(WSB photos/video by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Will we see significant snow soon?

While the forecasters keep watch on that, “We want to make sure we’re ready as a city. … we’ve got plans,” Mayor Jenny Durkan assured the media gathered for a briefing/Q&A at the city Emergency Operations Center downtown this afternoon. We were there and recorded it all on video, which includes other city/county officials:

A big theme: The “shovel your sidewalk” theme we noted earlier this week. The mayor stressed: “If we hit the snow period … check on your neighbors if you can. …. And help them shovel their sidewalks … our sidewalks are the way that people can get around in our city.” Go get a snow shovel or salt if you don’t have yours yet – flashlight batteries too, “candles and warm blankets,” her advice continued.

Sidewalk-responsibility awareness was boosted in a resolution sponsored last year by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who was also at the EOC.

Though Herbold didn’t take the podium, she spoke with reporters afterward to elaborate on the sidewalk plan: The emphasis is on arterials in urban villages, followed by arterials on other transit routes. Here’s a city memo she provided post-meeting outlining the resolution and the resulting awareness campaign:

Street-use inspectors will be out checking on sidewalks in those priority areas, said SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe. They will notify people “who aren’t taking their responsibility seriously” – if a notification doesn’t get action, a citation can follow; Herbold said potential fines range from $50 for residential violations to $250 for commercial property (the former is a reduction, also outlined in the memo above).

Sidewalks aside, Zimbabwe also said the winter-response plan has been updated. For plowing, buses’ snow routes, emergency access, schools are priorities. Protected bike lanes will get snow-clearing attention too. But whatever your vehicle, “Don’t drive if you don’t have to during a snowstorm. … Pay attention to road-closure signs.” He mentioned the SDOT map (PDF) showing which routes will be prioritized for plowing. “We haven’t radically changed the level of plowing that we’re going to do.” What they did last year regarding plowing seemed to go fairly well, he said. The current plan – subject to change as the forecast evolves – is that snow-focused staff will start deploying Sunday evening; “equipment is ready – salt, plows.”

Since the city has 35 snowplows to cover its 70 million square feet, Mayor Durkan counseled patience: “Don’t expect your neighborhood will be plowed immediately.”

“Stay informed” was the advice from Emergency Management director Barb Graff. She also pitched alert.seattle.gov and Smart 911, and reiterated getting supplies “that you might need … Go ahead and do your shopping now.” Snow is charming “for the first eighth of an inch,” she observed … after that, not so much.

The mayor also vowed that they’d be able to bring unsheltered people inside. “We will open cold-weather shelters and have more capacity.” Human Services Department director Jason Johnson elaborated: “Every winter we extend capacity of shelter capability – 85 additional beds,” and they plan to open 100 more beds at Seattle Center starting Sunday night. That’s an overnight-only shelter, he added, but the Armory will also be open during the day for people to stay out of the cold.

Regarding transit, Metro deputy general manager Terry White advised people to check metrowinter.com early to get briefed on “what services are available in your area.”

He promised, “We’re ready regardless of whatever Mother Nature (brings)” – communication consolidation is what they’ve been working on.

In closing, “Government is only part of the equation,” said the mayor. As for that patience she advised – apply it to forecasters too: “Half the time they predict it, it doesn’t come.”

You might see a few flakes early Thursday morning, the National Weather Service says, but don’t panic. Its newest forecast update is out, and while we might see a bit of snow, the more-serious potential still doesn’t show up until late in the weekend – Sunday night or later. Also note that Tuesday’s high is predicted to be in the 20s! As we mentioned yesterday, the city has invited media to a preparedness briefing tomorrow, and we’ll be there.

So far, mountain-peak peeks – like the view above from Alki on New Year’s Day – have been the closest thing to snow sightings we’ve had this winter. But that might change later this week. Here are two updates:

-Weather analyst Cliff Mass breaks it all down here, saying late Thursday/early Friday might bring light snow, and Monday looks POTENTIALLY snowier.

-The National Weather Service‘s forecast discussion thinks the late Thursday/early Friday possibility is more a “north of Everett” thing, adding, “Uncertainty remains for the prospect of lowland snow early next week …”

Meantime, city leaders plan a snow-readiness media briefing on Thursday, and we’re planning to cover it, so if you have questions about how the city will handle the next snowstorm (whenever it happens), let us know so we can get answers!

You’ve probably heard by now that we MIGHT see some snow next weekend. Too soon, stlll, to really go into all-out Snow Panic Mode, but not too soon to contemplate whether you’re ready for it. In particular, the video above points out one thing that often comes up in WSB comment discussion when things get snowy: If there’s a sidewalk adjacent to your residence or business, you need to be ready to clear the snow/ice. More specifics here. We’ll talk more about snow readiness if the flakes stay in the forecast as the week proceeds. P.S. Need inspiration? Here’s a fun February flashback.

Our video is from Constellation Park, south of Alki Point, at high tide, just after noon, and shortly after the sun overpowered what had been hours of drippy weather. Aside from the sunbreak, looks like more breezy/rainy weather for the start of back-to-school (etc.) week.

P.S. Though there’s been some talk of snow chances next weekend, the National Weather Service isn’t making much noise so far.

We noted back on Sunday that New Year’s Eve might be windy and rainy. Now the National Weather Service is going all in on that – the NWS has expanded its regional Wind Advisory to include Seattle, 10 am today to 4 am Wednesday, with wind expected out of the southwest at 20 to 35 mph, gusting up to 45 mph.

So whether you’re going out or staying in, charge everything ASAP!

Thanks to James Tilley for the photo – looking northeast from Harbor SW, Cascades peaks reflecting sunset glow. After a partly sunny Sunday, the forecast heads back toward clouds and rain, and on Tuesday night, New Year’s Eve could be downright stormy – south wind up to 30 mph as well as rain. Not too cold, though – low in the 40s.

Beautiful sunset as Christmas Day gives way to night – thanks to Don Brubeck for the photo! Cold night ahead, according to the newest forecast, and sunshine tomorrow.

Before sunset on this Christmas Eve-Eve and second night of Hanukkah, a rainbow! Three reader photos arrived via email – above, by Dan Ciske; below, from the Zemkes (taken on 14th SW in White Center):

And this one’s from Lynn Hall:

And via Twitter, Dené Miles called this one to our attention:

… are views like these. Above, David Hutchinson‘s photo of the Olympics during a weekend sunbreak. Below, Bob Bollen‘s recent view of the Mount Rainier vicinity, with the West Seattle Bridge in the foreground.

As for our forecast down here in the lowlands … you might see the mountains again later today, if the “partly sunny” projection comes true.

The rain has stopped – for a while. For the first time in two days, the National Weather Service has recorded an hour in Seattle with no more than a trace of rain. Despite 3+ inches Friday alone, no major problems in our area – but it’s definitely left its mark. Above, a reader just texted that photo of trees down across the bluff trail at Lincoln Park that leads to/from Colman Pool. (Slide risk is high because of the rain, so be watchful if you’re near a slide-prone slope.) Below, what Longfellow Creek looked like from the SW Yancy footbridge at midday:

Here’s how the creek looked Friday, as tweeted by Mark from a point a short distance south:

We’re off now to enjoy the break in the train by covering Alice‘s winter-solstice sunset watch (a quarterly tradition even when the sun doesn’ show up).

If you missed the waxing crescent moon and its planetary companions just after sunset – here’s the view courtesy of David Hutchinson, who explains, “View from Constellation Park. Venus is closest to the Moon, with Jupiter further to the right and slightly down.” Tomorrow should bring a clear view, too; Friday’s moonset will be 7:15 pm, an hour later than tonight.

4:28 PM: North winds and high tide combined for a show on Alki this past hour.

(This photo and next by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

The forecast looks good – though cold – for Thanksgiving Day and Friday, sunny with a high near 40, but the s-word has crept back into the forecast for the weekend …

SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Snow level near sea level. Lows near 30.

SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and snow in the morning, then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Snow level near 300 feet in the morning. Highs in the lower 40s.

Just a chance – and shortlived if it happens, the “forecast discussion” elaborates – but you are hereby forewarned.

6:45 PM: Photos added from this afternoon’s waves.

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

There could be a repeat tomorrow, as north winds are expected again; afternoon high tide is at 4:56 pm.

So grateful to Bob Bollen for capturing this and sending his photo – we spotted the big burst of color while driving in The Junction; turned westward in hopes of getting down to the water for a clear view, but it vanished too quickly.

With hours to go until Daylight Saving Time ends (2 am Sunday, we “fall back” an hour), another stunning sunset. Thanks for sending photos! Above, from Kersti Muul; below, from Kath Dedon:

No rain in the forecast until late next week.

Thanks to Jamie Kinney for sending the photo of tonight’s sunset! By the end of this weekend, the sun will be setting before 5 pm, since we “fall back” an hour at 2 am Sunday. (You can always check the sunset/sunrise/moonset/moonrise times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.)

That photo texted by a reader on Gatewood Hill shows a reading below 30 degrees early this morning. Just south of the Gatewood line, our birdbath froze over. Tomorrow morning will be even colder – possibly into the mid-20s. Any pre-winter prep you haven’t done yet, might be a good time to get it done. The dry weather will continue through Halloween – still cold Thursday night but probably about 10 degrees up from tonight.

(Photo by Chris Frankovich)

Thanks for the photos from tonight’s sunset! One West Seattleite even sent an aerial view:

Two things worth noting:

-This was the last Sunday of Daylight Saving Time this year; 2 am next Sunday (November 3rd), we “fall back” an hour and move into Pacific Standard Time.

-If you have a vehicle parked outdoors, you might need your ice scraper. Tonight’s low is forecast in the 30s, then possibly into the 20s Monday and Tuesday nights.

(Photo by Marc Milrod)

Thanks to Ron for tweeting the video from Alki as this afternoon’s high tide approached, with wind out of the north. Good news – the clear weather is forecast to continue tomorrow (West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival and Fauntleroy Fall Festival day) and maybe even on through Halloween!

4:37 PM: Thanks to JayDee for the photo: