Western Weather 2010-14

[Tony Crocker]

The storms that end up dropping lots of snow usually catch Colo forecasters by surprise - to a degree.

I suspect mountain forecasting in CO is difficult. Instead of the straightforward N/S axis of many western mountain ranges, there are branches in all directions. Probably a slight variation in the storm track results in much of the snow ending up in a different place than predicted.

 

[Admin]

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
307 AM MST SAT NOV 27 2010

...WINTER STORM TO IMPACT TRAVEL TONIGHT AND TOMORROW...

.A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE
REGION TONIGHT THROUGH TOMORROW...BRINGING WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL TO
THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF UTAH. THIS SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO BE
HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE DAY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW...AND WILL
LIKELY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOLIDAY TRAVELERS. SNOWFALL IS
EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY.

UTZ007>010-517-518-271900-
/O.UPG.KSLC.WS.A.0013.101128T0700Z-101129T1100Z/
/O.NEW.KSLC.WS.W.0015.101128T0300Z-101129T2300Z/
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WOODRUFF...RANDOLPH...ALTA...BRIGHTON...
HANNA...SCOFIELD...COVE FORT...KOOSHAREM...FISH LAKE...LOA...
PANGUITCH...BRYCE CANYON
307 AM MST SAT NOV 27 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM
MST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM MST MONDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA: THE MOUNTAINS OF UTAH.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: NEW SNOWFALL OF ONE TO TWO FEET IS EXPECTED
BY MONDAY AFTERNOON...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER TOTALS POSSIBLE ALONG
NORTHWEST FACING SLOPES.

* TIMING: SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN
SATURDAY NIGHT...AND BECOME HEAVY DURING THE DAY SUNDAY
BEFORE TAPERING OFF MONDAY.

* WINDS: NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL
BE POSSIBLE DURING THE DAY SUNDAY...WHICH MAY RESULT IN
BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF NEW SNOW.

* IMPACTS: SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON
TRAVEL LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY ACROSS THE HIGHER
TERRAIN OF UTAH...INCLUDING I-80 THROUGH THE WASATCH RANGE.
THOSE PLANNING TRAVEL TONIGHT AND TOMORROW SHOULD BE PREPARED
FOR WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS INCLUDING SNOWPACKED ROADS...AND
CONSIDER ALTERING TRAVEL PLANS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY BE HAZARDOUS. USE
CAUTION. KEEP A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE
OF AN EMERGENCY.

FOR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS FROM THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION VISIT...HTTP://WWW.COMMUTERLINK.UTAH.GOV OR DIAL
511.

 

[socal]

So I'm flying in tomorrow night with my girlfriend for the weekend and we're debating where to ski/board. She's a pretty solid intermediate so I was really thinking somewhere like Powder Mountain would be perfect with some new snow and should be less crowded than the Bird or even Solitude. Problem is that the storm coming in tomorrow seems to be a southwesterly flow (I think) and probably won't drop much up in the Ogden area. From the UAC:

Firehose to continue on a southwest flow with the Provo mountains likely picking up another 12-16" by later Thursday. Perhaps 2/3 of that elsewhere south of I-80.

Anyone wanna tell me that it'll still be pretty good and worth skipping out on doing Thursday in LCC/BCC?

Now that I think about it, maybe Solitude Thursday then PowMow on Fri for leftovers? Hoping to get a day at Snowbasin too. No Alta obviously and I just dont' love Snowbird for her, too steep (she freaked out coming down something off the Road to Provo last year).

EDIT: Sundance?

 

[Admin]

So I'm flying in tomorrow night with my girlfriend for the weekend and we're debating where to ski/board. She's a pretty solid intermediate so I was really thinking somewhere like Powder Mountain would be perfect with some new snow and should be less crowded than the Bird or even Solitude. Problem is that the storm coming in tomorrow seems to be a southwesterly flow (I think) and probably won't drop much up in the Ogden area. From the UAC:

Firehose to continue on a southwest flow with the Provo mountains likely picking up another 12-16" by later Thursday. Perhaps 2/3 of that elsewhere south of I-80.

Anyone wanna tell me that it'll still be pretty good and worth skipping out on doing Thursday in LCC/BCC?

Now that I think about it, maybe Solitude Thursday then PowMow on Fri for leftovers? Hoping to get a day at Snowbasin too. No Alta obviously and I just dont' love Snowbird for her, too steep (she freaked out coming down something off the Road to Provo last year).

EDIT: Sundance?

Yes, it's southwesterly flow, and you need to watch rain/snow lines which could again rise to 7000-8000 feet, so many of your potential choices listed above stand to possibly receive NCP across much of their terrain. Sundance does exceptionally well on SW flow, but they're the lowest of all. By "Provo Mountains" the UAC isn't necessarily referring to in-bounds Sundance.

 

[Marc_C]

Sundance does exceptionally well on SW flow, but they're the lowest of all. By "Provo Mountains" the UAC isn't necessarily referring to in-bounds Sundance.

Technically, nothing that UAC writes refers to in-bounds resort terrain. So with that in mind, "Provo Mountains" includes 11,749' Mt. Timpanogos.

 

[socal]

Sundance does exceptionally well on SW flow, but they're the lowest of all. By "Provo Mountains" the UAC isn't necessarily referring to in-bounds Sundance.

Technically, nothing that UAC writes refers to in-bounds resort terrain. So with that in mind, "Provo Mountains" includes 11,749' Mt. Timpanogos.

I hear that, but I was really pointing out that clearly the snow is south of I-80 and probably the further south the better. Here's the NWS for 6600 ft at the resort http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...25&site=slc&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

This is the reason SLC is great, from downtown all of these are options.

 

[Admin]

Your call, of course. BCC resorts, especially Brighton do very well on SW flow, too. But I love Sundance as well, just remember that even if it's snow all the way to the base there it will be much wetter snow.

Personally I think that you're over-thinking snowfall totals. We've gotten ridiculous snowfall everywhere in the state out of this. I'd be more concerned about the rain/snow line than a few inches here or there.

 

[socal]

Your call, of course. BCC resorts, especially Brighton do very well on SW flow, too. But I love Sundance as well, just remember that even if it's snow all the way to the base there it will be much wetter snow.

Personally I think that you're over-thinking snowfall totals. We've gotten ridiculous snowfall everywhere in the state out of this. I'd be more concerned about the rain/snow line than a few inches here or there.

You're probably right, but elevation is obviously best in BCC/LCC, I'm gonna give it a chance and hit up Sundance either Thursday or Saturday.

 

[Admin]

FYI as mentioned above, this current impulse is a warm one. I just drove up LCC and the rain/snow line is currently at Tanner's, just a few hundred verts below the bottom of Snowbird. It's forecast to rise today to 7k-8k feet, which pretty much includes all of Sundance.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

 

[Marc_C]

Also, a number of days ago (Sunday perhaps? I don't recall), Sundance closed for a day and a half due to both serious avalanche concerns and "...to allow the snowpack to drain...".

 

[socal]

FYI as mentioned above, this current impulse is a warm one. I just drove up LCC and the rain/snow line is currently at Tanner's, just a few hundred verts below the bottom of Snowbird. It's forecast to rise today to 7k-8k feet, which pretty much includes all of Sundance.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Thanks for the on-site update. I guess I'll just see what the snotel sites show for snow in the lower elevation areas tonight/tomorrow and make the call. Interesting though, looking at AGD site it says the temp is 32.1 at 8799ft and 31.6 at SNM (sundance mid mountain) at 7503ft.

Yeah yeah, over thinking it, but I know what the scene on powder day in LCC/BCC is like and I know it's not something I'd love to do with the GF.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I know what the scene on powder day in LCC/BCC is like

Not Solitude from my limited experience. Fresh tracks all day long with 17 inches new on Presidents Day tells me this is a place you never have to worry about crowds.

 

[socal]

I know what the scene on powder day in LCC/BCC is like

Not Solitude from my limited experience. Fresh tracks all day long with 17 inches new on Presidents Day tells me this is a place you never have to worry about crowds.

I think you're right, we made a mistake. On the other hand the power went out in BCC at 1pm so we made up for it on Friday skiing a very lightly tracked Honeycomb all afternoon when they opened the gates.

 

[Admin]

I think you're right, we made a mistake.

Oh well, live and learn. Personally I don't give a crap if it's 14" or 18", I'm more concerned about quality and consistency than a few inches here or there.

This next storm system, though...ooh, baby! Bring on the cold smoke! \/

WWUS45 KSLC 272243
WSWSLC

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
343 PM MST MON DEC 27 2010

...COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES TO
MUCH OF UTAH...

.A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING ON
WEDNESDAY...BRINGING MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WIDESPREAD
SNOWFALL. PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT...WITH THE COLD FRONT ENTERING NORTHERN UTAH AND
SOUTHWEST WYOMING BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE FRONT WILL SWEEP
SOUTH INTO SOUTHERN UTAH ON WEDNESDAY EVENING. MUCH COLDER AIR AND
SNOW SHOWERS WILL LINGER ACROSS THE AREA INTO FRIDAY.

UTZ007>010-517-518-280645-
/O.NEW.KSLC.WS.A.0016.101229T0600Z-101231T0000Z/
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WOODRUFF...RANDOLPH...ALTA...BRIGHTON...
HANNA...SCOFIELD...COVE FORT...KOOSHAREM...FISH LAKE...LOA...
PANGUITCH...BRYCE CANYON
343 PM MST MON DEC 27 2010

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.


* AFFECTED AREA: THE WASATCH MOUNTAINS...THE WESTERN UINTA
MOUNTAINS...THE WASATCH PLATEAU AND BOOK CLIFFS...AND THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF UTAH.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 FEET
WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. WATER TOTALS OF 1.00 TO
2.00 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY IN
AREAS FAVORED BY SOUTHWEST FLOW...AND INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY
WEDNESDAY. SNOW WILL LINGER THROUGH THURSDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO
FRIDAY.

* WINDS: SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TUESDAY NIGHT AND BE
STRONGEST ON WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH GUSTS UP TO 80 MPH
POSSIBLE ON THE HIGHEST PEAKS.

* IMPACTS: WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS...INCLUDING SNOW PACKED ROADS
AND GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITY WILL BE POSSIBLE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A MIXTURE OF
SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...FREEZING RAIN AND OR STRONG WINDS.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

 

[Admin]

They're now saying up to 4 feet. We could be pushing the 300" season-to-date mark before New Year's Day! \/

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
431 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2010

...A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW AND VERY COLD
TEMPERATURES TO MUCH OF UTAH MIDWEEK...

.A VERY COLD AND ENERGETIC PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING LATE TONIGHT...AND REMAIN ACROSS THE
REGION WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN LATE
TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH THE COLD FRONT ENTERING
NORTHERN UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE
FRONT WILL SWEEP INTO SOUTHERN UTAH ON WEDNESDAY EVENING. MUCH
COLDER AIR AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL LINGER ACROSS THE AREA INTO
FRIDAY. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DUE TO HEAVY SNOW ARE EXPECTED
ACROSS THE WESTERN VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS OF UTAH WITH THIS STORM.

UTZ007>010-517-518-282315-
/O.EXT.KSLC.WS.A.0016.101229T0800Z-101231T0000Z/
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WOODRUFF...RANDOLPH...ALTA...BRIGHTON...
HANNA...SCOFIELD...COVE FORT...KOOSHAREM...FISH LAKE...LOA...
PANGUITCH...BRYCE CANYON
431 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2010

...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* AFFECTED AREA: THE WASATCH MOUNTAINS...THE WESTERN UINTA
MOUNTAINS...THE WASATCH PLATEAU AND BOOK CLIFFS...AND THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF UTAH.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 FEET
ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY UP TO 4 FEET IN WASATCH RANGE.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHERN
WASATCH...THEN SPREAD ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA
WEDNESDAY. SNOW MAY BECOME INTENSE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALONG THE COLD FRONT. PERIODS OF SNOW WILL
LINGER THROUGH THURSDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO FRIDAY.

* WINDS: SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TUESDAY NIGHT AND BE
STRONGEST ON WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH GUSTS UP TO 80 MPH
POSSIBLE ON THE HIGHEST PEAKS. WINDS WILL DIMINISH WEDNESDAY
NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS: WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS...INCLUDING SNOW PACKED ROADS
AND GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITY CAN BE EXPECTED...INCLUDING THE
I-80 CORRIDOR THROUGH PARLEYS CANYON...AND THE I-70 CORRIDOR
THROUGH THE CENTRAL UTAH MOUNTAINS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A MIXTURE OF
SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...FREEZING RAIN AND OR STRONG WINDS.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

 

[Admin]

We've now been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning:

UTZ007>010-517-518-290700-
/O.UPG.KSLC.WS.A.0016.101229T0800Z-101231T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KSLC.WS.W.0019.101229T0600Z-101231T0000Z/
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WOODRUFF...RANDOLPH...ALTA...BRIGHTON...
HANNA...SCOFIELD...COVE FORT...KOOSHAREM...FISH LAKE...LOA...
PANGUITCH...BRYCE CANYON
320 PM MST TUE DEC 28 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM
MST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST THURSDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA: THE WASATCH MOUNTAINS...THE WESTERN UINTA
MOUNTAINS...THE WASATCH PLATEAU AND BOOK CLIFFS AND THE CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS OF UTAH.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 36 INCHES
IS EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY UP TO 4 FEET IN THE WASATCH RANGE.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT ACROSS THE AREA. SNOW MAY
BE HEAVY AT TIMES ACROSS THE WASATCH RANGE LATE TONIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE STATE WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING...BRINGING AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD
OF HEAVY SNOW. SNOW WILL LINGER THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

* WINDS: SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AND WILL BE
STRONGEST ON WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH GUSTS UP TO 80 MPH
POSSIBLE ON THE HIGHEST PEAKS. WINDS WILL DIMINISH WEDNESDAY
NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS: WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS...INCLUDING SNOW PACKED ROADS
AND GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITY CAN BE EXPECTED... INCLUDING THE
I-80 CORRIDOR THROUGH PARLEYS CANYON...AND THE I-70 CORRIDOR
THROUGH THE CENTRAL UTAH MOUNTAINS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS A MIXTURE OF HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG
WINDS IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY BE
HAZARDOUS. USE CAUTION. BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN RESTRICTIONS IN
VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING SNOW. KEEP A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT
IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

FOR WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS FROM THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION VISIT...HTTP://WWW.COMMUTERLINK.UTAH.GOV OR DIAL
511.

 

[Southernwayfarer]

Long time visitor, first time poster here. Headed out to Utah for my yearly ski vacation with a group of good friends. I was wondering if members could point me any good sites for ski oriented long range forecasts/weather discussions. We'll be out on Jan 8-16. Getting fired up and looking to read a little more to stoke the excitement. I've been checking the NWS but I'm just wondering if there are any other suggestions. Thanks and bring on the power!

 

[gores95]

Good weather site for Utah:

http://www.snowforecast.com/UtahSkiResorts

 

[Admin]

Good weather site for Utah:

http://www.snowforecast.com/UtahSkiResorts

Meh.

I use a number of resources. For honest, no-nonsense forecasting and reporting I trust the Utah Avalanche Center above all others:
http://www.utahavalanchecenter.org/
Just click the region on the map of the home page for where you plan to be. Each morning's report also includes forecast info. FYI the UAC shares offices with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.

The National Weather Service office in Salt Lake City has a special mountain winter weather page that includes a forecast specific to the Cottonwood Canyons:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/snow/

They of course have pinpoint digital forecasts as well. Here it is for upper Little Cottonwood Canyon:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... -111.63722

Or if you're more a visual kinda guy, here it is in graphical format:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... =graphical

For current conditions here's the MesoNet map:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/current/meso.slv.php

 

[longshanks]

The PNW is in for some snow. Southern BC resorts will see some benefit from this thing as well . It will go nicely with the recent dumpage experianced throughout the Province. It seems that the La Nina track has now corrected and crept back north where it belongs. The PNW & BC Interior is getting more awesomer by the day. Quite timely for my visit at the end of the month...Party on, Excellent!


Event: Winter Storm Warning
Alert: ...ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED TUESDAY NIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY...

.AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CONTAINING ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL
OVERRIDE COLD AIR OVER THE INLAND NORTHWEST TUESDAY NIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY RESULTING IN HEAVY SNOW IN MOST LOCATIONS. THE HIGHEST
ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY TWO FROM
WENATCHEE TO SPOKANE...AS WELL AS IN THE IDAHO PANHANDLE GENERALLY
NORTH OF COEUR D`ALENE. A PERIOD OF WINTRY MIX IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN
THE COLUMBIA BASIN AND WENATCHEE AREA ON WEDNESDAY.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO 4 AM PST
THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO
4 AM PST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: IN THE VALLEYS...8 TO 14 INCHES...WITH THE
HIGHEST AMOUNTS IN THE NORTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE AND VALLEYS
NORTH OF DEER PARK. IN THE MOUNTAINS...AROUND A FOOT IN THE
OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS...18 TO 36 INCHES IN THE NORTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH IDAHO.

* ELEVATION: ALL ELEVATIONS.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL DEVELOP TUESDAY EVENING AND INCREASE IN
INTENSITY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM...WAUCONDA...CHESAW
ROAD...HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT... BOULDER CREEK ROAD...
SHERMAN PASS...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM... BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD... KELLOGG...
PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN... FOURTH OF JULY
PASS...DOBSON PASS...LOOKOUT PASS... COLVILLE...DEER PARK...
CHEWELAH...NEWPORT...KETTLE FALLS... SPRINGDALE-HUNTERS
ROAD...ORIN-RICE ROAD...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD

* WINDS: EAST 5 TO 10 MPH BECOMING SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH ON
WEDNESDAY. RIDGE TOP WINDS OF 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ON
WEDNESDAY CREATING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

* IMPACTS: ROADWAYS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY SNOW COVERED MAKING
TRAVEL DIFFICULT. RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY WEDNESDAY
MAKING TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT.