See our current coverage and most recent photos HERE:
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2012/12/16/news/slideshow-storm-slams-…
UPDATE 8:15 AM Dec. 17
The storm surge has entirely flooded Alki Beach in conjunction with the 12.8 foot high tide this morning. We have reports coming in from commuters who took the Vashon to Fauntleroy ferry run and said it was rough. The ferry had trouble getting to the dock. Rhonda Porter of Beach Drive Blog reports flooding in her Beach Drive home and had pumps running now to remove the shin deep water. More photos and reports coming up.
UPDATE 6:25AM Dec. 17
Wind gusts up to 55 mph have been reported at Alki but no power outages in West Seattle/White Center at this hour. 11, 000 or more customers are without power in SeaTac and in the South Beacon Hill area with a some pocket outages in the Burien/Normandy Park area. The 12.8 high tide reaches its peak at 8:17am so you can expect storm surge in low lying areas. You can check on the City Light System status here: http://www.seattle.gov/light/sysstat/
UPDATE 5AM Dec. 17
Winds picked up overnight as predicted and the National Weather Service said the wind advisory remains in effect until 4 pm today. There are reports of downed trees and power outages including 6282 east of I-5 in the Seward Park area at the 5AM hour. The high tide this morning will be 12.8 and should result in some storm surge for coastal areas. We have reporters out in the field this morning to bring you the latest on any power outages or downed trees.
Here's the most recent NWS Forecast:
"...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST MONDAY...
* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...SEATTLE...EVERETT...BELLEVUE...AND
BREMERTON.
* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR LATE TONIGHT AND
MONDAY MORNING.
* WIND...WINDS WILL RAPIDLY RISE LATE TONIGHT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
AT 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH. THE STRONG WINDS WILL
CONTINUE AT TIMES MONDAY MORNING...THEN EASE MONDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS...WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP SMALL TREE BRANCHES...
TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW ROOTED TREES...AND CAUSE LOCAL POWER
OUTAGES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR
GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY."
UPDATE 4PM Dec. 16
The winds that the National Weather Service were warning about? They've been downgraded a bit from a "High Wind Watch" to a "Wind Advisory" in the most recent update. That doesn't mean it won't be windy, it will. It will just be less severe than they had previously anticipated.
Here's their latest forecast.
"...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST
MONDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST
MONDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...SEATTLE...EVERETT...BELLEVUE...AND
BREMERTON.
* TIMING...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR LATE TONIGHT AND MONDAY
MORNING.
* WIND...WINDS WILL RAPIDLY RISE LATE TONIGHT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
AT 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH. THE STRONG WINDS WILL
CONTINUE AT TIMES MONDAY MORNING...THEN EASE MONDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS...WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP SMALL TREE BRANCHES...
TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW ROOTED TREES...AND CAUSE LOCAL POWER
OUTAGES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR
GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY."
UPDATE 11:35 Dec. 16
The forecast by the National Weather Service is holding steady for high winds overnight into Monday morning. The King Tide this morning of 13 feet coupled with strong winds made for wet streets and walkways on the west side of the peninsula. Based on the forecast it will be stronger winds up to 58 mph along with a 12.8 foot tide Monday morning.
NWS FORECAST
"...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE PUGET SOUND REGION AND
SOUTHWEST INTERIOR FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...
* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...SEATTLE...EVERETT...TACOMA...CHEHALIS...
OLYMPIA...SHELTON...AND BELLEVUE.
* TIMING...STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE
TONIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
* WIND...INCREASING FROM THE SOUTH AT 20 TO 35 WITH GUSTS TO 60
MPH LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
* IMPACTS...HIGH WINDS CAN TOPPLE TREES...DOWN POWER LINES ..AND
DAMAGE PROPERTY. THE HIGH WINDS COULD ALSO LEAD TO POWER
OUTAGES...THUS RESIDENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS DAMAGING WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH AND/OR
GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR HIGHER ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING."
UPDATE 9:25pm Dec. 15
The National Weather Service has updated its forecast and it calls for very high winds including a High Wind Watch in effect Sunday night through Monday morning with gusts up to 60 mph.
Here's their forecast:
"..A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING A THREAT OF HIGH WINDS
TO WESTERN WASHINGTON FROM LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING...
.A 975 MB SURFACE LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OFF THE COAST OF
WASHINGTON ON SUNDAY. LATEST COMPUTER MODELS INDICATE THE LOW
CENTER WILL MOVE ONTO THE WASHINGTON COAST EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
THE EXACT TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW REMAINS SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN AND
WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON WHERE HIGH WINDS DEVELOP.
...HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...
* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...SEATTLE...EVERETT...BELLEVUE...
TACOMA...OLYMPIA...SHELTON...AND CHEHALIS.
* TIMING...SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL RISE BEHIND A STRONG LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING.
* WIND...SOUTHWEST WINDS RISING TO 25 TO 35 WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH.
* IMPACTS...WINDS THIS STRONG CAN TOPPLE TREES...DOWN POWER
LINES...AND DAMAGE SOME STRUCTURES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A DAMAGING
WIND EVENT."
Original Post:
The so called King Tide, (when the sun, moon and earth align) brought the water level up to 13 feet Saturday morning but with relatively calm winds there wasn't much drama. That's about to change according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:
A STRONG PACIFIC STORM WILL BRING GUSTY WINDS TO THE AREA TODAY AS WELL AS RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW. AN EVEN STRONGER SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HIGH WINDS OVER THE COAST AND NORTH INTERIOR AS WELL AS HEAVY SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS. A COLDER AIR MASS WILL FOLLOW THIS SYSTEM MONDAY NIGHT...WITH SNOW LEVELS PREDICTED TO PLUMMET TO NEAR SEA LEVEL BY TUESDAY MORNING.
In fact they are predicting a chance of snow through next week.
But first the high tides and wind may combine over the next few days for some dramatic scenes near the water.
The 13 foot tide is back on Sunday and on Monday it will be 12.8 with "breezy" conditions, including gusts up to 32 mph. You can check the tide chart here.
The tides that are noteworthy are:
Saturday, Dec 15:
13.0 ft at 6:51 am
Sunday, Dec 16:
13.0 at 7:34 am
Monday, Dec 17:
12.9 at 8:17 am
With gusty winds, the storm surge will be a factor for low lying beachfront areas.
