West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

68℉

West Seattle weather 2004 results

SMOKE WATCH: Hazy now, but no alerts
August 24, 2023 6:50 pm
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 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

6:50 PM: If you have a westward view like the one we photographed from Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, you know the Olympics have gone temporarily missing again behind a smoky haze. This time, it’s smoke drifting down from British Columbia as the wind blows out of the north. Air-quality readings (like these on PurpleAir) show the results, but nothing like the last round, and so far, this time it’s not expected to get to alert level, and there’s even a chance of showers tomorrow morning.

8:58 PM: Another sign of smoke – the sunset. Here’s how Theresa Arbow-O’Connor caught it from Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza:

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SMOKE: Early sunset, but relief’s on the way
August 20, 2023 8:11 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(From Fauntlee Hills – photo by Scott Wiesemann)

Thanks for the photos. Though the official sunset moment is right about now, the sun made an early exit tonight, shrouded in smoke after casting a pink shimmer on Puget Sound.

(Photo by Beth Jackson)

The National Weather Service says the wind has shifted in a way that should keep air quality from getting any worse, though it may take a while to “scour” the air. By Tuesday, there’s even a slight chance of rainshowers.

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SMOKE: City wading pools closing for the rest of today
August 20, 2023 2:33 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle weather

2:33 PM: The season is over a bit early for the EC Hughes wading pool, which was scheduled to have its last day of the season today. Seattle Parks and Recreation just announced all of its wading pools citywide will be closed for the rest of the day – including daily-operation pools such as Lincoln Park – “due to the poor air quality.” No other aquatics closures have been announced so far.

7:58 PM: For the record, Parks announced belatedly that it had closed other outdoor aquatic facilities early including Colman Pool.

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SMOKE: Pink sunset, as air quality alert continues
August 19, 2023 9:34 pm
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 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by David Hutchinson – tonight’s sunset as seen from Alki)

It’s a sure sign of smoke – the sun appeared pink through the haze. We’re still under an air-quality alert until Monday morning, and readings show things have definitely worsened. The Washington Smoke Information site says this is smoke both from fires to the east and from fires in southern British Columbia.

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YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle’s emergency shelter, open for high temps, is low on supplies
August 16, 2023 11:38 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

West Seattle’s emergency shelter – which runs on donations and volunteer help – is open for the hot weather, its manager Keith Hughes tells WSB, until 8 pm today and again 11 am-8 pm tomorrow “with food, water, and AC. However, we are very low in supplies, so I have attached my Supplies Wish List. Also, keeping the hall open and running the AC for days is a strain on our finances, which are all voluntary donations from the community. Pepple can donate items from the Wish List, or go to our website, westsideneighborsshelter.org and make a cash donation [update: direct link here] to help with the electric and water bill.” Here’s the wish list:

Food Pantry

Ground Coffee (Folgers 3# cans)
powdered coffee creamer (like Coffeemate)
Instant Hot Cocoa Mix (for hot water)
Bottled water
Soft drinks in cans (store brands and things on sale)

Instant Oatmeal packets
Granola-type low-sugar cereal
Pancake mix, Bisquick mix
Pancake syrup, butter, jam
Canned soup, chili, beef stew
Packaged food like top ramen, Cup-o-Noodles

Rice-a-roni, noodle-roni boxes
Dry pasta (spaghetti, egg noodles, macaroni )
Spaghetti sauce in jars

Food store gift cards so we can get fresh things like milk, eggs, butter, meat

Other Needs

Travel-size individual soaps, shampoo; tooth brushes & toothpaste (ask your dentist for donations) bar soap for shower, laundry detergent pods
Toilet paper and paper towels, disinfectant wipes
Single-bed-size blanket

The shelter is co-housed with the West Seattle Veteran Center/American Legion Post 160 at 3618 SW Alaska.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Heat alert upgraded – and shortened
August 13, 2023 4:05 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Now that the heat is here – mid-80s at mid-afternoon – the National Weather Service has upgraded its alert to an Excessive Heat Warning. But it’s also shortened the duration; instead of stretching into Thursday, the NWS is currently expecting the alert to expire late Wednesday night. The alert warns of: “Dangerously hot conditions with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 90s and lows in the 60s expected. This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.” Keep yourself hydrated (and if you have a bird bath, keep that full too).

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: ‘Excessive Heat Watch’ alert
August 12, 2023 1:32 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

1:32 PM: You’ve probably heard the forecast for a heat wave next week. The National Weather Service has formalized it with an “Excessive Heat Watch” alert for Monday morning (August 14th) through Thursday evening (August 17th). The alert warns of:

.A multi-day stretch of dangerously hot conditions with daytime temperatures in the 80s and 90s and lows in the 60s. This will pose Moderate to Major Heat Risk levels and risk of heat-related illness.

As the map at right shows, the alert covers much of Western Washington,

4:13 PM: The alert’s been updated to kick in earlier – “late Sunday night.”

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Sight in the sky
August 10, 2023 11:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Becky M for that photo of the sky as seen from Alki tonight. We asked @WestSeaWX what type of cloud formation the photo shows. The reply: “A nice comfy blanket of altocumulus clouds.” If you’ve been wishing for a clear sky and warmer temperatures instead, forecasters say you have just a few days to wait, and next week might even bring 90-ish-degree highs.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENES: From pink-gold sunset to pink-salmon fishing to Blue Angels
August 4, 2023 11:16 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCENES: From pink-gold sunset to pink-salmon fishing to Blue Angels
 |   Blue Angels | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Three West Seattle scenes from August’s first Friday:

Above, James Bratsanos captured the colors of tonight’s sunset. … Below is Steve Pumphrey‘s photo of salmon seekers lined up along the north side of Point Williams at Lincoln Park:

And below, an image from today’s Blue Angels flight – Rainer Klett photographed a Space Needle flyby from Alki:

Saturday’s forecast has some clouds – maybe even a chance of an afternoon shower.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENES: 3 views from the shore
July 4, 2023 10:09 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle weather

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of tonight’s smoky dusk – the one above is from Gene Pavola. Air quality is expected to remain “moderate” for the next two days; the National Weather Service says wildfire smoke from Canada remains the primary problem. Earlier, looking north, the air was clear when Jerry Simmons photographed this scene at Anchor/Luna Park:

And Ant sent this view of sea life during summer’s lowest low tide today:

Tomorrow’s low-low tide is almost as low – -3.8 feet just before 1 pm.

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UPDATE: Smoke shows up in West Seattle’s sky
July 3, 2023 8:24 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

8:24 PM: Notice all the haze to the west this evening? The National Weather Service‘s forecast discussion notes that “some elevated smoke from fires in Canada may drift over the region, but this is not expected to significantly make it down to the surface.” While the air quality remains OK right now, the smoke forecast for the next two days shows it moving down into the “moderate” zone.

ADDED TUESDAY: Thanks to Jen Popp for that photo of the smoky sunset.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Rainbow sighting, as rain possibility persists
June 18, 2023 9:28 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Rainbow sighting, as rain possibility persists
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo tweeted by @i8ipod)

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of the rainbow that emerged between waves of rain late today!

(Photo sent by Stewart L.)

The possibility of more rain remains in the forecast off and on until Wednesday – which is when summer arrives, with the solstice moment at 7:57 am. Then by Thursday, we should be back in the mid-70s – tonight, though, it’ll be cold, dropping into the 40s!

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In case you wondered too: Yes, that’s wildfire smoke (UPDATE: sunset photo added)
May 17, 2023 3:15 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

3:15 PM: The quality of the light outside is a bit reminiscent of late summer. That’s in part because of wildfire smoke that has drifted this way from Alberta. The National Weather Service tweeted a satellite image of the “high-level” smoke this morning, as well as photos of a redder-than-usual rising sun. Air-quality maps don’t show much trouble down here at ground level, though (here’s Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, here’s PurpleAir). The NWS’s latest forecast discussion notes, “Smoke should remain aloft with no major impacts expected at the surface but, could lead to a picturesque sunrise/sunset. For tonight, generally benign conditions are expected. … There’s a possibility we’ll continue to see more smoke/haze into Thursday but winds are showing signs of shifting.” As for the fires themselves, the CBC says almost 100 fires are burning in Alberta.

9:36 PM: It was definitely a summer-smoke type of sunset, as shown in David Hutchinson‘s photo, added above.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Lightning, thunder, sunset
May 15, 2023 10:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Kevin Freitas for that photo of lightning seen to the east from his home near The Mount; he published more photos here. We’ve heard some thunder this past half-hour, and you might have notice thunderheads like this late in the day:

Jim Edwards photographed that formation looking east from Shorewood. Rosalie Miller caught pink clouds, looking south from Lincoln Park:

And to the west, the sunset was a spectacle. Thanks to everyone who sent photos – this one is by David Hutchinson:

All this followed another hot day – but the Heat Advisory alert expired as scheduled at 8 pm, and now we’re on to simply “warm” weather, though it’ll still be about 10 degrees above the normal mid-May highs in the upper 60s.

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Summery forecast for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, now 5 days away
May 8, 2023 11:34 am
|    Comments Off on Summery forecast for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, now 5 days away
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Warm weather is returning and this weekend is currently expected to have summer-like weather – sunny, 80ish! That includes Saturday, which is this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. On the second Saturday every May since 2005 – except for the pandemic years (2020 and 2021) – West Seattle becomes Western Washington’s garage/yard/etc. sale capital for a day. WSCGSD was launched in 2005; we at WSB have coordinated it since 2008. This year, more than 400 sales are registered for the first time, and you can preview the locations via the map/list, which we published this past Saturday – the online version here (be sure to use the plus/minus zooming to see all the sales in specific areas) and the printable list here. Official sale hours on Saturday (May 13) are 9 am-3 pm, but as you’ll see on the list, some sellers have chosen to add hours/days. Starting tonight, as we do each year, we’ll publish some lists – such as benefit sales, block sales, plant sales, art sales – as the countdown continues. (You can also search the map for keywords in sale descriptions – see those hints at the bottom of the map page.)

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Yes, that was thunder (and lightning!)
May 3, 2023 8:10 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Added: Photo by Lori T)

8:10 PM: It would have been hard to believe when we heard it minutes ago, except that we had just been warned by @WestSeaWx on Twitter, that “scattered thunderstorms” are drifting this way, south/southeast to north/northwest.

8:17 PM: Lightning too! This is a few hours ahead of the National Weather Service‘s note about “slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.”

10:13 PM: Thanks for the lightning photos! The one above was sent by Satori Noël. The one below is from Scott Collins:

11:27 PM: More photos! John Skerratt sent these from Fauntleroy:

And this one’s from Aaron Brethorst:

ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: Kevin Freitas sent his skycam video:

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Brief early-morning windstorm
May 2, 2023 8:33 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

That photo was texted by a reader a short time ago, reporting a “crazy windstorm” at 3:05 am, noting, “I’ve never had our cans blown over in addition to all of the recycling blown all over the yard.” We were off watch by then so we missed it, but the National Weather Service notes “strong, gusty winds … with passing showers” around that time and the Sea-Tac wind gauge showing a gust up to 43 mph.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Busy night at the beach
April 28, 2023 8:20 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

That was the scene on Alki, looking east from just past the Bathhouse, not long before sunset. First almost-summer night of the year; the restaurants were hopping, too. Tomorrow will likely be the same, with the temp due back in the 70s, before a cloudy cooldown on Sunday.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Rainbow spans downtown waterfront
April 17, 2023 5:37 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Postcard placement of that rainbow about an hour ago, as seen from the Harbor Avenue waterfront. The photo above is from Stewart L.; below, an uncredited texted view featuring the West Seattle Water Taxi:

Sun’s out right now but the forecast suggests a shower or even thunderstorm could return this evening.

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UPDATE: Tree down on 48th SW
April 16, 2023 11:02 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

11:02 AM: The photo and report are just in via text:

This massive tree just fell across 48th Ave SW between Beach Dr and and Holly. Totally blocking street. It fell on a car that was driving up 48th but they survived because the top of the tree hit their car. They were lucky to have survived!

To report a road hazard/blockage on weekends/evenings, SDOT’s 24-hour line is 206-386-1218 (or call 911).

12:15 PM: As of 10 minutes ago, when we went by the west end of 48th, the street was still closed and work crews were in view.

4:50 PM: We finally got a chance to go back over to look; the street is open.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Golden start, pink conclusion
March 29, 2023 8:04 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Golden start, pink conclusion
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Tonight’s sunset colors haven’t even fully faded yet, and already we have some photos in from the sky show – thank you! This one started golden, as shown in Michael Burke‘s photo above and James Bratsanos‘s photo below:

From there, the colors morphed to pink. (Photo below added 10:59 PM – by Theresa Arbow O’Connor:)

This followed a day when the high hit 61 amid a generous serving of sunshine – but by this time tomorrow, we might be seeing some rain. We’re only at two-thirds of what we should have by this time of year, so that’s not necessarily bad.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Pink-splashed spring sky
March 27, 2023 8:49 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks for the photos from tonight’s pretty-in-pink sunset! Above, from Brooke Gosztola; below, from James Bratsanos:

The forecast suggests a few more days of weather like today – partly sunny tomorrow, mostly sunny Wednesday, high near 60 both days.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Chilly beauty
March 11, 2023 7:53 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Ann Anderson)

As we edge closer to spring – 2:24 pm Monday, March 20th – an appreciation for a phenomenon of wintry weather: Feathery frost. We received these photos this week from readers who were both independently impressed by the beautiful patterns of frost on glass. KD said a discussion with a friend yielded the name “hoarfrost,” and this description would seem to verify that’s what this was.

(Photo by KD)

“I’m still amazed by the beauty of this type of frost,” she added. We might not see it again any time soon – at least for the next week ago, temperatures are expected to stay closer to seasonal norms.

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