West Seattle, Washington
29 Wednesday
Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing the two scenes from another cloudless evening – “Clear, cool and a bit breezy out around sunset this evening. Made for a nice view from Don Armeni of the skyline and the gibbous moon.”
You’ve probably heard we might get snow showers Monday night/Tuesday morning … here’s the newest forecast.
@westseattleblog Hail in West Seattle. pic.twitter.com/qpUy9RmvqL
— Raptor Bait (@velogiraptor) November 18, 2015
7:09 PM: Commenter “Community Member” first mentioned it in comments on our previous storm story – but we could hardly believe it until we saw it in the photo above: Hail/sleet has fallen in various West Seattle spots. We’re checking the forecast to see what’s next.
7:20 PM: More photos – this one is from Steve:
He explains, “It sounded like really heavy rain for the past 10 minutes up here in Admiral (Just East of Schmitz Park). When I let our dog out, the rear deck was covered in some kind of frozen precipitation. You can also see our umbrella that was broken off in the windstorm.”
Video from Mark in High Point:
From Kate in Seaview:
And from Kyle near Ercolini Park:
Closer look at what fell from the sky, tweeted by Amy (as mentioned in comments):
Is this real life? #TheWeatherOutsideIsWeather #SeattleWeather pic.twitter.com/YgLuhKixB5
— Amy LeFurgy (@alefurgy) November 18, 2015
So far as we can tell, this wasn’t forecast, but in this kind of storm, just about anything can happen. Tonight’s low is expected to be in the 40s.
ADDED 8:49 PM: One more photo – texted, so we don’t know who to credit:
Hiawatha Playfield, if you don’t recognize it.
(MORNING STORM COVERAGE IS HERE, including 2 power outages … ROAD HAZARD? Call 206-386-1218)
12:55 PM: We start our afternoon report with word of two tree-trouble spots:
*The Highland Park Way hill west of W. Marginal Way SW is reported to be closed in both directions because of a downed tree.
*A tree is also reported down at Olson and Myers. Traffic effects unknown; we’re off to check.
1:10 PM: SDOT reports Highland Park Way is open again.
1:32 PM: Just checked out the Myers/Olson situation. Southbound Myers is blocked off at Olson – you can’t turn onto it (photo above shows the roped-off exit lane from eastbound Olson); crews are on the road. Also of note, DEEP water across SW Roxbury at the easternmost entrance to Safeway. Lots of puddling on roads everywhere you go – we’ve been talking mostly about the wind, but the rain has continued, and the ground already was saturated from the recent 4-inches-in-3-days storm.
2:07 PM: While you can use Myers northbound, you can’t turn onto westbound Olson – that’s taped off too.
2:27 PM: The National Weather Service says things should start to get better after another hour or so in the metro area.
2:48 PM: As Katelyn notes in comments, SFD is responding to downed wire(s) at Beach Drive and Canada.
The Seattle City Light map (screengrab above) shows a 79-customer outage nearby. Several people have told us they heard two “booms” just before the power went out. Today’s two other multiple-customer West Seattle outages (in our morning coverage) were resolved relatively quickly.
3:42 PM: That outage is now described as “equipment failure” which would seem to verify the transformer suspicion. Meantime, if you passed a crash scene at 16th/Barton, that wasn’t weather-related – we’re working on a separate story we’ll link here when done (update: it’s here). This next photo, however, does seem to be weather-related:
Keri says that’s near Holy Rosary School.
3:52 PM: Cil says in comments that Myers/Olson is back to normal. (Thanks to everyone for updates as well as initial reports – 206-293-6302 is our text/voice hotline 24/7.)
4:22 PM: On Puget Ridge, Andy says this tree is hanging precariously low over SW Brandon:
@westseattleblog partially down tree on Brandon between 17th and 18th SW. pic.twitter.com/rWM7XGFafE
— Andy DeBroux (@brouxhaha) November 18, 2015
6:36 PM: Thanks for the updates. The weather has calmed, as forecast, but still some trouble out there. Our site was down for a while but that was not weather-related – it’s hosted out of the city especially so that it will be safe in case of catastrophe here; the server company just happened to have a massive problem that affected many sites including ours. Meantime, word of more trees toppling at day’s end – one blocking part of Orchard near Delridge, and this one on Webster by the Solstice Park P-Patch (east of Fauntleroy Way):
We’ll likely start a storm-aftermath report in a bit so please keep the updates coming – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
For the second time in a decade, a windstorm has taken its toll on the iconic cow (steer?) atop John’s Corner Deli in Sunrise Heights, via gust-powered cow-tipping. Soon as the folks across the street at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) mentioned it, we remembered its disappearance during the 2006 Hanukkah Eve windstorm. So far today, the bovine fixture at 35th/Webster is still in view – just lying down on the job.
3:15 PM UPDATE: @MetPatrick tweeted this photo of The Cow being secured:
@westseattleblog cow wrangled and being secured. pic.twitter.com/eNRB5Tm1xp
— Patrick kelly (@MetPatrick22) November 17, 2015
Now you won’t have to worry that it will next become, as Craig put it in a comment, “ground beef.”
(SCROLL DOWN for updates … ROAD HAZARD? 206-386-1218 … POWER OUT? 206-684-3000)
(Added: WSB photo, wind-swept waves at Constellation Park)
FIRST POWER OUTAGE REPORT, 8:41 AM: Thanks to those who texted – the power’s out for more than 4,800 homes and businesses:
Seattle City Light‘s map says the cause is under investigation. While you’ll see “estimated restoration” times there, PLEASE remember that those are only guesstimates and almost always, the actual time is something completely different – could be much earlier or much later.
9 AM: Commenters report Alki Elementary and Pathfinder K-8 are without power. We are checking with Seattle Public Schools.
9:17 AM: About a third of those who lost power have it back – thanks to Tony in Seaview for first word on that.
9:20 AM: Our crew just stopped by Alki Elementary. Aside from the lack of electricity, it’s “business as usual,” and classes continue.
9:40 AM: City Light says a tree is to blame for the outage. Don’t know exactly where. Meantime, thanks for the texted photo of this tree down by Sanislo Elementary:
The texter says it’s *not* blocking the road. Sanislo DOES have power. Alki and Pathfinder remain the only schools that lost power, but district spokesperson Stacy Howard tells WSB that they have enough natural light to keep classes going.
9:52 AM: Photojournalist Erika Schultz says Pathfinder’s back on – it was a pocket outage all along, on Pigeon Point:
Power at Pathfinder K-8 School in #westseattle is back on, @westseattleblog @seattletimes.
— Erika Schultz (@ErikaJSchultz) November 17, 2015
10:06 AM: Thanks for the texts and comments about more power restoration – Alki, Beach Drive, Genesee Hill. Waiting for City Light map to update. (1 minute later) Looks like everyone’s back on – if you’re NOT, please be sure to call SCL – 206-684-3000.
SECOND POWER OUTAGE, 10:17 AM: Almost immediately after that outage was resolved, a new one has hit – Puget Ridge, Riverside, points south, 2,100+ customers per City Light map:
10:25 AM: Just got a texted report of wires down on Beach Drive near Cormorant Cove Park (3700 block).
11:02 AM: Thanks for the updates – the SCL map verifies that the SECOND outage is now over, in less than an hour. That includes Sanislo. Again, if you are still without power somewhere, please call to be sure SCL knows – there might be pocket outages here and there.
11:26 AM: While the power’s back for all except a spot here and there (here’s the “live” map), the storm is still going full strength – we’ve just been down and around a few spots including Constellation Park south of Alki Point, adding photo (top).
11:57 AM: We’ll be launching an afternoon edition of storm coverage soon. Meantime, latest trouble spot we’ve heard about is south of West Seattle – trees down on the north lanes of 1st Avenue South near 116th, in Top Hat.
(Calm between storms. Sunday sunset at Alki, photographed by David Hutchinson)
The National Weather Service‘s alert for tomorrow has escalated to a “High Wind Warning” – read it here. The warning will be in effect 5 am-6 pm Tuesday, and says that wind from the “south or southwest 25-to-40 mph with gusts near 60 mph are possible beginning Tuesday morning and continuing into the afternoon hours.” And since it’s been so soggy lately – with four inches of rain in the city in a three-day period through Sunday – that increases the likelihood of tree trouble, a top cause of power outages, so charge everything tonight and know the whereabouts of your batteries and flashlights.
(Added: Golden Sunday afternoon – photo by Lynn Hall)
Definitely the calm between the storms right now – and this might be your best chance to go do some cleaning and inspecting before the next round, because the National Weather Service has announced a High Wind Watch for Tuesday – read the whole thing here. While there’s always a chance it won’t happen, if it DOES, it could be serious, warns the NWS: “Possible south winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts 65 to 75 mph Tuesday, shifting to the west late Tuesday afternoon.” Trees are more at risk of toppling than in previous storms because four inches of rain in the past three days has softened the ground. Updates to come!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:27 PM: After a lengthy downpour, reports of storm-related trouble are coming in. First one: The reader photo above shows 35th SW south of Barton, looking north at water over the road. It’s been raining so hard, some drains are bound to have become overwhelmed, especially with leaves still left to come off the trees – if you’re able, go check your nearest drains and make sure they’re clear.
2:37 PM: Per scanner, police are looking to block off traffic in the area as the water is at an unsafe level. We’re heading over to check. We’ve also received a report of a mudslide near Delridge and Orchard but we haven’t verified yet exactly where and how/whether it’s affecting traffic.
2:53 PM: Confirmed – police are blocking 35th SW both ways on the south side of the Barton intersection – only buses are being allowed through. The water’s so deep, it’s up over the sidewalk on the west side of 35th SW.
3:39 PM: We checked all sides of Delridge/Orchard, for a few blocks each way, and there’s no mudslide (or deep water) affecting traffic.
3:55 PM: Just checked back at 35th/Barton – open now.
Make sure everything you need to charge is charged by tomorrow afternoon – the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” alert for 4 pm Thursday through 4 pm Friday. Right now, that means winds are likely out of the south, 20-35 mph sustained, gusts up to 45 mph. It’s going to be wet, too, with the NWS saying up to two inches of rain is likely between Thursday and Saturday in the lowlands.
Yes, that’s a thunderstorm heading this way. Several people have mentioned seeing and hearing it (thanks to MetPatrick for first word); the National Weather Service has a “short-term forecast” about it, too. It won’t last long but there’s more stormy weather on the way, according to the NWS, which has a “Special Weather Statement” for bouts of strong wind and heavy rain, starting Tuesday night.
If you take a look at the National Weather Service‘s Seattle page, our area is devoid of color – which means no more warnings/alerts in effect. The rainbow would seem to underscore that. Thanks to Max for the photo!
(UPDATED SATURDAY EVENING with extension of wind advisory into Sunday)
10:19 AM: Rain plus wind often equals fallen trees, and that’s happened in several West Seattle spots so far this morning. One that’s potentially affecting traffic is reported to be down on the Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge – southbound lanes close to the top, we’re told. More to come.
10:42 AM: The tree – reported by multiple texters/callers – was apparently dealt with quickly; all lanes are open, no downed tree in sight. On 44th SW over Lincoln Park, south of SW Southern, we confirmed one down on the greenbelt-bordered cut-through section east of Lincoln Park:
And in the park itself, Nate photographed this one:
@westseattleblog Wind and rain taking its toll at Lincoln Park. Near the south entrance. pic.twitter.com/EGSCY3WBEx
— Nate Hull (@NMHull) October 31, 2015
The National Weather Service’s wind-advisory alert is now in effect until 3 pm. Thanks again for letting us know if you spot a storm problem (or any other kind of breaking news) – text or voice, 206-293-6302, any time, 24/7.
5:20 PM: Thanks to GB for updates in comments on a power outage that didn’t show on SCL’s map – caused by a tree over Fairmount Playfield, just resolved, GB reports, after 9+ hours.
5:53 PM: The wind advisory is now extended into tomorrow.
6:34 PM: Corrected the street on which the tree is down east of Lincoln Park to 44th, not 45th, after a note from Catherine, who mentions it’s still partly blocking the road – that stretch (also known as the switchbacks) is precarious even in the best of times so be extra careful if you’re traveling that way.
While the wind advisory for this morning’s stormy weather expired in mid-afternoon, another one is about to take effect. The National Weather Service has a wind advisory taking effect at 9 tonight and continuing until noon Saturday. Like this morning, the wind will be out of the south, 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Be sure everything’s charged, just in case! Heavy rain is still on the way, too; here’s the forecast. As always, we’ll continue coverage throughout the weekend, so if your neighborhood experiences storm trouble (power outage, trees/wires down, etc.) please let us know – text or call 206-293-6302 any time.
While the rain’s taking a break right now, the wind kicked up early this morning, out of the south, and that finally brought an official “wind advisory” from the National Weather Service, in effect until 3 this afternoon, with gusts as high as 45 mph. The photo above is from Constellation Park south of Alki Point, where sea spray blew over the seawall – and onto Beach Drive SW at times – when this morning’s 12-foot high tide collided with wind-fueled waves. The “flood watch” alert is still set to take effect about the time the rain returns this evening, with heavy rain expected at times through Sunday, so our “clear your storm drains” advice from yesterday continues. Also, if you live in a flood zone and need sandbags, you can get them at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW).
Soon as we publish this, we’re headed out to clear that drain – since the National Weather Service has a “Flood Watch” alert in effect for tomorrow night through Sunday afternoon. That’s most critical for people near rivers, but it also means we’re likely to get drenched, and clogged drains lead to problems including swamped streets and sidewalks (see our coverage of the storm three weeks ago) – a few minutes of attention now (scoop up the leaves in the gutters, too) can make a big difference.
P.S. Here’s the forecast – breezy as well as soggy, so keep everything charged.
Thanks for the beautiful Tuesday evening views! Greg Snyder got the moonrise (above); JayDee photographed the shades-of-silver semi-sunset (below):
Photo to share? editor@westseattleblog.com (or tag us on social media, @westseattleblog, so we’ll see it) – thank you!
Photogenic sunset tonight! The top photo is by James Bratsanos. Next one is by John Bartell:
Thank you! We’ll likely be adding more.
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
Thanks for the photos! Three weeks into fall, an echo of summer, with a colorful sunset tonight as tomorrow’s forecast promises temperatures as high as the mid-70s.
(Photo by Don Brubeck)
Tomorrow might be our last chance at sunshine for a while, though.
Big thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing that photo of Mount Rainier, as seen this evening from West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp. So cool, we wanted to rush it right onto the site. Looks to be a lenticular cloud formation. What a sight to end a weekend that began with wild weather!
(SCROLL DOWN for updated storm info)
1:58 PM: You’ve probably noticed the wind has kicked up in a big way. The National Weather Service now has the area under a “wind advisory” alert until 5 pm, with sustained winds from the south-southwest at 20 to 30 mph, and the possibility of gusts up to 45 mph.
2:23 PM: Since then, we’ve also had another wave of heavy rain, and we’re hearing reports of some street flooding, including near the heart of Morgan Junction. Off to check. Also adding a phone-video clip from one wind/rain burst. Check your nearest storm drains when you can to be sure leaves/other debris aren’t clogging them.
3:20 PM: That video is from Fauntleroy Way in the Fairmount Springs area, where leaf-clogged drains have left enough water across the road for hydroplaning. We noticed some caring souls out there working to unclog the drains. We also checked out the alley behind the businesses on the west side of 4700 block of California SW in The Junction – longtime troublespot:
Brian Allen sent word that Weather Underground tallies the rain at more than an inch, this afternoon alone. Also just caught this traffic alert via a tip from Tamisha:
No visual but per @seattlepd flooding on SW Admiral Way has ramp to EB West Seattle Bridge closed. Use caution & use alternate routes
— seattledot (@seattledot) October 10, 2015
4:38 PM: The ramp is open again.
We’ve had (and are having) some rain, and water-saving has topped the city’s request, but don’t stop now, the regional water utilities are imploring you in this update:
Fall has arrived, but consistent fall rains have not. Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma remain in the second stage of their drought response plans. The water systems rely on fall rains to fill the reservoirs so there is enough water for people and fish. Customers in the region have reduced their use over the past eight weeks by a total of 14 percent. The cities are asking their customers to continue to reduce their water use.
This time of year is critical in the salmon life cycle, as they migrate back from the ocean and travel up their native rivers to spawn. Both the amount and temperature of water in rivers affect their ability to conserve energy, avoid predators and successfully spawn.
… The total water level in SPU’s reservoirs is at 74 percent of what would be typical for this time of year.
Fall officially arrives early tomorrow – 1:22 am our time- and yes, West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen has confirmed this morning that she WILL help you welcome the new season with her 26th seasonal-sunset-watch event at Solstice Park tomorrow night. Be there by 6:30 pm Wednesday to (among other fun and educational things) see how the sunset lines up with the park’s special markers – which were not on hand for the summer solstice, due to restoration work, but, we are told, have since been returned. Solstice Park is east of the north end of Lincoln Park; Alice’s website AlicesAstroInfo.com has directions. See you there! (WSB photo from Alice’s 2014 fall-equinox event)
6:11 PM: Today we’ve seen sun, wind, rain … and a rainbow. Thanks for sharing photos; this one is from Travis on the east edge of The Junction, via Twitter.
ADDED 7:15 PM: Thanks to David Williams from this view from the Charlestown/44th vicinity:
P.S. Autumn officially arrives at 1:22 am this Wednesday morning (September 23rd).
ADDED 10:43 PM: And congratulations to newlyweds Meghan and Matt Miller – who came home from their wedding reception to find the rainbow over their Highland Park home!
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