Winter Storm — Waterville Plateau, Washington

2017-02-08 to 2017-02-09 · Waterville Plateau, Washington

Event narrative

An observer in Waterville reported 3 inches of new snow and freezing rain.

Wider weather episode

During the afternoon of February 8th and into the morning of February 9th an atmospheric river of tropical origin moisture was directed into eastern Washington. Mild air with this moisture feed allowed snow levels to rise over the Columbia Basin. South of Interstate 90 generally rain fell. North of Interstate 90 the rain fell into a layer of cold air trapped near the surface promoting a prolonged period of freezing rain during the night of February 8th. Ice accumulation on area roads paralyzed travel in the Columbia Basin and the southern valleys of the northeast Washington mountains with over 70 schools closed or delayed on the morning of February 9th and numerous auto accidents. The mountains of eastern Washington and the valleys tucked against the Cascades experienced mainly heavy snow accumulations with this storm.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 678537. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.