A significant power outage impacting approximately 9,900 Seattle City Light customers in North Seattle began on Monday around 1:30 PM PT. The cause of the outage is currently under investigation. The outage primarily affected the East Lake and Capitol Hill neighborhoods, with 9,900 customers reporting outages in this area alone.
Crews are responding to an outage in the East Lake / Capitol Hill area affecting approx. 9900 customers. The cause is under investigation, and an estimated time of restoration is yet to be determined. Follow along on our outage map at: https://t.co/ijUJXHhsDH. pic.twitter.com/HwZSu1CPBF
— Seattle City Light (@SEACityLight) July 14, 2025
Outage Map Updates
.@SEACityLight outage in Capitol Hill and surrounding areas leading to multiple dark and flashing signals.
Treat dark and flashing signals as all-way stops and use caution. pic.twitter.com/WppbeVwDjb— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) July 14, 2025
The Seattle City Light outage map is updated every five minutes, indicating outage locations with color-coded polygons (red for major outages and yellow for minor ones).
Current Outage Details
As of 3:00 PM PT, the map displayed 19 active outages affecting 9,900 customers in North Seattle (with the majority in the East Lake and Capitol Hill areas). By 10:00 PM PT, updates indicated partial restoration, though between 2,500 and 3,000 customers remained without power.
Restoration Timeline
Initially, Seattle City Light estimated power restoration by 6:05 PM PT on Monday. However, updates on X and the outage map later extended this estimate to 10:30 PM PT for some areas. By 11:00 PM PT, the utility reported ongoing work, warning that some regions could be without power until 8:00 PM PT on Tuesday due to complex repairs.
Impacted Areas
The outage significantly affected neighborhoods in North Seattle, including Lake City, Maple Leaf, and Green Lake. Nearly 10,000 customers faced disruptions, impacting homes, businesses, and remote work capabilities. Residents were advised to keep refrigerators closed (food remains safe for up to 4 hours if unopened), avoid candles, and use flashlights to reduce fire risks.
Those relying on medical devices were urged to contact Seattle City Light or seek nearby healthcare facilities for assistance.
Safety and Preparation Tips
Residents should avoid downed power lines by staying at least 35 feet away and report any hazards to (206) 684-3000. Instead of using candles, residents are encouraged to use battery-powered lights and operate generators outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Additionally, keeping a seven-day emergency kit stocked with food, water, flashlights, and batteries is recommended. Residents should monitor NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) for weather updates as the situation develops.