WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Power outage for 3,200+ customers blamed on tree

2:52 PM: After another burst of wind gusts, the power’s out for some in West Seattle. So far we’re hearing from the Admiral area. (Our lights flickered here in the south but the power’s still on.) Not yet mapped. Updates to come,

2:54 PM: Now it’s mapped. 3,292 customers in northeast West Seattle – part of Delridge, too. … Note that you’ll hear sirens because power outages tend to set off some automatic fire alarms and strand people in elevators, and SFD has to respond to those calls. (Added – Reader photo of Ladder 13 at Salty’s on Alki [WSB sponsor] for an elevator rescue:)

3:03 PM: Note that some businesses are affected as well as signalized intersections (that means the latter are all all-ways stops). … Another standard reminder: The “estimated restoration time” on the SCL map is absolutely meaningless – power could be back in five minutes or five hours. Commenters in North Delridge report hearing the type of noise pre-outage that suggests tree vs. wire but no specific reports yet – if you see City Light crews at work, let us know!

3:34 PM: Outage is down to 1,310 customers, per SCL map:

3:58 PM: The “elevator rescue” calls are all resolved now, but at one point both West Seattle ladder trucks were busy with them, so a third truck – Ladder 1, based at Station 10 in the International District – had to be called over. Here’s a texted reader photo of its response at 1661 Alki SW:

4:09 PM: From SCL: “The current West Seattle outage was caused by a tree coming down onto wires in the vicinity of 26th and Nevada.” … We don’t have specifics on this tree but if you know of a tree that appears to be a threat to power stability, SCL does have a form you can use to report it – find it here.

4:38 PM: Commenters report SCL is working at 28th/Nevada. Here’s a photo from Chris:

4:58 PM: The outage has disappeared from the map, which means everybody should be back on now.

31 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Power outage for 3,200+ customers blamed on tree"

  • DarkDelridge February 3, 2023 (2:53 pm)

    Power is out at 26th and Genesse. Two loud sounds then lights out

  • Manacore February 3, 2023 (2:54 pm)

    Power outage on ferry

  • Nathan February 3, 2023 (2:54 pm)

    Out in N. Delridge on 26th Ave Sw

  • sam-c February 3, 2023 (2:55 pm)

    There were a few flickers and audible “booms” in N. Delridge    

  • Gregory James Nickels February 3, 2023 (2:56 pm)

    We’re out in Harbor. 

  • Bill at Duwamish Head February 3, 2023 (3:00 pm)

    Power out here at Duwamish Head

  • Phineas t bluster February 3, 2023 (3:00 pm)

    34th n Charlestown out

  • James February 3, 2023 (3:17 pm)

    33/Andover out. Heard transformer blow. 

  • Grittygrits February 3, 2023 (3:23 pm)

    Sitting at Talarico’s – lights flickered several times. Power is on.

  • Delridge February 3, 2023 (3:26 pm)

    Yep same here. 30th & Genessee is out as well. Heard about two or three loud bangs ol before losing power at 2:30 ish

  • Stan Fellows February 3, 2023 (3:28 pm)

    How is it that my TV is on if the power is out? Wait, I have an idea! I heard a boom too, but maybe that was part of the TV show

    • Phineas February 3, 2023 (4:23 pm)

      Stan, ya gotta chk rest of your house, before fantasizing about a TV being on in a house w/o elec. service.

  • Tyna February 3, 2023 (3:38 pm)

    3:35 Power back on in Belvidere/N. Admiral

  • Ernie February 3, 2023 (3:42 pm)

    Power is back around Admiral and Belvedere!

  • Bill at Duwamish Head February 3, 2023 (3:44 pm)

    Back on!!!

  • Chris February 3, 2023 (3:54 pm)

    I saw the flashes coming from an electrical pole on SW Nevada Street (adjacent to Dragonfly Greenbelt/Longfellow Creek area.). Nice afternoon fireworks show – thanks Seattle Light for yet another West Seattle power outage.

    • Pdavis February 3, 2023 (8:37 pm)

      It’s not fair to blame city light for what happened today. Soil instability, and High-winds can set up a tree falling no matter how diligent city light is.But I do agree with you that we have a ridiculously high number of power outages, so hopefully city light couldn’t get deeper into why that happensMeanwhile, thank you city light for getting our power back quickly today!

  • Jamee February 3, 2023 (3:58 pm)

    Thank you to city light!  Our power is back on!  East of the Met Market.  

  • DarkDelridge February 3, 2023 (4:06 pm)

    City light crews driving west on Nevada (west of 26th) not sure if they have found anything yet

    • WSB February 3, 2023 (4:10 pm)

      Thanks! They JUST said it was a tree fall near 26th/Nevada.

      • Sw February 3, 2023 (4:34 pm)

        Is SCL saying They knOw the outage is caused by a tree but they can’t find the tree yet?

  • DarkDelridge February 3, 2023 (4:11 pm)

    City light crew at Nevada and 28th

  • Chris February 3, 2023 (4:16 pm)

    Seattle Light just arrived, they are working away – 28th and SW Nevada

    • WSB February 3, 2023 (4:35 pm)

      Thanks for the photo!

  • Lee February 3, 2023 (4:17 pm)

    Any idea when it will be back on? I have such weak signal with service where I live 

  • Delridge February 3, 2023 (4:53 pm)

    Woo! Power is back on as of 4:50pm in north Delridge! 30th & Genessee a block from where the tree fell.

  • carolei February 3, 2023 (5:00 pm)

    Power just came back on at 26th & Hudson on the west side of the street. The east side of 26th near me didn’t lose power this time.

  • Anders February 3, 2023 (6:18 pm)

    After the ‘booms’ of  what sounded like transformer blowing earlier today,  we’re quite pleased that power is restored in even the hardest hit areas – all in under 2 1/2 hours. Got power to make dinner, lights are on, and will have both heat and hot water :) Now we can have a nice relaxing evening instead of a dark and cold “adventure” tonight.   I say, hats off and Thank You, SLC field crews! 

  • Lizabeth February 3, 2023 (10:50 pm)

    Our power is out again tonight

    • WSB February 3, 2023 (11:10 pm)

      Are you east of Camp Long? SCL map shows one very small outage there. If not, call them to be sure they know (if you haven’t already) …

  • Del February 4, 2023 (1:37 pm)

    All these rules about not being able to cut down significantly trees is coming back to bite us when they get so big it causes safety issues, but the city won’t permit to cut them down. 

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