Friday customers on a one day delay, but this will not impact Mon and Tue West Seattle customers.
We apologize to any customers not serviced this week and appreciate their patience. This service recovery is a significant lift for everyone involved and drivers and operations crews are working long hours with challenging double and holiday volumes.
SPU has subsequently launched an FAQ page which includes info like this and more. Among other things, they are still not planning on any kind of credit for those who’ve missed two weeks, although the city did that in similar post-snow circumstances in 2019.
9:31 PM TUESDAY: Two mail-related notes tonight:
STILL MISSING MAIL DELIVERY? Though the snow’s mostly melted, we’re still hearing from some readers that they haven’t seen U.S.Postal Service mail since before Christmas. It may not just be the weather – one reader near The Junction, for example, says a neighbor finally got mail today from a fill-in carrier who said their regular person was out with COVID. Last week, a commenter reported being told about short-staffing. Other reports of skipped deliveries are from all over the peninsula – Fairmount Springs, Gatewood, Westwood, Admiral, Arbor Heights, to name a few; the missing deliveries were mentioned repeatedly in various comment threads this past week, and this week we’ve been getting email reports. We’ve tried repeatedly to get official comment from USPS, but so far, no reply. The last official regional statement was this on December 28th, urging people to help ensure carriers’ winter safety. (ICYMI, one West Seattle neighborhood even rescued a USPS van on Sunday.)
Meantime:
WESTWOOD BOX OUT OF SERVICE AGAIN: Just a few weeks after it was replaced and reopened, the drive-up/ride-up mailbox outside the Westwood Village post office is out of service again.:
A reader mentioned this last week, and we finally got over to check on it today. This is the new, larger box that was installed just two weeks ago, days after the old one was damaged.
1 PM WEDNESDAY: We just visited the Westwood post office and noticed the box is untaped, re-locked, and back in service.
(Photo by Jeremy Barton)
As shown in our previous story, Waste Management trucks were still having a tough time in some neighborhoods. So here’s an update from Seattle Public Utilities:
Collection contractors attempted residential collections today, Monday January 3, and determined there are still unsafe road conditions in neighborhoods that has delayed some collections. This will have impacts throughout the week and there will be delays in residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup for some customers.
Customers should set out their Garbage, Recycling, and Food/Yard Waste on their regular collection day and leave it out the following day if not collected. Friday customers, if missed, should keep their carts out on Saturday. Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.
Residential customers are permitted to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and compost this week for no additional charge. This includes recycling collection, even if it’s not your typical week for collection. Contractors will attempt to collect this ‘off-week’ recycling, if possible, but may not be able to collect all. Customers can call 206-684-3000 for additional support if needed.
Snow’s gone but today’s weather still has had its challenges.
If your promised one-week-late solid-waste pickup hasn’t happened yet today, that might explain why. Jeremy Barton sent the video, explaining, “The truck was stuck at 51st Ave SW and SW College for about half an hour. Eventually a second, smaller, truck arrived and the driver of that truck (with assistance from other staff on the ground as spotters) was able to get it back up onto a less snowy/icy portion of 51st.”
And that was before this afternoon’s sleet (hail, graupel, ice pellets, etc.) and snow mix:
Ice pellets picking up where the snow left off (but louder) pic.twitter.com/ZGXXuv4OXs
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 3, 2022
This unsettled weather is expected to hang around for the next few days – with rain and snow both in the forecast.
Local school notes for tomorrow (Monday, January 3rd):
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: As announced last week, no classes tomorrow – the district is offering voluntary COVID-19 testing to all students. Two locations in West Seattle, both 1-4 pm – Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon) and Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW). No appointments – families have been told that they’ll be given an approximate wait time upon arrival. Here’s the form to fill out.
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district immediately south of West Seattle says all schools will start 2 hours late on Monday because of weather/road conditions.
VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Also because of weather/road conditions, all schools will be closed Monday. The plan for a 2.5-hour-late start to facilitate COVID-19 testing (explained here) is rescheduled to Tuesday.
Yes, we know some have missed mail deliveries during this snowbound week – it’s been mentioned in multiple snow-related comment threads – but the US Postal Service has made it to many neighborhoods, including this one where a van got stuck this morning. The video and report are from Kim:
USPS had to abandon their van due to the ice on 51st Pl SW. Neighbors Chris Mickelson and Ken Berrea came to the rescue and freed it. We appreciate the dedicated delivery service of our post office and we’re happy to help.
Kim says the van got stuck this morning and was retrieved this afternoon.
A texter sent that photo from Fairmount Ravine this afternoon and contacted SDOT to suggest this road should be closed. We’re publishing it as a reminder that aside from arterials, streets are still mostly covered in snow/ice and will be for a while longer – significant rain, and above-freezing air, isn’t due in until Sunday pm. SDOT offers this general reminder:
People driving in the city are advised to avoid steep, untreated streets – whether the street has a “road closed” sign or not. If you must drive, please stick to our plowed and treated snow network as much as possible and avoid the steep or challenging areas of the city.
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