Heavy Snow — Lower Garfield & Asotin, Washington

2011-02-28 · Lower Garfield & Asotin, Washington

Wider weather episode

An upper-level trough slowly sagged into the Pacific Northwest on the 28th of February. Strong west to southwest flow along and ahead of the leading cold front resulted in a twelve hour period of heavy snow across the Washington Palouse and Northern Blue Mountains. Snow began to fall on the 28th of February and continued through the afternoon hours of March 1st. Elevation played a large role in snowfall totals which ranged from nine to fifteen inches above 2000 feet to less than one inch at elevations below. Although never reported, blowing snow may have had a significant impact on travel across the Northern Blue Mountains. Alder Ridge RAWS at an elevation of 4500 feet reported sustained winds between 15 and 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 280031. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.