West Seattle, Washington
29 Sunday
The National Weather Service has our area under a Wind Advisory alert starting at 1 pm today, continuing through 5 am Sunday. They’re expecting “southeast to southwest winds 15 to 30 mph, with gusts 35 to 45 mph expected at times.” We’ll be tracking any resulting trouble as always – if you have anything to report, once you’ve notified authorities, we’re at 206-293-6302, text or voice.
Two sights sent by readers a short time ago:
SUBMARINE: A texter sent that photo of a submarine as it passed Alki Point, headed toward Bremerton.
RAINBOW: While the Mariners are playing right now at Toronto, their stadium back here at home is receiving a rainbow. Thanks to Kelly Malloy for the photo! This follows an unexpectedly sunny afternoon, but more rain is likely on the way.
Thanks to Keri for the photos! Today’s north wind brought a classic scene on the Alki promenade – dramatic waves hitting the seawall.
A similar north wind is in the forecast for tomorrow too. Meantime, the wind is a challenge on the open Sound just past Alki – the Vashon Island Water Taxi has canceled trips for the rest of today because of the wind. (The West Seattle Water Taxi is still running – it sails in more-protected waters.)
Thanks to James Bratsanos for the view of the snow-dusted Olympic Mountains peaks seen from Alki after the weekend storm clouds lifted and departed. It’s not snowing low enough for skiing (the Stevens Pass cameras verify that) yet, but it gives us a reason to remind you that this year’s West Seattle Ski Swap is less than two weeks away. Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) presents the Ski Swap across the street at the West Seattle VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska), and this year’s swap starts with seller dropoffs on Friday, October 24, 2-5:30 pm (snowboards and other snowsports gear, not just skis), then two days of shopping, 10 am-5 pm Saturday and 10 am-4 pm Sunday, October 25-26. If you’re interested in selling, go here to register before pre-swap Thursday (October 23).
(Added: Photos by Mark Dale)
Yes, that was thunder – and a lot of it – rolling through the area these past few minutes. The National Weather Service says thunderstorms are possible for much of the afternoon.
Thanks for the photos! Between the sunbreaks and showers, that rainbow showed up. Katie S. sent the photo above and says, “Watched this beautiful rainbow today at Lincoln Park. It lasted a long time.” The photo below is from Gene Pavola, a bit further north:
The National Weather Service forecast says we might get a thunderstorm this afternoon. (The NWS says it’s working through the shutdown, aside from a few things.)
ADDED: Thanks to everyone who added pics in comments. Also, Kathleen emailed this one from Highland Park:
Again tonight, the setting sun was framed by a layer of wildfire smoke over the Olympics – this time, a band of smoke, rather than the billowing clouds we saw last night. The photo above is from Michael Burke; the one below, from Carol Ann Joyce:
Good news for the smoke and fire – rain is expected this weekend. (The sun is due back in time for a potential appearance at Alice Enevoldsen’s fall-equinox sunset watch Monday night.)
Thanks for the views of tonight’s sunset, extra-dramatic with billowing clouds. We’ll admit we don’t know whether they’re clouds of smoke or just clouds, but it was quite a view either way. The photo above is from James Bratsanos; below, a wider view from Wyatt:
And this one’s from Chris Frankovich:
Today’s high at Sea-Tac tied a record for this date, 91; tomorrow, we’re supposed to be back in the 70s.
ADDED: Gretchen Flickinger sent this view of the “enhanced” Olympics:
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, September 16, 2025 – fall officially arrives in six days.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Summery forecast today – sunshine and a high in the low 80s, with some smoke possibly blowing in tonight. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:48 am; sunset will be at 7:18 pm.
(Monday sunset, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
ROAD WORK
–59th SW in Alki is closed for a month by the school-construction zone (thanks to the reader who confirmed the closure happened as announced).
-“Natural drainage” construction toward the east end of Sylvan Way is scheduled to resume, but it hadn’t started as of EOD Monday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer/early fall schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, opening info is again available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
After a mostly gray day – at least where we were – the sun made a late appearance, as shown in Brooke Gosztola‘s photo above and Bob Burns‘s photo below:
Tonight you might see another bright sight – flashes of lightning. Thunderstorms are mentioned in tonight’s National Weather Service forecast as a possibility, and we saw a flash far to the south about half an hour ago; radar also shows that type of activity in the South Sound and potentially heading this way.
10:11 PM: Thanks to Dave Taylor for the photo of tonight’s smoke-orange moon over Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, where the Chief Sealth IHS Seahawks won their season opener over Hockinson, 33-6. (We had a reporter and photographer there and will have their story later!) The game started early because of the air quality, or lack of it, and we also learned West Seattle HS‘s scheduled season opener tomorrow in Yakima is off entirely because of the smoke. Meantime, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for our area, through at least noon tomorrow. If you check the live map linked from the agency’s website, you’ll see areas of northeast Seattle, and the Eastside, are worse off. Fires in the Cascades are getting the blame as much as the big one in the Olympics. The alert says, “Everyone, especially sensitive groups, should limit time spent spent outdoors, avoid strenuous activities outdoors, and choose light indoor activities.”
ADDED 11:08 AM SATURDAY: Good news for air quality – it’s raining.
Right about the time Javier Fosado sent that photo of a ferry sailing through the fog, a different reader texted a question about the foghorn(s) they had been hearing all morning, wondering if foghorns are all from vessels, as they assumed the days of fixed, shoreside foghorns were all gone. We felt fairly certain that the Fauntleroy WSF terminal, for one, has a fixed foghorn; we’ve lived uphill from it for 30+ years. But we checked our assumption with WSF spokesperson Dana Warr, who replied:
There are fog signals at all South Sound terminals, to include Fauntleroy. It is also one of the closest to residential areas. The captains can request to have this navigation aid turned on/off to aid in the vessels’ safe navigation.
Thanks to the reader – who asked to be anonymous – who just sent that photo of tonight’s red moon. We noticed it while out and about a little while ago, high in the southeast sky, a followup to the deep-pink setting sun. Wildfire smoke will stay in the area a while, says the National Weather Service: “An upper level ridge will continue to keep conditions warm and dry through tomorrow. Hazy conditions will continue with the present pattern through at least this weekend due to smoke being put out by fires in the region.” And the smoke is low enough this time to affect air quality – mapping “moderate” according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
(Photo by Jan Pendergrass)
The setting sun was smoke-pink, but there was good news around sunset tonight – the National Weather Service‘s heat alert expired as expected, and normal temperatures are on the way back. Meantime, the sun had a followup act – a crescent moon:
(Photo by Dawn Roeder)
Labor Day is currently looking to be mostly sunny, with a high in the mid-70s.
(Clickable map is on National Weather Service site; basically, darker color = higher alert level)
A few hours into what was a Heat Advisory alert, the National Weather Service has raised it to an Extreme Heat Warning, in effect through early Tuesday morning. From the full alert:
* WHAT…Hot conditions with high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to mid 90s and low temperatures in the mid 60s. This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.
* WHERE…City of Seattle, Eastside, and Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties.
* WHEN…Until 5 AM PDT Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
Summer’s not over yet!
Tonight’s golden sunset – and some pink highlights – was captured by three photographers. Above, from David Hutchinson; below, from Doug Eglington:
And from Curry Gibson:
We note the sunset times (sunrise too) in the traffic roundup every weekday morning, and we’re a little sad to see that the last 8 pm sunset is a week from tomorrow.
Tonight’s sunset had some pink tint from wildfire smoke, as Anne Helene Cagney‘s photo shows, but nowhere near the color of last night. Clouds are moving in for the impending weather change, though the smoke put on something of a show earlier – this photo is from an unidentified texter:
(Both pics were taken at Lincoln Park.) The National Weather Service says a westerly flow is pushing smoke from the Olympic Peninsula as far east as Montana. But with rain expected by late tomorrow night, we shouldn’t have to deal with it for long.
(This morning’s moonset, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Though the National Weather Service includes all of Seattle in a regional Heat Advisory alert for Sunday afternoon through Tuesday night, it’s looking like we won’t be all that sizzly. The alert says 90s are possible in parts of the region; the West Seattle-specific forecast, however, has highs in the low 80s all three days.
SUNDAY NIGHT NOTE: So much for the forecast … today’s official high was 88 degrees.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, July 17, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The heat alert has been extended until 5 pm today. Wednesday’s high was 94, but some cooldown is expected. Today’s high is expected to be in the 80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:29 am; sunset will be at 9:00 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Three weeks of major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center have begun – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side instead of the north side.
PARKING ALERT
A film shoot will use the south side of Don Armeni Boat Ramp after 11 am today; it’s also chinook season. Here’s what we found out.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
WEEKEND ALERT
The West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K on Saturday (July 19) mean parking restrictions and road closures on and near California SW from Admiral to south of Edmunds. Heed the signs – they tow on parade morning if necessary! There will be bus reroutes Saturday too. Restrictions are in place 7 am-3 pm
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
We missed it while packed into the West Seattle Summer Fest mainstage crowd for THEM (video to come), so thanks to the readers who sent photos of tonight’s sunset, including these three – the one above is by Curry Gibson (one of many nice people we chatted with at the festival today), the one below sent by Misa on behalf of husband Greg:
And this one from Dan Nye:
If you’re a fan of classic Seattle summer weather – sunny, not too breezy, not too hot, not cold – that’s what we had today, and that’s what’s forecast tomorrow (and Sunday too). We brought a sweater to the festival but didn’t need it, even after sunset.
Thanks to Allyne Armitage for the photo looking south around sunset, as clouds gather – they’re in the forecast for the next few nights, but days are still expected to bring sunshine, including the holiday on Friday. Temperatures are also supposed to be a bit cooler – staying in the 70s – after 87-degree highs the past two days.
“Cushiony” is the word that we chose, but there are many ways you could describe the cloud formation in Stewart L.’s photo from this morning. “Memorable” works too!The forecast suggests we’ll see more clouds than sun for the next few days.
Time to get the fans ready if you don’t have A/C – the National Weather Service has announced a Heat Advisory alert for Sunday and Monday. The alert warns of “hot conditions with high temperatures up to 85 to 90 degrees,” and is currently planned to be in effect 10 am Sunday to 10 pm Monday. The alert also warns, “Heat will significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.” Today’s high was 79 degrees, 10 degrees above what the NWS says is the seasonal norm.
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