West Seattle, Washington
04 Tuesday
(WSB photo)
2:19 PM: Thanks for the tip – those tree limbs that fell on SW Othello east of California SW in Gatewood [map] are the first effects we’ve seen of the bursts of wind and rain that have moved through a few times so far this afternoon. Inbetween – some sunbreaks like the one we’re in right now. The National Weather Service’s Wind Advisory alert remains in effect until 7 tonight. If the weather causes any trouble where you are, text or call 206-293-6302 to let us know – thanks!
4:39 PM: The NWS just announced it’s ending the Wind Advisory early.
Blustery weather is expected tomorrow – so much so, that the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory alert for 11 am-7 pm Saturday:
* WIND…Southerly 20 to 35 mph with gusts 40-55 mph. …
* TIMING…Winds will increase late Saturday morning and peak during the afternoon hours. Winds will diminish Saturday evening.
* IMPACTS…Winds will make driving difficult for high profile vehicles. Weak trees or small tree branches may be blown down and result in local power outages.
For those by the water, looks like the day’s highest tide will be past before the wind kicks up.
Thanks for sharing the views of tonight’s super sunset! The photo above is from “Diver Laura” James; below, from Marc Milrod:
We might not be so lucky tomorrow night, as the forecast suggests rain will return.
Thanks for the photos from spring’s first sunset! The panorama above is from David Hutchinson. Below, Scott Scowcroft was at Alice Enevoldsen‘s 40th change-of-seasons watch at Solstice Park (we had to miss it because of breaking news):
Alice says it went well. (ADDED EARLY THURSDAY) Two more photos from her event, by Jason Enevoldsen, who counted about 90 in attendance:
And what a sunset it was! Another view, from Lynn Hall:
Right around the same time, the full moon rose in the east – as noted after our roundup of today’s moonset photos, you can look for tomorrow’s moonset around 7:27 am.
Thanks for the photos of this morning’s marvelous moonset! Above is from James Bratsanos; below, from Chris Frankovich:
From David Hutchinson:
And from Jim Borrow:
(Added) One more – from Kersti Muul:
The moon is not officially full until tonight – the first time in 38 years the full moon and spring equinox have been on the same date! (You can always find moonset/moonrise times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page – 7:09 pm moonrise tonight, 7:27 am moonset tomorrow.)
Fairly serious snow shower right now, at least where we are (300+ feet elevation, east of Lincoln Park). But we can also hear water in the downspout, verifying that it’s not sticking … so far. Spring really is scheduled to start in just 12 days. And the word “snow” vanishes from the (current) forecast after today … for now!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:16 AM: Good morning! Some snow on the ground where we are. How about you?
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: The Weather Service has one in effect until noon.
SCHOOLS: Seattle Public Schools on time … Our Lady of Guadalupe 1 hour late
RIDE2: Canceled for the rest of the morning
6:37 AM: No snow-related trouble or changes to report. Just the advice to take extra time when you head out! … If you’re wondering about schools, no word on that front so far either. Highline Public Schools south of us has made a point to say it’s planning to open on time.
6:47 AM: Some scattered Metro changes are starting to come in – for example, Route 128, which serves West Seattle too, is on snow routing “in the Tukwila, Park Lake, and White Center areas due to road conditions.”
6:57 AM: First school delay in – Our Lady of Guadalupe will start an hour late, 9:15 am dropoff. … Snow in multiple areas of West Seattle, though NOT everywhere in the city. Photo from Michele in Highland Park:
7:12 AM: Seattle Public Schools has just reaffirmed, it’s on time.
7:24 AM: Where we are – just over 300′ – even the side-street surface is no longer snow-covered, so this seems to be more like the typical short-lived Seattle snow than what we all experienced in February. Nonetheless, be extra careful, since it’s still likely to be slick, especially as you get to your bus/car/etc. … Just went out to check – photo added. Lightly raining; can hear the snow melting.
7:39 AM: New Metro alert about snow routing – ALL buses in this area. A texter also says Route 125 is definitely snow-routing so “there may be some real unhappy people up the hill.” Speaking of hills:
Thanks to @janeydangerous for tweeting that photo of the SW Genesee hill east of Avalon.
8:22 AM: The melt continues. Major roads are bare and wet.
8:43 AM: Metro just sent an alert (and tweet) that Ride2 is canceled in West Seattle for the rest of the morning.
8:56 AM: Metro says the C Line is back to regular routing … If you’re just headed out onto the eastbound bridge, heads-up – there’s a report of wires down on the 1st Avenue S. exit ramp.
9:07 AM: The SDOT camera on that ramp shows the right lane currently blocked.
9:13 AM: The entire 1st S. offramp is now closed.
9:40 AM: Metro has resumed regular routing.
10:04 AM: The 1st Avenue S. ramp situation is, according to scanner traffic, also affecting surface Spokane on the eastbound side. City Light has to do pole work to resolve the situation.
Yes, that’s a “wintry mix” some (us included) are seeing right now, but forecasters insist it’s not going to amount to much, and it’s way too warm for anything to stick. You might see a bit more tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
Just in case those fleeting flurries earlier this morning concerned you – though possible snow showers appear on and off in the forecast for the days ahead, nothing major is predicted. But if you’re ready for spring, here’s some hope:
Tired of the cold?
Need something to look forward to?
The outlook for April-May-June favors above average temperatures for the PNW. #wawx
*places hands back in front of space heater* pic.twitter.com/FbDBNKLTzu
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 22, 2019
Thanks to Marc Milrod for the photo of tonight’s sunset. This enables us to note with joy that spring is only one month – and a short month at that (four weeks) – away!
So far:
DISTRICTS
Seattle Public Schools – regular hours, regular bus routes Friday
Vashon Island SD – regular hours, regular bus routes Friday
P.S. Short list, with Friday included in mid-winter break for some schools, as well as the entire Highline Public Schools district.
Something to add? Text or voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
7:39 PM: Evening updates ahead, including what we are hearing about Thursday:
Our photo of a side street near WSB HQ tells much of tonight’s story, from uncollected solid waste to slush that might refreeze by morning. Here’s the latest:
TRASH/RECYCLING: SPU says crews could not get to all Mon./Tues. customers
METRO: Some buses still rerouted; more details here
WATER TAXI: West Seattle route on 2-boat schedule
RIDE2: (update) Resumes normal WS service Thursday
SCHOOLS: Thursday announcements here
8:01 PM: Here’s Metro’s summary of the plan for tomorrow:
Metro is continuing to restore service wherever possible, with some snow reroutes still operating and delays likely, as recovery efforts move into Thursday.
Routes that will not operate on Thursday
On Thursday, the following six routes will not operate: 37, 78, 237, 243, 244 and 330.
The snow (etc.) rerouting link is in our list above. (added) Here are full details … Meantime, as also linked above, here’s the official SPU statement if you are a Monday/Tuesday residential trash/recycling/etc. customer who didn’t get picked up today:
Our trucks had significant challenges getting to all Monday and Tuesday areas today, even with chains and extra crews. If you are a Mon/Tues customer and your garbage was not collected today, it will be collected next week. You may set out additional bags for free. Customers whose collection was missed may also bring their garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste to our north or south transfer stations for free. Extended hours tomorrow and Friday-until 7:30. We know it’s frustrating when your waste is not collected so we thank you for your continued patience as we recover from the series of winter storms.
9:40 PM: The overnight forecast looks a little less frozen – lows “near 30” in the city – but the city’s out treating the roads; check out the “past hour” lines on the map.
10:42 PM: Just in, and updated in list above, West Seattle Ride2 service will resume on Thursday.
12:47 PM: Looking for something to do in the hours ahead? Here are the announced plans for Seattle Parks facilities in West Seattle:
Southwest Pool – via email:
The Seattle Parks Department has again made the decision to operate on a limited schedule due to snow and challenging road conditions. Swim lessons and all evening programs are cancelled. Swim lesson participants will receive a credit on their Parks account for the missed lesson.
Consider coming in to swim today. A workout for the adults or a Public Swim this afternoon for the kids. (Children under 6 or under 48 inches need to have an adult in the water with them.)
o (Now until) 1:30 Adult Swim
o 1:30-2:30 Water Exercise
o 2:30- 4:30 Public Swim
o 4:30-6:30 Lap Swim(Regular admission fees apply)
Community centers are open for drop-in activities – Hiawatha, South Park, High Point, Delridge, Alki until 6 pm.
West Seattle Golf Course – “closed for golf but are open for sledding and snow play.”
Camp Long visitor center – open until 3 pm.
As for what’s closed/canceled, see the Parks update here.
4:36 PM UPDATE: Southwest Pool has had to close early because of a non-weather problem.
That’s Gatewood Elementary – closest one to us, so we photographed it after hearing city leaders implore community members to get out and help clear sidewalks outside schools around the city, in hopes that will help them safely reopen tomorrow, along with other steps that are being taken. Get out right now with a shovel and do what you can, Mayor Durkan urged – along non-school streets, too, since, she noted, it’ll be easier to clear now than after the expected “hard freeze” tonight.
Other toplines from the daily briefing (following the video):
–Seattle Public Utilities general manager Mami Hara reiterated the info from earlier about catching up on Monday/Tuesday solid-waste customers today, one-day delay for others as the week continues, free transfer-station visits for those who’ve gone more than a week since pickups, and hopes of being back on schedule next week. She also reaffirmed that they’re trying to collect recycling in WS (and North Seattle) neighborhoods where it was missed on Monday of last week.
(Added 2:18 pm – emailed photo of downed wire/cable in Fauntleroy along Brace Point Drive)
–Seattle City Light general manager Debra Smith said that they have about 300 “jobs that are open” – cables/wires to check on, not outage-related, and that most are “communications” cables/wires (“but do assume those wires are live and dangerous” until assessed by SCL). She also said the outage map is lagging again, and their vendor is working on that.
–SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe said that his crews are out treating streets again to prevent the feared freezeover, as well as clearing streets near schools. He also urged people to be careful about trees brought down by the heavy/melting snow, saying calls of that nature have been up in recent days.
9:24 AM: Just seen in Gatewood: A Waste Management truck. Several commenters in our morning report also mentioned their pickups had happened already, from North Delridge to Fauntleroy. To recap, here’s what the city has said since last night:
Solid waste crews plan to collect garbage from Monday and Tuesday customers (today), February 13th. Crews also plan to collect recycling from Monday customers in Northwest and Southwest Seattle (today). Customers missed last week may put out additional waste at no additional charge.
Collecting garbage from Monday customers whose waste was not picked up the last two Mondays is the priority. Therefore, recycling and food & yard waste not collected from Monday and Tuesday customers (today) will be collected next week, on February 18th and 19th. Customers may put out double the usual amount of recycling and food & yard waste at no additional charge.
All garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected for Wednesday customers on Thursday, Feb. 14
All garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected for Thursday customers on Friday, Feb. 15
All garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected for Friday customers on Saturday, Feb. 16
(For the above three, too) If your collection was missed last week, you may put out double the usual amount of recycling and food/yard waste at no additional charge.
…Additionally, Seattle residents significantly impacted by delayed pickups, due to icy residential streets, may visit the transfer stations for free February 13-16th. Customers are asked to indicate they are Seattle residents whose solid waste services have been delayed due to weather for more than a week.
There are some caveats on those free transfer-station visits – go here for the latest on that.
Meanwhile, Seattle Public Utilities (for whom Waste Management picks up residential solid waste) will be part of another 11 am mayor-and-department-heads briefing today, and we’ll add any new info that results. You can watch for the live stream here.
4:35 PM: Here’s the latest. We’ll update later this evening.
7:26 PM: Just in from SPU via Twitter:
Our trucks had significant challenges getting to all Monday and Tuesday areas today, even with chains and extra crews. If you are a Mon/Tues customer and your garbage was not collected today, it will be collected next week.
Customers whose collection was missed may also bring their garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste to our north or south transfer stations for free. More info here: https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2019/02/06/solid-waste-collection-resumes-feb-6/ … We know this can be frustrating. Thank you for your continued patience.
(SCHOOLS: Here’s the Wednesday closures/changes list … TRASH/RECYCLING: Pickup today for Mon./Tues. customers … LIBRARIES: Expecting to resume normal hours today)
6:03 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far. Here are the toplines/infolinks:
METRO SERVICE: Back to almost-normal route list but with changes plus these alerts:
METRO ROUTE 37: No 5:48 am and 7:11 am trips
METRO ROUTE 55: No 6:31 AM, 6:48 AM, 7:30 AM and 8:34 AM trips
METRO ROUTE 56: No 6:43 am, 7:33 am, 8:41 am trips
METRO ROUTE 57: No 7:20 am trip
METRO ROUTE 113: No 7:34 am trip
METRO ROUTE 116: No 6:33 am, 7:13 am, 8:00 am trips and no 4:26 pm trip from downtown
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Back to 2-boat schedule
RIDE2: Not operating today
TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Our compilation of local cameras
SDOT CITYWIDE CAMS ETC. PAGE: Year-round “travelers” map with cams/more.
6:27 AM: Temperature’s above freezing, so slush continues to be this morning’s big challenge … Road closure: Lorilyn says city crews have 45th/100th blocked off in Arbor Heights for work.
6:57 AM: It’s not exactly backed up yet, but for the first time in some days, the cameras show the high bridge is busy. And yes, the snow has set back the opening of the NB Highway 99 ramp into downtown – we hope to get an update today at a WSDOT media briefing that’ll focus on the start of Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition.
7:13 AM: If you’re riding Metro, be sure to check the reroute list as well as alerts.
7:25 AM: Commenter Jenjm82 reports, “Train blocking Spokane at 2nd ave, BNSF. Not even moving at this point.” (Added: Camera confirms, still stopped.)
7:55 AM: Spokane Street’s moving again; Jenjm82 says the train got moving again after 25 minutes.
8:56 AM: As Metro gets back to more of its regular routes, still some challenges out there. Chris emailed about the 120: “Most of the 120s are passing my stop because they are completely full. Some folks have been there for over an hour. … I gave up and am working from Uptown. I have seen 6 (!) go by without stopping. One stopped to let a couple of people off, but they did not let anyone on.” He says if you need to catch it you might try being creative – take the SB 120, “then get off at an upstream bus stop, then get on the northbound 120.”
(updated 8:10 am) The decisions:
DISTRICTS
Seattle Public Schools – closed Wed.
Highline Public Schools – closed Wed.
Vashon Island SD – closed Wednesday
INDEPENDENTS/PAROCHIAL/OTHERS
Explorer West Middle School – closed Wed.
Westside School – closed Wed.
Holy Rosary – 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15, no AM BASE or AM preschool
Holy Family Bilingual School – closed Wed.
Seattle Lutheran HS – OPEN Wed., 10:30 am start
Hope Lutheran – OPEN Wed. but no before-school care
Our Lady of Guadalupe – closed Wed., conferences canceled (reschedule for Thurs. openings)
Summit Atlas – closed Wed.
Kennedy Catholic HS – closed Wednesday
COLLEGES
South Seattle College – both West Seattle and Georgetown campuses closed Wed.
Seattle Colleges‘ other campuses – 11 am start Wed.
University of Washington – 9:30 am start Wed.
Seattle University – open Wed.
PRESCHOOLS AND DAY CARES
Cometa Playschool: Open Wed.
A Child Becomes Preschool – late start for AM classes Wed. (9:15), regular start for PM
Fauntleroy Children’s Center – closed Wed.
Bright Horizons/West Seattle – open 10 am Wed.
WorldKids School – all locations open Wed., Seattle normal start, Edmonds 2 hours late
206-293-6302 text or voice – thanks!
(SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES – newest one, 10:21 pm)
SCHOOLS: Here’s the list of Wednesday announcements, so far
TRASH/RECYCLING: Likely tomorrow, says Waste Management
METRO SERVICE: Emergency Snow Network ends by 4 am Wednesday – plus, see 7:32 pm update below
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Back to 2-boat service Wednesday
RIDE2: (updated) Not operating Wednesday
TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Our compilation of local cameras
SDOT CITYWIDE CAMS ETC. PAGE: Year-round “travelers” map with cams/more.
SDOT WINTER-RESPONSE MAP: See where SDOT has been
BUSINESS & EVENT CHANGES/CLOSURES/ETC.: Here, as received
PARKS FACILITIES: Today’s plan
LIBRARIES: Today’s SPL plan
NEWEST CITY BRIEFING: Video and toplines here
4:11 PM: From transit to trash (see the links above), there’s hope that warming weather will enable many services to get back to normal. We’ll cover the afternoon-into-evening developments and updates here.
5:28 PM: The school decisions for tomorrow are starting to come in. We’ve launched that list here. … Traffic problem – Vehicle blocking @ Olson and 3rd SW …
6:16 PM: As we reported earlier, Waste Management announced that it expects to pick up Seattle Monday AND Tuesday customers tomorrow. We are in the latter group and just got an AlertSeattle message reaffirming tomorrow’s pickup plans (which are on the SPU website too).
6:53 PM: We’ve been watching various sources for Seattle Public Schools‘ decision. Here it is – closed tomorrow.
7:32 PM: But not all schools are following suit … haven’t heard from everyone yet, but Hope Lutheran (which is in The Junction) will be open. … Also, just got an update from Metro regarding tomorrow’s service, including:
… More route details are available (here) and additional snow reroute information will be posted online for customers by Wednesday morning. We still anticipate operating more than 90 percent of Metro routes, with snow reroutes and some peak service reductions in effect.
· Seven routes will have all trips canceled on Wednesday, Feb. 13: 71, 78, 200, 237, 268, 308, 309.
· Thirteen routes will have some trips canceled on Wednesday, Feb. 13: 9, 29, 37, 125, 201/204, 208, 224, 243/244, 316, 330, and ST 540.
· All Metro morning and afternoon peak commute routes will experience some level of reduced service: an estimated 3 out of every 4 buses will be in service as we work to ramp up service, respond to road conditions and repair our fleet and recover.
· Riders: To find out if your particular trip is canceled on Wednesday, text your stop ID to 62550 or check Next Departures on the Puget Sound Trip Planner or its app.
8:22 PM: A few more schools have announced delayed openings. … Here’s an updated alert about the West Seattle Water Taxi returning to its two-boat schedule, also mentioning that Ride2 will NOT operate tomorrow.
10:21 PM: Though there’s been concern about the slush/melted snow refreezing, so far we’re holding in the upper 30s.
1:19 PM: Again today, Mayor Durkan gathered city department heads at the Emergency Operations Center for updates on how their teams are dealing with the “historic challenge” – as Seattle Public Utilities general manager Mami Hara described it – of providing service after record-setting snowfall. Above is Seattle Channel video of the briefing.
Hara’s department is of particular interest since West Seattleites with Monday solid-waste pickups are now eight days overdue. She reiterated what was announced online this morning – no residential pickups today, but once they resume, Monday customers are a priority. Today some crews are making some multifamily/commercial pickups where “accessible,” but the conditions on most residential streets aren’t safe yet. She also said there will be a free dropoff period at transfer stations for the most-overdue customers – that info is now updated here. Others who spoke included the heads of SDOT, City Light, Parks, Human Services, and the Fire Department, whose Chief Harold Scoggins urged everyone to maintain “situational awareness” to stay safe until this all clears out. Many words of thanks for residents’ patience and help, too. (You can also see a city multidepartment update here.)
2:51 PM: Waste Management – the city’s contractor – is now saying it expects to pick up Monday AND Tuesday customers tomorrow.
Thanks for the photos! Here’s the start of a new gallery, mostly from Monday. (Our first gallery, from the weekend, is here.)
Above, Katya‘s photo from Lincoln Park. Also from Lincoln Park, by Kersti Muul, who says the “leash” was a blackberry vine:
From Bryan Wiebe (of longtime WSB sponsor Fauntleroy Chiropractic):
More ahead, including another look at what might be this storm’s most-famous snow sculptures:
(SCHOOLS: Closure list … TRASH/RECYCLING: No pickup again today, but likely tomorrow … WS BUSINESS/ETC. UPDATES here, as received … PARKS FACILITIES: Today’s plan … LIBRARIES: Today’s SPL plan)
5:31 AM: Good morning. Morning watch begins as the melt continues.
SDOT WINTER-RESPONSE MAP: See where SDOT has treated/plowed
METRO SERVICE: Emergency Snow Network only – here are the West/South Seattle specifics – update: ESN to end by Wednesday
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: One-boat service – schedule and other details here – some shuttle trouble
RIDE2: Not operating today
STATE FERRIES: Some early-early-am Triangle cancellations
TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Our compilation of local cameras
SDOT CITYWIDE CAMS ETC. PAGE: Year-round “travelers” map with cams/more.
5:36 AM: Scanner – truck in trouble at Delridge/Sylvan.
6:13 AM: Alert just sent, the Water Taxi shuttle Route 775 “is unable to provide service on California Way SW and also Admiral Way SW between 61st SW and California Way SW.” (Admiral doesn’t cross California *Way* so we’re seeking clarification. …update, that’s California AVE) … Also, no Ride2.
6:30 AM: Just in from Seattle Public Utilities:
No Pickup Tuesday, Feb. 12
Due to unsafe conditions and significant snow and ice remaining in residential streets, there will be no residential solid waste collections today, Tuesday Feb. 12. SPU contractors will attempt to collect Monday customers tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 13, on a 2-day delay and continue service on a delayed schedule through the weekend (weather permitting).
6:52 AM: While it’s not snowing here, some other parts of the city/metro area ARE still getting more, so don’t let the weather here fool you if you are considering heading somewhere semi-distant. No alerts in effect for our area!
7:02 AM: With Metro continuing on its Emergency Snow Network level of service, here again is where to find the C Line in The Junction:
See a larger PDF version here. (And note that while it shows 50 and 55, those routes are NOT running.) But also be aware there’s still bus trouble out there – texter just mentioned one stuck on 35th south of Avalon.
7:17 AM: That stuck bus is part of a crash scene, SDOT says – blocking southbound lanes and part of SW Alaska.
(SDOT image)
We also have a reader report: “21X is stuck at 35th and Thistle. Pulled too close to the curb and got stuck on the slush.”
7:34 AM: Might take an hour to clear the 35th/Alaska scene, per scanner. Police are working to direct traffic.
8:01 AM: And … SDOT says that scene is clear. … From the inbox, John sent this note (SPD has tweeted the same thing): “I read your blog from the other Washington area, and looking at your photos, a reminder for your folks there not used to snow…. Please remember to clear the snow from all over the car, not just the windshield/sides.”
8:25 AM: Collision reported in 5600 block West Marginal Way SW.
(SDOT “live” camera of west end of bridge, near Walking on Logs)
8:58 AM: Light rain continues (at least through midday, says the NWS) and the temp’s just above freezing. But all this snow – more than a foot, unofficially, per some measurements we’ve been sent! – doesn’t melt fast, so roads remain dicey. If you’re canceling/postponing an event today/tonight/beyond as a result, please let us know so we can add it to the newest list – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
9:16 AM: Thanks to Jennifer for the photo above – snow took that down at the Hiawatha baseball field. Here’s the Seattle Parks citywide plan for today.
9:49 AM: For those who’ve asked, our apologies, the WSB event calendar is currently out of service as a side effect of yesterday’s technical trouble. Hoping to have it back in action later today. In the short term, all bets were off in terms of scheduled events anyway – we are continuing to update the list linked above if and when we get word of cancellations/postponements. (We frequently feature Seattle Public Library events; here’s their systemwide plan for today.)
10:25 AM: We’re venturing out on a limited run, will report back on what we see. Or will call for help from a snowdrift if necessary. Among other things, hoping to make it to Junction or High Point ballot box – 8 pm tonight is the deadline and it cannot be postponed, says KC Elections.
11:57 AM: Made it to The Junction and back. Couple scenes we tweeted:
Calif Ave downhill through Gatewood pic.twitter.com/TytooMFTBX
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 12, 2019
Crosswalk shoveler at 44th/Oregon pic.twitter.com/UZh5S95MdD
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 12, 2019
1:01 PM: Started a new gallery with the snow fun/beauty that people have been sharing along with the informational pics. Weather-wise – steady rain now.
2:53 PM: And now – sunshine! Meantime, Waste Management is saying it’s expecting to pick up Monday AND Tuesday residential customers in Seattle tomorrow. Plus, Metro is saying it expects to END Emergency Snow Network after today and restore most routes by tomorrow – details here.
7:37 PM: Trouble on the streets everywhere – a utility pole across California in The Junction (photo from Jacob):
Buses stuck on Avalon (photo from Gwen):
Almost 1,000 customers without power in southeast West Seattle:
Several more inches of snow has made this a messy night. (For us, too – apologies for the technical trouble that kept us from updating here for a few hours.) Here’s our newest link list:
SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR TUESDAY: List here
NEWEST ALERTS AND FORECAST: National Weather Service updates here
SDOT WINTER-RESPONSE MAP: See where SDOT has treated/plowed
TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Our compilation of local cameras
SDOT CITYWIDE CAMS ETC. PAGE: Year-round “travelers” map with cams/alerts
METRO SERVICE: Emergency Snow Network at least through Tuesday – here are the West/South Seattle specifics.
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Here’s the Tuesday plan
TRASH/RECYCLING: Awaiting Tuesday plans
TUESDAY BUSINESS (ETC.) CLOSURES/CHANGES: Building a list here
One big message tonight: STAY HOME. Besides the streets mentioned above, there are also trees on 35th, Jacobsen, and other streets.
8:10 PM: Buses on 35th south of Avalon, too – the photo above is from Jeff B, who also reports that the high bridge had “lots of snow.” …. Regan tweeted that tow trucks were making progress on the Avalon buses … Outage update: About half the nearly-a-thousand who lost power in the Highland Park area have it back, per City Light’s map. Citywide, more than 21,000 customers are without electricity.
8:28 PM: Sounds like just rain out there now (340′ elevation). The Winter Weather Advisory alert is in effect until 4 am. … Steve Ball sends this view, saying he had just finished clearing the walkway when the snow turned to rain:
We’re getting some non-school changes/closures for Tuesday and starting a new list of those – if you have anything to share, 206-293-6302, text or voice, is our hotline – thank you!
9:45 PM: Thanks to Michael KD for that video of SW Avalon Way getting cleared. Meantime, up here we just heard a ferocious road-scraping noise, and went out to see this:
What exactly do we call that? Guess we can consult this newly published SDOT post that explains snow-clearing and de-icing in insider-level detail.
10:45 PM: The trouble spots are being cleared bit by bit, and the meltoff continues. Hard to tell until early morning (we plan to restart by 5) what it’ll be like out there. “The lowlands could be done with the snow,” per the latest “forecast discussion.”
11:09 PM: Still ~500 out of power in Highland Park, and as noted in comments, there’s a small outage in Gatewood that’s not showing on the map.
11:17 AM: Dangling, arcing power line reported at 35th/Trenton.
(Junction photo from Becca)
3:19 PM: Our afternoon-into-evening coverage begins, with the snow continuing. First, the infolink list after a few “live” cameras:
SCHOOL DECISIONS FOR TUESDAY: List here
TRASH/RECYCLING: No Monday pickups; awaiting Tuesday plans
PARKS: Today’s updates here
LIBRARIES: Today’s plan here
WS BUSINESS/ETC. UPDATES: This page is not currently working – Tuesday version soon
SDOT WINTER-RESPONSE MAP: See where SDOT has treated/plowed
METRO SERVICE: Emergency Snow Network at least through Tuesday – here are the West/South Seattle specifics.
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: One-boat service – schedule and other details here
TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Our compilation of local cameras
SDOT CITYWIDE CAMS ETC. PAGE: Year-round “travelers” map with cams/alerts.
CITY/COUNTY/STATE BRIEFING: Separate story here
Roads are challenging – just heard on the scanner about “several spinouts on Sylvan Way,” and via Twitter, Mike warns even the slight California SW incline on the north end of The Junction is problematic.
4:23 PM: Multiple reports of stuck buses and other vehicles, in multiple places.
7:20 PM: Our apologies – technical trouble rendered us unable to update WSB for a couple hours. Fixed now. We will launch an evening report shortly.
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