Our sister site, Maple Leaf Life, posted this story earlier today:

Update: The weather service issued a short-term forecast at 1: 24 p.m. Wednesday: “The approaching storm system provided a period of warmth and sun earlier today… but now the clouds, rain and wind will begin to impact the area and increase in speed. The evening commute will be rainy with the rain heavy at times.”

————————
Looks like the National Weather Service pegged this storm’s arrival just about right:

“Light northeast winds across the region this morning will … rise quickly during the early afternoon, with local winds of 30 mph and gusts to 45 mph continuing through late evening. The winds will ease after midnight.”

The weather service issued a wind advisory for the entire Seattle area, and about 1 p.m. Wednesday a still, sunny day turned cloudy, with winds gusting to around 11 mph. Much more is forecast, including rain.

On his weather blog, University of Washington Professor Cliff Mass says the worst will hit the coast, “with areas immediately offshore experiencing 60 kt sustained winds and hurricane-force gusts.”

The Fremont library will close early again today because of heat.

They will be closing up at 4 p.m. because the temperature inside is about 90 degrees. Queen Anne, Green Lake, Columbia, West Seattle, University and Northeast branches are also closing early. Here’s a list of libraries with air conditioning. (File photo from JavaColleen.)

The Fremont library closed this afternoon because of the hot weather. The library closed at 1 p.m. because the internal temperature reached 90 degrees. The Fremont branch is one of four Carnegie buildings, none of which have air conditioning. Green Lake, Queen Anne, Columbia and the Northeast branches also closed because of heat. We haven’t heard if the branches will remain closed through the heat wave or if they’ll be closing daily when the inside mercury hits 90. To find out which branches are still open with a/c click here.

The National Weather Service has issued an “excessive heat warning” through Thursday at 6 p.m. Forecasters are predicting 90+ degree heat through the first half of the week, peaking as high as 98 degrees on Wednesday.

John Gilmore took this amazing photo at Seafood Fest yesterday as firefighters cooled off the crowd. (Copyrighted photo published with permission.)

We just stopped by the Fred Meyer on NW 45th St. and discovered plenty of big box fans still for sale for $22.99 each, but you can bet they won’t last long. There are also lots of air conditioners selling right now on Craigslist. So, what’s your strategy to keep cool during the heat wave?

Even though the Fremont Market shut down today due to the inclement weather, residents and visitors were still walking around downtown Fremont. The snow continued to fall this morning, adding a new layer of fluff over the icy crust that formed on the snow last night, and allowing a few folks to ski right past the Red Door.

Only a few businesses weren’t open- Flying Apron, El Camino, Blue C, and Yak’s; Many, were still operating, some with a skeleton crew, like Cold Stone Creamery which was only available for cake pickup, and Dad Watson’s, which was opening at bit later than usual at 1 p.m. Fremont Place Books was open, nearly all the coffee shops downtown were busy. Frame Up Studios, Willow and Bloom were also open, as were Silence-Heart-Nest and The Red Door. The PCC was bustling with customers stocking up on supplies and stopping in for a warm meal. Or, in one case, showing kids how to knock snow shelves down with snowballs:

Some cheerful artist had made smiley faces in the snow on a number of the cars parked along Fremont Ave., and a number of snowmen could be seen throughout downtown Fremont.

Last, but not least, a few Fremonsters braved the snow to sip their lattes down at Peet’s:

Enjoy the snow in Fremont, all, but stay warm!

It’s the official first day of winter, and Fremont residents are waking up to as much as 5 inches of new snow on the ground.

This is that stuck taxi cab on 38th and Fremont Ave., now covered in thick snow that nearly reaches the top of the curb.

And the Waiting for Interurban along 34th St. The overnight snow was followed by freezing rain, creating a slick, crunchy top layer which makes for very treacherous driving conditions. So please be very careful out there if you must drive. (Photos by kmacs83. See more here.)

Despite the forecast, many Fremont businesses were still open on Saturday. Peet’s is serving coffee, 35th Street Bistro is open for lunch, and the Wine Warehouse is holding its holiday wine tasting on schedule. It seems like the only place closed for the weather is the library, but many businesses are making adjustments for the weather- 35th Street Bistro was seating patrons primarily on one side of the restaurant, where the heaters are, for instance.

Some of the side streets are closed, like this one which has been blocked by a taxi that apparently hit a parked car, but Fremont Ave. is still running, though much less busy than usual. And, amazingly, there is parking to be found in downtown Fremont- it’s certainly not 75 percent full today. The snow has finally started falling, however, and many Fremonsters are settling in for another round of winter weather. Stay safe, Fremont!

Due to the weather, some of the bus routes in Fremont are operating on snow routes or have been cancelled altogether. The 5, 26, 28, 30, 31, 46 and 82 all run through downtown Fremont. Only the 26 is operating on its normal route. The 31 and 46 have been suspended entirely.

The rest of the routes seem to be running through downtown Fremont just fine- they have been rerouted elsewhere along their paths.

The 5 is currently operating on a snow reroute, going to Shoreline only, not Northgate. The 28 is only going to N. 85th St. The 30 seems to be running its normal route from the U-District to Fremont, but has been rerouted to avoid the hill on 40th going from Fremont to the U-District- it is instead operating along 45th heading east. No word yet on the 82- it’s a late-night route.

If you know of any unannounced reroutes (the 30, for instance has not been announced on the Metro site, but was shared with me by a driver this evening), or have any information to add, please leave a comment. For updated service information, please check the Metro website.

Updated 1:15 p.m.: The meteorologists were 24 hours late, but the snow has finally arrived. Traffic is moving smoothly along Fremont’s primary routes — which are getting sanded and de-iced by transportation crews — but conditions are still slick, thanks to the very cold temperatures.

This is Fremont Ave. heading down the hill.

The main intersection at Fremont Ave. and 36th.

Looking up 35th from Fremont Ave. Metro buses have chained up and are still running their routes, but a little behind schedule.

The Lenin statue covered in snow.

Waiting for the Interurban. (Photo by Ryan).

Out in front of Fremont Place books. We stopped in and talked to a few merchants today, who said business is slower today thanks to the snow. But a few locals are doing some holiday shopping. Stay safe out there!