Ice Storm — Waterville Plateau, Washington

2017-01-17 to 2017-01-18 · Waterville Plateau, Washington

Event narrative

Freezing rain deposited one half inch of ice accumulation at Waterville.

Wider weather episode

A well directed atmospheric river of Pacific moisture enhanced into widespread snow and freezing rain over eastern Washington during January 17th and 18th. Heavy snow impacted the mountains and valleys north and west of the Columbia Basin. In the Columbia Basin a cold arctic air mass trapped near the surface was over ridden by a warm front which allowed the ensuing rain to freeze on contact promoting heavy ice accumulations on roads and other surfaces effectively paralyzing travel in and around the Columbia Basin on the 17th and through the morning of the 18th. Washington State Police responded to over 100 vehicle accidents during this storm and over 50 school districts were closed or delayed opening on January 18th. On the northern margins of the basin and in the southern valleys of the Cascades and northern mountains a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain was noted.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 676891. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.