Heavy Snow — Yakima Valley, Washington

1996-11-19 to 1996-11-20 · Yakima Valley, Washington

Wider weather episode

14 inches of snow fell in Yakima, knocking out power to 15,000 homes, and cancelling all bus service for the first time in 20 years. Charles Wiltsey, 85, died when his carport collapsed due to heavy snow. Tieton, northwest of Yakima, got 22". Wenatchee got 13.5" in 24 hrs. Ellensburg got 18-22" of snow. Road crews in Ellensburg could not keep up with the snowfall and a roof collapsed at a hay brokerage firm. 27 trucks jacknived on a 30 mile stretch of I-82 between Yakima and Ellensburg.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5571023. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.