The City of Seattle is tracking this week’s cold weather system and activating our response teams as needed. This blog will be updated with the latest on places to get indoors and out of the cold; critical infrastructure status; changes to City services; and tips to stay warm and safe. Sign up for AlertSeattle, the City’s official emergency alert system, to get updates on service impacts.
12/22 Update
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Seattle through 7:00 PM Friday. Seattle should be prepared for possible dangerously cold temperatures, snow accumulation, freezing rain, and black ice through Friday morning. Travel conditions will be hazardous. People and pets should get indoors and stay indoors when possible.
Emergency warming spaces including at Seattle City Hall and Seattle Center are available for day and overnight use through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority for people without shelter and their pets, check here for hours and locations.
People should avoid or delay travel if possible – particularly driving which may be dangerous with ice hazards on Seattle’s hills. If you must drive, plan ahead, go slow, treat signals without power as stop signs, and look out for plows or road closure signs. If walking, be cautious of ice on sidewalks and paths and be on the lookout for falling ice from buildings or falling tree branches in parks.
- Find real-time updates of road plowing at Seattle Department of Transportations’ Plow Map, view the snow plow route map, or learn more about traveling safely on the SDOT Winter Weather page.
- Find real-time updates of power outages on the Seattle City Light Outage Map, or report an outage at (206) 684-3000.
- If pipes burst, immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop flooding. If the main shut-off valve cannot be turned off, Seattle Public Utilities customers can call (206) 386-1800 for help.
- Solid waste collection from Seattle Public Utilities is experiencing delays as of 12/22/22, sign up for AlertSeattle to get updates for your neighborhood.
- Seattle Public Library branches are experiencing closures and reduced hours as of 12/22/22, check here for the latest.
- Seattle’s parks and athletic fields remain open unless otherwise indicated, but other facilities and programs are closed or have reduced hours as of 12/22/22, check here for the latest.
- Residents and businesses are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and helping keep them accessible for our neighbors. It’s the law, and the right thing to do.
- Residents are reminded to never use charcoal grills or portal gas stoves indoors, use household heaters safely, and to bring pets indoors and let outside only when necessary.
For the latest information, signup for AlertSeattle messages and check this blog.