West Seattle Power Restored After Five-Hour Outage; Junction Tree Fallen
Power has been restored to West Seattle after a significant outage that lasted approximately five hours. The incident predominantly affected northwest West Seattle, disrupting service for over 4,900 homes and businesses.
Causes of Outage
The outage was likely linked to downed trees, particularly one located at California/Alaska in The Junction. This tree caused traffic disruptions by blocking part of northbound California. Initial police communications suggested that another tree in the Admiral area may have been involved, although the precise location was not disclosed.
Weather Conditions
Strong winds contributed to the incident, with gusts prompting a delayed Wind Advisory from the National Weather Service. This advisory was issued at 6:10 PM and is effective until midnight, predicting gusts could reach 55 mph.
Timeline of Events
- 5:48 PM: Over 4,900 customers lose power in West Seattle.
- 6:42 PM: A Wind Advisory is posted by the National Weather Service.
- 7:57 PM: This incident marks the 15th outage in West Seattle this year affecting over 100 customers.
- 9:51 PM: The fifth hour of the outage concludes with no updates.
- 10:03 PM: The Wind Advisory is extended to 3 AM.
- 10:50 PM: Power restoration begins for most, with fewer than 100 customers still without service.
Impact and Recommendations
During the outage, it was advised that residents keep their refrigerators and freezers closed to maintain low temperatures. The situation highlights the importance of emergency preparedness in severe weather conditions.
This outage underscored the vulnerability of power infrastructure to inclement weather and the recurring problems resulting from downed trees in the region.
