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Beautiful day/night ahead – but tomorrow…
December 8, 2007 10:21 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle weather

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(photo from Shannon, taken this morning in Fauntleroy — thank you!)
It’s one of those rare times when Saturday and sunshine synchronize. We’ll be out decorating (after braving the basement, who knows what moved in down there during the bad weather); after night falls, please let us know what spectacular new holiday displays you see, for the ongoing WSB Christmas lights features (photos archived here, clickable map on the Holidays page). We’ll also be covering some of the numerous events happening today and tonight (check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup for the most detailed list) and are especially looking forward to the Christmas Ship’s three WS stops tonight (Seacrest at 5:15, Lowman at 8:50, Alki at 9:40). So enjoy all this because we just checked the forecast and tomorrow says “chance of rain or snow”!

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Damage from the deluge? Report it soon
December 7, 2007 2:06 pm
|    Comments Off on Damage from the deluge? Report it soon
 |   December 2007 flooding | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(26th/Juneau photo by Kristin, originally posted Monday)
From the city and county, via the North Delridge Neighborhood Council: If you suffered flood damage from the Sunday/Monday deluge, be sure to call 800-523-5044 as soon as possible — local governments are trying to get an accurate picture of how much damage was done, for reasons including helping the federal government decide whether to make low-interest loans and other types of aid available. The hotline’s answered 7 am-7 pm daily; if you have trouble getting through, you also can report damage online. Also, if you need help clearing storm-related debris, you can call the city @ 206-684-3000 to find out how to get assistance.

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From the owner of the Delridge Deluge icon
December 5, 2007 3:01 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(photo by Lea Kuchan) In case you don’t go back to comments on day-old posts – we wanted to highlight this comment just left on our followup about the now-famous car swamped in the Allstar Fitness parking lot during Monday’s megadownpour:

I am the somewhat sad and soon to be past owner of this car. It is indeed being totaled by my insurance – they say that they are liable if they fix it and something happens. Happily, I am aware of the folks who get ripped off by having totaled cars get reconditioned and sold. I have arranged for it to be towed to a salvage yard, and scrapped out for body parts. The bad karma will end with me.

Thanks for your support, though. I feel privileged to have such supportive neighbors.

Best,
E

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Reader question: Anyone need flood-cleanup help?
December 5, 2007 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on Reader question: Anyone need flood-cleanup help?
 |   December 2007 flooding | How to help | West Seattle weather

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(Monday photo near 26th/Andover by Chris Monsos) The water has receded, but in some places it’s bound to have left damage behind. So Kaydee is wondering:

With all the flooding this week, I feel very fortunate to have not experienced any flood damage but I would like to help neighbors in need. Are there any groups of volunteers organizing this weekend to help neighbors or restore damage to parks caused by this flood?

P.S. To make it easier to find WSB coverage of the flooding and aftermath, we have retagged our reports in a new “December 2007 flooding” category (much like the “December ’06 windstorm” archive).

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The port of gold at the end of the rainbow
December 4, 2007 7:34 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle weather

Thanks to Gwen @ Azalea Software for these photos of this afternoon’s rainbow(s):

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Mid-afternoon miscellany
December 4, 2007 3:24 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | West Seattle online | West Seattle weather

-The biggest building project under way in West Seattle right now is dealing with a good dose of rainwater, according to the photos we found here.

-The wonderful history-focused blog Vintage Seattle is taking a closer look at the northernmost “Painted Lady” currently on the market in West Seattle (as mentioned here in October).

-According to an e-mail just sent out on the Duke’s mailing list, the date is set for the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza Project fundraiser at Duke’s on Alki (as mentioned here last month): 6 pm December 27, hosted by radio talker Dave Ross, with promised appearances by two West Seattle political readers — here’s a screengrab from the e-mail:Read More

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Drying out: The icon of the Delridge Deluge
December 4, 2007 1:25 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Remember this much-photographed car, under water yesterday outside Allstar Fitness? (photo by Lea Kuchan)

We found it again today. Our camera-equipped team member reports (shock) it’s full of mud. But all in one piece!

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Slide over Seacrest Park
December 4, 2007 11:46 am
|    Comments Off on Slide over Seacrest Park
 |   December 2007 flooding | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

These photos are from Erik (thank you!), who says, “This is my parents’ house on the cliff above Seacrest Park. No known damage to the structure — yet. The washed-out street is Victoria Ave SW. SDOT was on the scene last night and reopened the road.”

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Post-storm updates, including Allstar
December 4, 2007 5:38 am
|    Comments Off on Post-storm updates, including Allstar
 |   December 2007 flooding | Transportation | West Seattle weather

No major traffic trouble spots in Seattle so far this morning; here’s the list of outlying King County roads still having trouble (including one on Vashon), and if you have to drive outside King County, the state has a handy list of what’s up elsewhere on this page (including that big I-5 shutdown in Chehalis). ALLSTAR FITNESS UPDATE: Just called to check (in the wake of all that water in all those photos further down the page) — they ARE open today. ADDED 6:45 AM: Here’s the latest city press-release roundup of trouble spots (says all the ones here in WS are open again).

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After the deluge
December 3, 2007 9:05 pm
|    Comments Off on After the deluge
 |   December 2007 flooding | West Seattle weather

Wettest December 3rd in Seattle history — now it’s cleanup time. Though we hear another shower out there, the experts all insist the worst of the weather is over (the wind advisory, for example, expired at 7 pm). If your neighborhood’s still experiencing major flood woes, let us know. Meantime, there’s a lot of other West Seattle stuff we wanted to tell you about today – but the storm got in the way; we’ll just start fresh tomorrow. First, though, a photo that came in tonight from Teresa – the playground at Sanislo Elementary during the deluge:

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And now – the drive home
December 3, 2007 5:13 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Transportation | West Seattle weather

7:15 PM UPDATE: Went through that area of Delridge, nothing going on. So cancel that alert. Heard a city worker on the radio say Beach Drive is open again at the slide spot; will be heading out to check on that.

5:55 PM UPDATE: Could be new trouble on Delridge. “Automobile rescue” callout just popped up on the 911 site, 3800 block of Delridge (south of Skylark). Drivers heading that way, beware.

5:45 PM UPDATE: Steve reports: “Just got home (Gatewood) from SODO. First Ave S. and the high bridge were wide open.” Steve also notes that the Nucor mill is “completely dark”; we reported earlier that it had closed because of flooding – Margelyn also e-mailed earlier that she heard a radio-show caller say there’s a lot of water in Nucor’s basement and it might be closed a while; we’ll be checking on that but would also love to hear from anyone with firsthand updates.

5:09 PM UPDATE: OK, said team member has made it home. Summary: Not raining right now. Smooth sailing on The (high) Bridge, and beyond. Thinks maybe lots of people went home early. P.S. Check below in a few minutes for some added pix of today’s Delridge Deluge … we’ve received more, but don’t want to put them atop the commute info here till everyone’s home safe, so the post will be filed just BELOW this one.

4:42 PM UPDATE: Team member who’s heading home via The Viaduct says the left lane is closed for a stretch parallel to the south end of the waterfront (Coast Guard station on) so things are a little squeezed. Bridge update to come. Remember to scroll down for cam links and more.

4:15 PM UPDATE: First commute-home report from Vickie, who was worried about the Spokane St./Chelan Cafe’ area, but says Spokane “under the Harbor Ave offramps and to the north of Nucor doesn’t appear at this time to have any flooding troubles” — she says the low bridge, through that area, and up Avalon to 35th was all in good shape. (We have a WSB team member heading from downtown toward Morgan Junction soon and will have that update for you in a bit.) For those wondering about West Marginal Way – no trouble reported so far – here’s the city cam link.

4:10 PM UPDATE: Here’s a new press release from the city; it mentions that southbound lanes of the Battery Street Tunnel are closed, so if you get on 99 south of there, beware. No other West Seattle specifics aside from the Longfellow Creek flooding we have covered below.

3:35 PM ORIGINAL POST: We are gathering resources for drivers to check before heading back to West Seattle from workplaces elsewhere. First – so far as WS roads go – a recap of specific situations we have reported on further down the page: Remember that North Delridge has been the hardest-hit area (see photos and video below) – if you have to get to somewhere on Delridge, going around and approaching from the south is likely your best bet. Along Beach Drive, the mudslide’s not cleared yet (thanks to WSB sponsor Rhonda Porter from The Mortgage Porter for that update – she says on the north side, Beach Drive is closed at Jacobsen). For other roadway, here are some links to start with – we will add more info as we get/find it, including any reports you send about driving conditions:

WSB traffic-info page with cameras of particular WS relevance
All Seattle city traffic cams
All state DOT traffic cams
KIRO Radio continuous online regional traffic-incident info
Traffic.com regional traffic-incident info
Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) site with regional road closures and more
Alerts for roads managed by King County
Washington State Ferries service bulletins

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Delridge Deluge: More photos
December 3, 2007 5:12 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Yet more photos coming in from Longfellow Creek, Allstar Fitness, and environs; we don’t want to add them atop the commute info, since that’s the most important stuff for a while longer, so we’ll be adding them one by one here; keep scrolling down to check. First, from Tim — along the creek, near SW Genesee, close to the 13th hole of West Seattle Golf Course:

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From Kathy, another look at Allstar Fitness, awash in floodwater (let us know if you hear whether it plans to reopen tomorrow; we’ll check in the morning too):

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Chris M also sent us this link to some good shots in his Flickr gallery.

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More photos of Delridge flooding, plus a street closure
December 3, 2007 2:12 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

ADDED 2:25 PM: “The creek has burst free!” reports Kristin, who took these photos on Juneau between Delridge and 26th, and says 26th is closed.

2:12 PM: Mike actually captured the fabled “car swamped to its roof” we heard about in the lot at Allstar Fitness (2:38 PM UPDATE: reader reports, it IS closed because of the flooding) – that’s the car in the background:

Thanks again to everyone who’s sending WSB info and pix to share. ADDED 3:50 PM: Yet another picture of the now-iconic flooded car at Allstar, this time from Lea Kuchan:

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Beach Drive slide update: Here’s what it looks like
December 3, 2007 1:27 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

As mentioned below, Beach Drive is blocked by a mudslide in the 6000 block. 1:40 PM: Photo just in from Dawson (thank you!), who confirms this is close to the area where the city granted a permit for slope-side trees to be cut earlier this year (previous WSB report here):

Here’s our photo, from a bit closer up:

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Urgent Reader Recommendation Request: Basement help
December 3, 2007 12:45 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Reader recommendations | Seaview | West Seattle weather

Some WSB readers still might not be able to post comments because of our ongoing tech work but if you are seeing this – you should be able to – and Cali in Seaview would appreciate advice:

> We are looking for a good service to call to help us with our basement flooding. We have tried everything all morning, it is not stopping. I am sure there are other people going through the same thing. Any help would be much appreciated.

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Beach Drive reported closed by slide
December 3, 2007 12:26 pm
|    Comments Off on Beach Drive reported closed by slide
 |   December 2007 flooding | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Included in this city press release: a report of a slide closing Beach Drive in the 6000 block. (map here)

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Video: North Delridge-area flooding
December 3, 2007 12:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle video | West Seattle weather

From the Allstar Fitness/Nucor area:

From Delridge & Orchard:

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More West Seattle storm updates
December 3, 2007 10:33 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   December 2007 flooding | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Please scroll down to the bottom of this post for the latest info; today we are updating in chronological order rather than reverse chronological) Can’t say this often enough: If you don’t HAVE TO drive, don’t. The water’s accumulating faster than even the best drains can handle it. Looks like bridge access from Delridge to the high bridge is back; the Fauntleroy/Graham trouble spot is open but the water is very tricky to navigate – here’s photographic proof:

Please e-mail us with info on any flooding trouble you are experiencing or seeing, so we can share it. Newest note is from Greg Daly, who says:

We had 4″ of water in our basement this morning due to a plugged up drain,
so I thought readers might be interested (as I was) in local weather stations. There are two between Lincoln Park and Alki, you can watch the rain totals update live if you’re so inclined.

Here are the weather station links Greg mentioned: first one here, second one here. 11:07 AM UPDATE: From Vickie:

I was driving to work about an hour ago trying to figure out which way to go through Delridge…the Allstar Fitness parking lot is completely flooded to the point where at least one car is totally submerged, you can just barely see its rooftop in the lower part of the lot. At the time I drove through the water in the lot was almost equal to the side street next to it and beginning to overflow into the street itself.

11:10 AM UPDATE: The WSB team member who’s currently roving with cameras verifies this, says the creek is definitely spilling over in spots, and also says the street is closed by Nucor/Allstar, and that someone at Nucor told him the plant is closed too (if anyone has info to the contrary, please e-mail us; we’ll try confirming by phone as well). 11:50 AM UPDATE: From Erin: “Just got back from dropping my husband off at the airport – we had read earlier that W Marginal was flooded so we took the high bridge to I-5. There are long back ups (all the way to I-5) trying to get IN to the airport due to flooding, so please inform your readers to take 509/518 if that route is now open, or to leave plenty early.”

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Delridge ramp to West Seattle Bridge closed; other woes
December 3, 2007 6:25 am
|    Comments Off on Delridge ramp to West Seattle Bridge closed; other woes
 |   December 2007 flooding | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Traffic reports say you can’t get to The Bridge from Delridge because of deep water that even has a car stuck in it. Also, WSB reader “K” warns everyone to check their basements — after waking up to flooding woes. 6:43 AM UPDATE: Also, if you use the The Viaduct, alternates might be a good idea because the Battery Street Tunnel is reported to be closed. There is one slight bit of good news – the National Weather Service says the strongest winds today will be “mainly north of Seattle” — so looks like we are “only” going to have to deal with the rain. 7:13 AM UPDATE: It’s likely slow going no matter where you are coming from — part of our team is trying to make it to The Bridge on Fauntleroy and reporting a delay that starts around Graham — because of very deep water, with city crews on the scene. Going to try to divert to 35th; will let you know if trouble ensues there. 7:30 AM UPDATE: Gave up on the 35th idea, still slogging along Fauntleroy past ex-Gee/ex-Huling — here’s the city cam:

7:45 AM UPDATE: Longfellow Creek is “as high as we have ever seen it,” says one nearby resident. Radio traffic report says cars are backed up on Admiral trying to get to The Bridge, too. 7:55 AM UPDATE: Our team member made it to The Bridge and says the left lane is closed, eastbound, roughly parallel with where you exit for Admiral on the other side – looks like a stalled car, tow truck getting in place, traffic moving OK eastbound once you get past it. 8:05 AM UPDATE: Just in from a reader: “West Marginal Way is closed about half way between the bridge and 509 (and there are several very deep very wide puddles even before the closure). This closure hasn’t made the traffic reports yet as far as I can tell. I found this out the hard way this morning.” 8:35 AM UPDATE: Natashia just e-mailed, “Both lanes of northbound 35th are backed up to one road before Morgan. I turned around to head back home, and had to miss turning left onto my road because southbound lanes were traveling tight & aggressive. Be careful out there — and be nice!! :)” (Here’s the traffic cam for 35th, NB cars coming toward the camera) 9:05 AM UPDATE: We’re heading out to check on flooded spots. If you need to drive somewhere, this is one of the best updated lists of “incidents” that we’ve seen.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind advisory for tonight, tomorrow
December 2, 2007 3:08 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle weather

Read the latest here — then go make sure you’re stocked up on batteries, etc. 4:30 PM ADDENDUM: Now there’s a flood watch too.

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Snowy Saturday: Miscellaneous updates
December 1, 2007 7:18 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Just back from the West Seattle Community Christmas Tree Lighting in The Junction. Great crowd — couple hundred, we’d estimate — despite the rain/snow slush mix falling from the sky, and soggy slushy mess underfoot. (The big outdoor heaters, the type you find on restaurant patios, really helped!) We’ll post video a little later. Meantime, speaking of video, two people have e-mailed us with links to videos they’ve put on YouTube showing today’s West Seattle snow — this one is from Adam Dorsey, this one is from Steve Heck. One more big round of thanks to everyone who’s sent photos, video links, info, etc., for us to share during this snow day; next up – rain and wind, they say.

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Continuous updates: West Seattle snow
December 1, 2007 5:04 pm
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

FINAL ADDITION, 9:25 PM: WSB contributing photographer Matt Durham captured two classic images today at Fairmount Park, images of the snow inspiring pure enjoyment: First, 14-year-old Cecilia Silva, trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue as the flurries began:

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Second, a Brittany Spaniel romping on the Fairmount field:

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(Prints of Matt’s WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.)

TWELFTH REPORT, 5 PM: The weather service’s latest “forecast discussion” says we should see a few more hours of light snow before something resembling rain moves in. And we have another round of photos — first one is from Jana in Upper Fauntleroy, verifying our report that Vashon was coming back into view before nightfall – following three are from Adam, showing Whale Tail Park, activity at Alki Playfield, and sand covered with snow at Alki Beach:

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ELEVENTH REPORT, 4:09 PM: Might be some hope it’s slowing down – looking west over the Sound, Vashon is visible for the first time in more than 2 hours. Meantime, more photos: First, a WSB photo of Santa Claus himself dancing in the snow with a Hi-Yu Princess at Hometown Holidays HQ, where we will be attending the Christmas Tree Lighting tonight (ceremony starts @ 6, Dickens Carolers @ 5:30) come h**l or high water … er … snow; second one is from Britnie along California Ave, also in The Junction; third one is from Andrew in Gatewood, same spot where he photographed Zoe enjoying the first few flakes earlier (scroll way down on this post for that photo):

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TENTH REPORT, 3:40 PM: Just back from a chilly yet fun round of snowball-throwing – try it if you haven’t already. Thanks to everyone for the continued stream of photos: first, David Hutchinson sends a new view of Alki Ave and the bathhouse; second, Amy from Fauntleroy sends a view she says would normally show the ferry dock:

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NINTH REPORT, 3:10 PM: Snow up here is only falling at flurry speed right now, but from all over West Seattle, we have lots of new pix – three for starters — from top to bottom, we have daPuffin‘s dog Mani in Arbor Heights, barely recognizable under the snow; Eddie‘s photo from just west of The Junction; and Stephen‘s overview of the Hometown Holidays corner:

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EIGHTH REPORT, 2:55 PM: Photo from Creighton on Genesee Hill, where he says it’s “only getting snowier”:

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SEVENTH REPORT, 2:40 PM: Been watching a 911 call at Avalon/Genesee (map); reader report from Alice says it appears to be a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision, and it’s causing traffic trouble, so stay away from that area. Team member who’s down at Morgan Junction Thriftway says the roads are OK down there.

SIXTH REPORT, 2:35 PM: Now the snow is sticking on the road, at least up here. One member of the team just headed down the hill and will be back with a road-conditions report (and Thriftway crowds). Here are two more WSB reader photos — first, Lisa spotted a hummingbird seeking protection from the snow; second, Ashley‘s photo from SW Orchard (Gatewood):

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FIFTH REPORT, 2:20 PM: Two more photos (as the snow intensifies up here again) — first one from David Hutchinson looking out at Alki, second one from Dunsany in Highland Park:

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FOURTH REPORT, 2:10 PM: It’s lightened up a bit on our hill. Meantime, here’s the view Jan sent from Admiral:

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THIRD REPORT, 1:55 PM: Even up here on the highest hills, while it’s sticking on plants and cars, the street is still “bare and wet” – not quite cold enough at this point for anything else (our temp gauge says 35) …

SECOND REPORT, 1:30 PM: Starting to stick. Just got this WSB reader photo from Andrew near 36th/Morgan, captioned “Zoe in the snow” – keep the pix coming, we’ll post ’em all here as a running commentary of WS in the snow:

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FIRST REPORT, 1:07 PM: At least, it’s snowing here in the higher elevations of south West Seattle. Some of these flakes are coin-sized, though not sticking much so far; hard to photograph but here’s an early shot looking down California from Upper Fauntleroy (send your pix as the day goes on!):

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Latest “forecast discussion”
December 1, 2007 5:08 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle weather

The local meteorologists with the National Weather Service usually update it in the wee hours – here’s the latest. We’ll of course be on intensive snow patrol if those flakes really start to fall. Meantime, in the calm before the expected storm, let’s start the day with a great photo by WSB contributing photographer Matt Durham:

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Matt’s caption: Kite designer Gregory S. Kono tests a “Rockaway Bikini” kite he built from scratch. The maiden flight was successful Thursday morning as cold winds whipped across Alki Beach. Gregory Kono, owner of West Seattle’s “Kono Design,” has been teaching kite-making workshops since 2002. Classes and more information can be found at Gregory’s website at www.konodesign.com.

(Prints of Matt’s WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.)

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