Good morning, this is Seattle Local Pulse for Thursday, January 8, 2026.
We wake up today under classic Seattle skies, with scattered showers, low clouds, and highs in the low to mid 40s. Fox 13 Seattle says the real action is in the mountains, where a winter storm warning is bringing heavy snow to the Cascades, great for the passes and the ski areas but a reminder to pack chains if we are heading over Snoqualmie or Stevens. Here in the city, we might see some brief showers but also some dry breaks later in the day, with a calmer, somewhat drier stretch heading into the weekend.
From City Hall, council members continue to focus on public safety and housing. We are seeing more pressure around encampment cleanup near I 5 and along Dearborn Street, and growing debate about how to speed up affordable housing permits in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Rainier Valley. These decisions affect how quickly new units come online and how our sidewalks and transit corridors feel day to day.
On the job front, local recruiters report that tech and health care remain our steadiest sectors, even after several rounds of restructuring downtown and in South Lake Union. Average posted salaries for software roles are still sitting near the mid six figures, while health care and skilled trades around Sodo and Georgetown are adding dozens of openings this month as major infrastructure and clinic projects move forward.
In real estate, agents say Seattle’s median home price is hovering just under the mid 800 thousands, with slightly more inventory in Ballard, West Seattle, and Northgate. Condos around South Lake Union and Belltown are lingering on the market longer, giving buyers a little more leverage than they had a year ago.
Culturally, we have a full slate as we head toward the weekend. The Paramount is hosting touring acts tonight, while smaller venues along Pike and Pine on Capitol Hill are featuring local indie bands and jazz sets. At Seattle Center, the Armory is busy again with winter events, and families are heading to the Pacific Science Center to take advantage of indoor activities on this damp day.
In school news, several Seattle high school robotics teams are kicking off their new competition season this week, with groups from Roosevelt, Franklin, and Chief Sealth building and testing robots after class. On the sports side, the Kraken are riding momentum at Climate Pledge Arena after a strong offensive showing earlier this week, and the Seahawks offseason conversation is already turning to draft needs and coaching decisions.
For community events, farmers markets in neighborhoods like Ballard and University District are getting ready for their winter weekend hours, and neighborhood councils from West Seattle Junction to Lake City are meeting over the next few days to talk traffic calming and small business support.
Our feel good note today comes from Beacon Hill, where neighbors along 15th Avenue South organized a block wide clothing and winter gear drive, filling pop up racks with coats, hats, and gloves for anyone who needs them. Volunteers say they plan to keep it going through the rest of the cold season.
On the crime front, Seattle police report a mix of property crime and a few serious incidents in the last 24 hours, including several car break ins in Belltown near First Avenue and Wall Street, and a reported armed robbery near Rainier Avenue South late last night. Officers made at least one arrest tied to a string of catalytic converter thefts in North Seattle. Police are asking that we stay aware of our surroundings, lock vehicles, and report suspicious activity, especially around transit hubs like Westlake and Northgate Stations.
As we move through this showery Thursday, we keep umbrellas handy, give ourselves extra travel time on I 5 and the West Seattle Bridge, and make space for each other out on the sidewalks, in the buses, and in our neighborhoods.
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