3:30pm 12/23/08 UPDATE: As of 3pm, the National Weather Service released this Winter Storm Advisory – 2 to 4 inches of snow are expected Wed. Dec. 24th, with a transition to rain also:
… Winter Weather Advisory in effect from midnight tonight to 4 am PST Thursday…
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow… which is in effect from midnight tonight to 4 am PST Thursday. This upgrades the Winter Storm Watch which had been in effect.
Snow is expected to begin after midnight tonight and continue through Wednesday morning. The snow will be light at first but then increase its intensity on Wednesday morning. Late on Wednesday morning or early in the afternoon… locations below 500 to 1000 feet will transition to a cold rain… while higher hills continue with snow through Wednesday afternoon.
Snowfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected. Significantly higher amounts are possible on hills above 500 to 1000 feet or anywhere that precipitation might continue as snow through the afternoon and evening.
Snow showers could bring additional accumulations on Christmas day.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means that periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities… and use caution while driving.
Also, this update about garbage collection in Normandy Park:
Garbage Collection
Allied Waste has not been able to collect residential garbage and recycling due to road conditions. City staff and Allied Waste have arranged for residential drop off services at two locations in Normandy Park.Residential customers will have access to collection vehicles/containers for residential garbage and recyclables on Wednesday, December 24th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the locations below:
City Hall Parking Lot – 801 S.W. 174th Street
and
Marvista Park Parking Lot – 19900 4th Avenue S.W.
Regular collection services will resume when road conditions improve and collection vehicles are able to safely operate on residential streets.
11:15am 12/23/08 UPDATE: Looks like another snow storm is coming tonight (Tues. 12/23), with up to six more inches of snow predicted to fall overnight.
Perhaps we will indeed have a “White Christmas” after all?
AREA UPDATES:
- City Hall and the Parks office will be open today until 2pm.
- Burien Parks and Recreation programs are cancelled for today.
- No garbage/recycling pickup today (more details here).
- Road crews continue to plow and sand streets starting with main arterials and moving to secondary streets when they are able. More details about priority routes can be found on our Snow & Ice Routes Map [PDF]. Please drive with extreme caution and only if necessary.
WEATHER UPDATE:
Here’s the latest Winter Storm Watch from the National Weather Service:
… Winter Storm Watch in effect from late tonight through Wednesday evening…
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Winter Storm Watch… which is in effect from late tonight through Wednesday evening.
Another low pressure system is expected to drop southeast into the Pacific northwest late tonight into Wednesday. A relatively cold air mass will be in place ahead of this system. With the cold air in place… up to another six inches of new snow is possible by Wednesday evening with the snow beginning sometime late tonight. As the system moves through… the low level wind flow will become southwesterly. This should warm up the air mass enough to change the precipitation from snow to rain. This transition is expected to occur Wednesday afternoon but there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the timing of this transition if it even occurs at all.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A Winter Storm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe winter weather. If you must travel in the watch area… carry an extra flashlight… food… water… and blankets in case of emergency.
Live webcam view from Sea-Tac Airport.
Refresh page to get latest image.
Also, according to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport’s stranded travelers are starting to clear out, which must be a relief for everyone who got stuck there.
A local tech Writer named John Cook got stranded at Sea-Tac for seven hours, and here’s a snippet from his blog:
Seven hours.
That’s how long my fellow passengers and I spent waiting on the airport tarmac Sunday as an uncharacteristic winter blast brought SeaTac airport to a grinding halt.
Here’s a link to his interesting first-hand account.
And here’s an update from the Port on the current airport conditions:
The airport is open and the runways are clear for operations. The situation is improving, but there are still flight cancellations and delays. Please check with your airline before starting for the airport. You can also check your flight status online (http://hosting.portseattle.org/fids/FlightInfo.aspx) on the Port’s Web site or via text messaging.
If your scheduled flight is canceled, rebook travel over the Internet or over the phone; do not come to the airport. Long lines at the ticket counters make it more efficient and quicker to rebook off-site.
If a scheduled flight is planned to depart, allow extra travel time to the airport to accommodate challenging regional road conditions and lines at ticket counters and security checkpoints. Plan to arrive at the airport two hours before departure time. It’s a good idea to bring necessary items (diapers, snacks, etc.) in case there are delays and/or long wait times. Airport concessions are open, stocked and prepared to serve.
The airport is continuing to provide volunteer staff in the terminal to assist passengers, answer questions, and assist with line control / crowd control issues.
Live webcam view from Sea-Tac Airport.
Refresh page to get latest image.
Sea-Tac Airport is apparently jammed full of people stuck as the result of numerous flight cancellations and delays.
Apparently Alaska and Horizon Airlines resumed limited service Monday after thousands of stranded travelers spent the night at the airport, where hundreds of flights have been canceled since Friday.
If you’ve got travel plans and want to get the latest information, we recommend a two-pronged approach using both your telephone and internet:
- Call your airline via the number listed below (or on your itinerary/ticket).
- At the same time, try accessing the Port of Seattle’s travel info website or your specific airline’s website.
So basically, you’ll have a phone in your ear while you surf the web, and eventually you’ll either get through or you’ll get your update. Just don’t give up.
Here’s the latest update from the Port of Seattle (access their airport travel info website here):
The airlines continue to face a number of challenges during this weather event.
Many flights been canceled. Please check your flight before coming to Sea-Tac Airport.
See contact information below:
- Aeromexico 800 237-6639
- Air Canada (including Air Canada regional airlines) 800 247-2262
- Air France 800 237-2747
- AirTran Airways 800-247-8726
- Alaska Airlines 800 426-0333
- American Airlines 800 433-7300
- Asiana Airlines 800 227-4262
- British Airways 800 247-9297
- Continental Airlines 800 525-0280
- Delta Air Lines 800 221-1212
- EVA Air 800 695-1188
- Frontier Airlines 800 432-1359
- Hainan Airlines 888 688-8813
- Hawaiian Airlines 800 367-5320
- Horizon Air 800 547-9308
- JetBlue Airways 1-800-JETBLUE
- Korean Air 800-438-5000, (206) 241-1576
- Lufthansa Airlines 800 399-LUFT
- Midwest Airlines 800 452-2022
- Northwest Airlines 800 225-2525
- Scandinavian Airlines 800 221-2350
- Southwest Airlines 800 435-9792
- Sun Country Airlines 800 359-6786
- United Airlines (including United Express) 800 241-6522
- US Airways 800 428-4322
- Virgin America 877 359-8474
The white blanket is really covering up the Brrrien area today (including the B-Town Blogmobile above), with upwards of over a foot of snow, and here are some updates to keep in mind as you either continue to hunker down or dare to go out:
SEA-TAC AIRPORT UPDATE:
- Some flights are resuming, others remain canceled. Best bet is to check the Port of Seattle’s airport website here (note: their website appears to be overloaded so be patient). Here’s a statement from that site: Many airlines have suspended or canceled flights, while others are continuing to operate. Travelers should check with their specific airlines for schedule confirmations or changes. Inclement weather at several other major airports has caused delayed arrivals and departures, causing the airlines to have aircraft at the wrong airports for scheduled flights (i.e. if an expected flight from Denver didn’t arrive at Sea-Tac as scheduled in the evening, it cannot depart in the morning).
SCHOOL CLOSURES:
- We’re sure you’re aware of this, but just in case – ALL PUBLIC & PRIVATE CHILDREN’S SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED, as it’s now Winter Break.
- Highline School District’s Admin offices are also CLOSED.
- South Seattle Community College is CLOSED.
- Highline Community College is CLOSED.
CITY OF BURIEN:
- Burien City Hall will be open for limited hours, 10:00am – 2:00pm on Monday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 23. Please check http://www.burienwa.gov for weather related closures and information.
- All Burien Parks and Recreation scheduled programs have been canceled for Monday.
- Road crews continue to plow and sand streets as snow has continued to fall, starting with main arterials and moving to secondary streets when they are able. More details about priority routes can be found on our Snow & Ice Routes Map [PDF]. Please drive with extreme caution and only if necessary.
CITY OF NORMANDY PARK:
- Normandy Park’s City Hall is CLOSED today due to weather and travel conditions. City Hall will open late on Tuesday, December 23rd at 10:00AM and close at 2PM.
- Road crews reported most of the main routes have been plowed and sanded. Please drive with extreme caution and only if necessary.
LIBRARY UPDATES:
- Far as we can tell, both the Burien and White Center library branches are open today from 10am-9pm.
- More info on library closures available here.
OTHER CLOSURES:
- Garbage & recycling service has been CANCELED for today; Waste Management says: “Double volume next regular collection day for each missed container” when in fact it would be TRIPLE VOLUME!; more info here: http://www.wmnorthwest.com/weatherboard.html
- King County District Court will be CLOSED.
METRO BUS SERVICE:
- Once again due to the weather and dangerous driving conditions, King County Metro Transit will be operating approximately half of its normal bus service for Monday, Dec. 22. Information about bus status is available on Metro’s Ice & Snow page, which is updated frequently. You can also call the Metro Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000, but call volumes are high and there may be a wait to talk to a CIO representative.
OTHER TIPS/COMMENTS:
- To see live road conditions via webcam feeds, go to our Webcams page.
- If you haven’t started your car since the snow first fell, you should start it up. Also, wipe off the windshield and do NOT turn on your wipers, unless your windshield is warmed up and there’s no ice around them – turning on frozen windshield wipers can strip the gears and thus ruin them.
- Make sure your pets are okay. BTB Reader Katie Hicks sends us this email: “Could you please remind people that it is FREEZING outside and they should let their pets that live outdoors IN! It is making me sick to my stomach that I have seen dogs sleeping outside!”
The Port of Seattle posted a pretty cool video of salmon migrating up Miller Creek on its website devoted to the third runway, because it relates to the restoration of Miller Creek:
“…part of the mitigation program for the construction of the soon-to-open third runway is the restoration of Miller Creek to a natural environment.
A major sign of success was videotaped for the first time since restoration was completed – spawning salmon returning to the creek:”
