Alert archive / Washington / Ice Storm Warnings in 2005

Ice Storm Warning 1, NWS Spokane, WA

December 19, 2005Chelan County, Douglas County, Grant County, Washington

NWS Spokane, WA issued this ice storm warning at Dec 19, 2005, 2:59 PM PST for Chelan County, Douglas County, Grant County, Washington. It took effect at Dec 19, 2005, 4:00 PM PST. It was in force for 23 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 19, 2005, 2:59 PM PST (22:59 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 19, 2005, 4:00 PM PST
Expired
Dec 20, 2005, 2:55 PM PST
In force
23 hr
Issued by
NWS Spokane, WA

Counties Chelan County, WA, Douglas County, WA, Grant County, WA

The radar

The Spokane radar (KOTX), 172 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:05 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Spokane, WA (KOTX), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 264 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2005-12-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2005-12-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 56 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1569 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
211 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS46 KOTX 192259
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
259 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...MAJOR AND HAZARDOUS CHANGE IN THE CURRENT DRY AND COLD WEATHER
IMMINENT...

.A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS ARE BREAKING DOWN THE CURRENT
COLD AND STAGNANT WEATHER PATTERN WITH A WINTRY MIX OF
PRECIPITATION. THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE OVER
SOME AREAS THROUGH TUESDAY.

WAZ041-044-200700-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0005.051220T0000Z-051220T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KOTX.IS.W.0001.051220T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
WENATCHEE AREA-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WENATCHEE...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
259 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...
...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST TUESDAY BELOW
3000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED AN ICE STORM
WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST
TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

A STRONG AND MOIST STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE REGION TONIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY. SNOW WILL CHANGE OVER TO SLEET THIS EVENING AND
THEN FREEZING RAIN OVERNIGHT. ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION
CAN BE EXPECTED ON EXPOSED SURFACES BY THE TIME FREEZING RAIN
TAPERS OFF LATE TUESDAY.

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES
AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

$$

WAZ042-200700-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0005.051220T0400Z-051221T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KOTX.IS.W.0001.051220T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEAVENWORTH...MAZAMA...TWISP...WINTHROP
259 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...
...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST TUESDAY BELOW
3000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED AN ICE STORM
WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST
TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

A STRONG AND MOIST STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE REGION TONIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY. WHILE SNOW AND SLEET WILL ACCUMULATE IN THE
MOUNTAINS...IN THE VALLEYS SNOW WILL CHANGE OVER TO SLEET THIS
EVENING AND THEN FREEZING RAIN OVERNIGHT. ONE QUARTER TO LOCALLY
ONE HALF INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED ON EXPOSED
SURFACES BY THE TIME FREEZING RAIN TAPERS OFF LATE TUESDAY.

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES
AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

$$

IDZ003-WAZ033-200700-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0005.051220T0000Z-051220T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KOTX.WW.Y.0005.051220T0000Z-051220T1500Z/
IDAHO PALOUSE-WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOSCOW...PULLMAN
259 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM PST TUESDAY BELOW
3000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY BELOW 3000 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM
PST TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

A MOIST PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL ENVELOPE THE REGION TONIGHT.
WHILE LOW LEVEL COLD AIR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SCRUBBED FROM
THE AREA...AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN...SNOW AND SLEET WILL OCCUR
DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD. PRECIPITATION WILL GRADUALLY TURN
OVER TO ALL RAIN BY MORNING.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

$$

IDZ026-027-WAZ031-032-200000-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WW.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-051220T0000Z/
LEWISTON AREA-LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-
NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS-LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEWISTON...KAMIAH...CRAIGMONT...
NEZPERCE...WINCHESTER...ANATONE...PEOLA...CLARKSTON
259 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY. 

TEMPERATURES IN MOST VALLEY LOCATIONS HAVE INCREASED TO ABOVE
FREEZING. WHILE POCKETS OF MIXED PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE INTO
THE EVENING...THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET HAS
ENDED.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-038-043-200700-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0005.051220T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
NORTHERN PANL IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO
NORTH TUESDAY EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

IDZ002-004-WAZ034>036-200700-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0005.051220T0000Z-051220T1900Z/
COEUR DALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-MOSES LAKE AREA-
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...QUINCY...RITZVILLE...
COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...WILBUR...GRAND COULEE...
COULEE CITY...SPOKANE
259 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PST TUESDAY
BELOW 3000 FEET...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL
11 AM PST TUESDAY. 

A SERIES OF STORM SYSYTEMS WILL SCRUB THE LOWLANDS OF EASTERN
WASHINGTON OF TRAPPED COLD AIR TONIGHT. IN THE NORTH SNOW WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS...AND
GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN LATER THIS
EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY MORNING.

IN THE SOUTH SNOW WILL CHANGE TO FREEZING RAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT.

THROUGHOUT THE REGION AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING
RAIN SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE QUARTER INCH... HOWEVER WITH SLEET
AND SNOW PRECEDING THE FREEZING RAIN THE COMBINATION WILL MAKE FOR
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON ROADWAYS AND SURFACES. CONDITIONS WILL
IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
TUESDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$
5 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS46 KOTX 200706 AAA
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1106 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...MAJOR AND HAZARDOUS CHANGE IN THE CURRENT DRY AND COLD WEATHER
IMMINENT...

.A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS ARE BREAKING DOWN THE CURRENT
COLD AND STAGNANT WEATHER PATTERN WITH A WINTRY MIX OF
PRECIPITATION. THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE OVER
SOME AREAS THROUGH TUESDAY.

WAZ041-042-044-201515-
/O.CON.KOTX.IS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
WENATCHEE AREA-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WENATCHEE...LEAVENWORTH...MAZAMA...
TWISP...WINTHROP...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
1106 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST TUESDAY
...

A STRONG AND MOIST STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE REGION TONIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY. SNOW WILL CHANGE OVER TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
BY TUESDAY MORNING. ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION CAN BE
EXPECTED ON EXPOSED SURFACES BY THE TIME FREEZING RAIN TAPERS OFF
LATE TUESDAY. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL
BE COMMON BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER TO FREEZING RAIN.

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES
AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-038-043-201515-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
OKANOGAN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM...BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...COLVILLE...DEER PARK...CHEWELAH...NEWPORT...
KETTLE FALLS...REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM...OMAK...OKANOGAN...
BREWSTER...BRIDGEPORT...OROVILLE
1106 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST TUESDAY
...

PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE OVERNIGHT AS SNOW GRADUALLY CHANGES OVER
TO A SNOW AND SLEET MIX BY TUESDAY MORNING. BY TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...THE SNOW AND SLEET WILL CHANGE TO A MIX OF SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN. AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN
ALONE SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE QUARTER INCH...HOWEVER WITH SLEET
AND SNOW PRECEDING THE FREEZING RAIN THE COMBINATION WILL MAKE FOR
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON ROADWAYS AND SURFACES. CONDITIONS WILL
IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
TUESDAY EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

IDZ002-004-WAZ034>036-201515-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051220T1900Z/
COEUR DALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-MOSES LAKE AREA-
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...QUINCY...RITZVILLE...
COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...WILBUR...GRAND COULEE...
COULEE CITY...SPOKANE
1106 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PST TUESDAY
...

A MIX OF SNOW AND SLEET WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN OVERNIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY MORNING. THROUGHOUT THE
REGION AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN SHOULD
REMAIN BELOW ONE QUARTER INCH...HOWEVER WITH SLEET AND SNOW
PRECEDING THE FREEZING RAIN THE COMBINATION WILL MAKE FOR
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON ROADWAYS AND SURFACES. CONDITIONS WILL
IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
TUESDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

IDZ003-WAZ033-201500-
/O.CON.KOTX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-051220T1500Z/
IDAHO PALOUSE-WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOSCOW...PULLMAN
1106 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM PST
TUESDAY...

FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WEST OF A LINE FROM LACROSSE TO COLFAX
WILL GRADUALLY TURN OVER TO ALL RAIN BY MORNING...BUT NOT BEFORE
MAKING SURFACES SLIPPERY AND HAZARDOUS. 

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

$$
000 
WWUS46 KOTX 201102
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
302 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE WEATHER PATTERN IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY...

.A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS ARE BREAKING DOWN THE CURRENT
COLD AND STAGNANT WEATHER PATTERN WITH A WINTRY MIX OF
PRECIPITATION. THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE OVER
SOME AREAS THROUGH TUESDAY.

WAZ034-035-201915-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...
QUINCY...RITZVILLE...COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...
WILBUR...GRAND COULEE...COULEE CITY
302 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL
4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO
FREEZING RAIN THIS MORNING. THROUGH OUT THE REGION AMOUNTS OF ICE
ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE QUARTER
INCH. HOWEVER THE COMBINATION OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL MAKE
FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON ROADWAYS. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO
REMAIN BELOW FREEZING THROUGH THE DAY AND CONDITIONS WILL NEED TO
BE MONITORED. 

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

WAZ041-042-044-201915-
/O.CON.KOTX.IS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
WENATCHEE AREA-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WENATCHEE...LEAVENWORTH...MAZAMA...
TWISP...WINTHROP...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
302 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

AN ICE STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM
PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

A STRONG MOIST STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE REGION TODAY. SNOW
THIS MORNING IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
LATER THIS MORNING. ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION CAN BE
EXPECTED ON EXPOSED SURFACES BY THE TIME THE FREEZING RAIN TAPERS
OFF LATE TODAY. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL
BE COMMON BEFORE THE CHANGE OVER TO FREEZING RAIN.

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES
AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-038-043-201915-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
OKANOGAN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM...BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...COLVILLE...DEER PARK...CHEWELAH...NEWPORT...
KETTLE FALLS...REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM...OMAK...OKANOGAN...
BREWSTER...BRIDGEPORT...OROVILLE
302 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

SNOW THIS MORNING WILL GRADUALLY CHANGEOVER TO A MIXTURE OF
SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN THIS AFTERNOON. AMOUNTS OF ICE
ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN ALONE SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE
QUARTER INCH. HOWEVER WITH THE SLEET AND SNOW PRECEDING THE
FREEZING RAIN THE COMBINATION WILL MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE
FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THIS EVENING. 

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

IDZ002-004-WAZ036-201900-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051220T1900Z/
COEUR DALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-SPOKANE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
SPOKANE
302 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PST THIS
MORNING BELOW 3000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
11 AM PST THIS MORNING. 

A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO
FREEZING RAIN THIS MORNING. THROUGH OUT THE REGION AMOUNTS OF ICE
ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE QUARTER
INCH. HOWEVER THE COMBINATION OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL MAKE
FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITONS ON ROADWAYS. CONDITONS WILL IMPROVE AS
TEMEPRATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH LATE THIS MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

IDZ003-WAZ033-201500-
/O.CON.KOTX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-051220T1500Z/
IDAHO PALOUSE-WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOSCOW...PULLMAN
302 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM PST THIS
MORNING BELOW 3000 FEET...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
7 AM PST THIS MORNING. 

FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WEST OF A LINE FROM LACROSS TO COLFAX WILL
TURN OVER TO ALL RAIN THIS MORNING. EXPECT AREAS OF SLIPPERY AND
HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

$$
000 
WWUS46 KOTX 201509
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
709 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE WEATHER PATTERN IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY...

.A SERIES OF PACIFIC STORM SYSTEMS ARE BREAKING DOWN THE CURRENT
COLD AND STAGNANT WEATHER PATTERN WITH A WINTRY MIX OF
PRECIPITATION. THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE OVER
SOME AREAS THROUGH TUESDAY.

IDZ003-WAZ033-201615-
/O.EXP.KOTX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-051220T1500Z/
IDAHO PALOUSE-WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MOSCOW...PULLMAN
709 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. TEMPERATURES
HAVE WARMED ABOVE FREEZING AND THE PRECIPITATION THAT FALLS TODAY
SHOULD BE IN THE FORM OF RAIN. 

$$

WAZ041-042-044-202315-
/O.CON.KOTX.IS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
WENATCHEE AREA-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WENATCHEE...LEAVENWORTH...MAZAMA...
TWISP...WINTHROP...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
709 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

AN ICE STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM
PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

A STRONG MOIST STORM SYSTEM WILL IMPACT THE REGION TODAY. SNOW
THIS MORNING IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
LATER THIS MORNING. ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION CAN BE
EXPECTED ON EXPOSED SURFACES BY THE TIME THE FREEZING RAIN TAPERS
OFF LATE TODAY. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES
WILL BE COMMON BEFORE THE CHANGE OVER TO FREEZING RAIN.

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES
AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ034-035-037-038-043-202315-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-OKANOGAN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM...BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...QUINCY...
RITZVILLE...COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...WILBUR...
GRAND COULEE...COULEE CITY...COLVILLE...DEER PARK...CHEWELAH...
NEWPORT...KETTLE FALLS...REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM...OMAK...OKANOGAN...
BREWSTER...BRIDGEPORT...OROVILLE
709 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

SNOW THIS MORNING WILL GRADUALLY CHANGEOVER TO A MIXTURE OF
SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN THIS AFTERNOON. AMOUNTS OF ICE
ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN ALONE SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE
QUARTER INCH. HOWEVER WITH THE SLEET AND SNOW PRECEDING THE
FREEZING RAIN THE COMBINATION WILL MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE
FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THIS EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

IDZ002-004-WAZ036-201900-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051220T1900Z/
COEUR DALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-SPOKANE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
SPOKANE
709 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PST THIS
MORNING BELOW 3000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
11 AM PST THIS MORNING. 

A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER
TO FREEZING RAIN THIS MORNING. THROUGH OUT THE REGION AMOUNTS OF
ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ONE
QUARTER INCH. HOWEVER THE COMBINATION OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
WILL MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITONS ON ROADWAYS. CONDITONS WILL
IMPROVE AS TEMEPRATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
LATE THIS MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$
000 
WWUS46 KOTX 201906
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1106 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

IDZ002-004-WAZ036-210000-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
COEUR DALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-SPOKANE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
SPOKANE
1106 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL
4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME CLIMBING THIS MORNING
AND ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW FREEZING THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON.
EVEN THOUGH PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN VERY LIGHT SO FAR THIS MORNING
IT WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...HAVE EXTENDED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING THROUGH 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON. 

PERIODS OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE EARLY
AFTERNOON. BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THE PRECIPITATION WILL
INCREASE IN INTENSITY...BUT SHOULD BE IN THE FORM OF ALL RAIN. 

AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN SHOULD REMAIN
BELOW ONE QUARTER INCH...BUT WILL MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITONS ON
ROADWAYS. CONDITONS SHOULD IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE
FREEZING THIS EVENING.



$$

WAZ041-042-044-210000-
/O.CON.KOTX.IS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
WENATCHEE AREA-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WENATCHEE...LEAVENWORTH...MAZAMA...
TWISP...WINTHROP...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
1106 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

AN ICE STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM
PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY. ONE QUARTER INCH OF
ICE ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED ON EXPOSED SURFACES BY THE TIME
THE FREEZING RAIN TAPERS OFF LATE TODAY. 

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES
AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ034-035-037-038-043-210000-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-OKANOGAN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM...BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...QUINCY...
RITZVILLE...COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...WILBUR...
GRAND COULEE...COULEE CITY...COLVILLE...DEER PARK...CHEWELAH...
NEWPORT...KETTLE FALLS...REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM...OMAK...OKANOGAN...
BREWSTER...BRIDGEPORT...OROVILLE
1106 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON BELOW 3000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON. 

PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AT
ELEVATIONS BELOW 3000 FEET. AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM
FREEZING RAIN OF AROUND ONE QUARTER INCH ARE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
IMPROVE AS TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
THIS EVENING AND PRECIPITATION TAPERS OFF.



$$
000 
WWUS46 KOTX 202255
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
255 PM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

WAZ041-042-044-210000-
/O.CAN.KOTX.IS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
WENATCHEE AREA-EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WENATCHEE...LEAVENWORTH...MAZAMA...
TWISP...WINTHROP...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
255 PM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...ICE STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS CANCELLED THE ICE
STORM WARNING. 

TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING THIS AFTERNOON...BUT THE
PRECIPITATION HAS TAPERED OFF. SO ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT ICE
ACCUMULATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED. HOWEVER...CONTINUE TO USE CAUTION
WHILE DRIVING THIS EVENING AS BRIEF PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN ARE
STILL POSSIBLE. 


$$

IDZ002-004-WAZ034>036-043-210000-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T0000Z/
COEUR DALENE AREA-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-MOSES LAKE AREA-
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-OKANOGAN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...QUINCY...RITZVILLE...
COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...WILBUR...GRAND COULEE...
COULEE CITY...SPOKANE...OMAK...OKANOGAN...BREWSTER...BRIDGEPORT...
OROVILLE
255 PM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING THIS AFTERNOON...BUT PRECIPITATION
HAS REMAINED LIGHT. SO THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE THIS EVENING...BUT TEMPERATURES SHOULD
WARM TO ABOVE FREEZING IN MOST AREAS WITH MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION
FALLING AS RAIN. HOWEVER...CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING THIS EVENING AS BRIEF PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN ARE STILL
POSSIBLE.


$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-038-210700-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-051221T1200Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM...BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...COLVILLE...DEER PARK...CHEWELAH...NEWPORT...
KETTLE FALLS...REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM
255 PM PST TUE DEC 20 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST WEDNESDAY
BELOW 3000 FEET...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING BELOW 3000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL
4 AM PST WEDNESDAY. 

LIGHT PRECIPITATION THIS AFTERNOON WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY
OVERNIGHT. COLD AIR REMAINS TRAPPED IN THE VALLEYS BELOW AROUND
3000 FEET SO A MIX OF RAIN...SLEET...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN IS
EXPECTED TONIGHT. ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH
ARE POSSIBLE. 

IF TRAVEL IS NECESSARY USE EXTRA CAUTION AS THE MIXED PRECIPITATION
WILL CAUSE HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDTIONS THROUGH THE NIGHT.



$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this ice storm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Spokane, WA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this ice storm warning went out at Dec 19, 2:30 PM PST, 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 19, 2:30 PM PST, 29 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
230 PM PST MON DEC 19 2005

.SYNOPSIS...SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE WEATHER WILL OCCUR OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS AS THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BREAKS DOWN.
WIDESPREAD WINTRY MIX PRECIPITATION PLAGUE THE REGION TONIGHT WITH A
WARMER...BUT UNSETTLED AND ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN THROUGH THE REST OF
THE WEEK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...MAJOR METEOROLOGICAL RATS NEST ENVELOPING
THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AS A SERIES OF STORM SYSTEMS RIDE OVER
THE COLD DOME OF AIR NESTLED IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE
FORECAST AREA. SATELLITE AND RADAR INDICATE PRECURSOR WAVE PASSING
THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON WITH MOSTLY SNOW.
TONIGHTS MAIN EVENT WILL BE THE ISENTROPIC REGION APPENDING FROM
THE DEEP AND STRONG SYSTEM VISIBLE ON SATELLITE OFF THE NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA COAST WHICH RADAR INDICATES IS BRINGING HEAVIER
PRECIPITATION TO NORTHWEST OREGON NOW.

FOR UPPER LEVEL FEATURES GFS AND STANDARD NAM ARE SIMILAR AND
COMPARE WELL TO SATELLITE EVOLUTION OF THE RELEVANT SYSTEMS. AT
LOWER LEVELS BELOW 850 MB...WHERE THE CRITICAL BATTLEFIELD LIES...
MODELS ARE A MIXED BAG OF UNCERTAINTY. THE NAM SUITE HAS BEEN
TRACKING THE OBSERVED SURFACE PRESSURE FIELD OVER THE FORECAST AREA
MUCH BETTER THAN GFS...BUT MODEL SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND MAGNITUDE
OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENTS IS OFF SOMEWHAT FROM OBSERVED HAND
ANALYSIS. THUS WILL BASE FORECAST ON PAST EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR
EVENTS...AND APPLICATION OF CURRENT OBSERVED MODEL BIASES AGAINST
OBSERVED CONDITIONS..SATELLITE AND RADAR.

BEGINNING IN THE SOUTHEAST FOLLOWING TEMPERATURE TRENDS
AND PRECIPITATION EVOLUTION THE WARM AIR ALOFT IS APPARENTLY
INFILTRATING THE L-C VALLEY AND POINTS SOUTH OF PULLMAN. CURRENT
WINTER WX ADVISORY WILL BE CANCELLED HERE...ALTHOUGH EXPECT LOCAL
WINTRY MIX TO REMAIN THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. LATER TONIGHT THE
NEXT PRECIPITATION ROUND SHOULD BE STANDARD RAIN ON SLIGHTLY ABOVE
FREEZING SURFACE TEMPS OR A SLEET MIX.

IN THE NORTHEAST...HAND ANALYSIS INDICATES A PERSISTENT AND
STATIONARY SURFACE MESO-LOW OVER THE NORTHERN PALOUSE CHARACTERISTIC
OF PAST SCRUBBING EVENTS. THIS LOW IS SUCKING A CONTINUING FEED OF
DRY LOW LEVEL COLD AIR INTO THE SPOKANE-CDA REGION. WARM AIR ALOFT
HAS NOT PENETRATED THIS FAR NORTH YET...SO P-TYPE CONTINUES AS SNOW
INTO THIS EVENING. LATER TONIGHT WHEN THE OREGON MESS ARRIVES THE
WARM TONGUE ALOFT WILL CAUSE PRECIPITATION TO PARTIALLY OR TOTALLY
MELT AND FALL INTO THIS COLD SURFACE FEED. THIS WILL BE THE DANGER
PERIOD FOR SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION AND PRODUCE A VERY HAZARDOUS
TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE. MODELS SUGGEST THIS LOW WILL NOT MOVE
THROUGH TUESDAY BUT INSTEAD SIMPLY MINOR OUT ALLOWING THE SURFACE
WARM FRONT TO CRAWL INTO THE REGION...IN ANY EVENT IT APPEARS THE
OVER-RUNNING MOISTURE FEED AND NECESSARY LIFT WILL TAPER OFF AFTER
THE ISENTROPIC FRONT PUSHES THROUGH AROUND 18Z OR SO. THIS LACK OF A
DEEP AND CONTINUOUS MOISTURE TRAJECTORY AND A LIMITED PERIOD OF
PRECIPITATION WILL PREVENT A REPEAT OF THE 1996 ICE STORM...BUT UP TO
1/8 INCH OF GLAZE ON SURFACES IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY. THUS WILL
CONTINUE WSW FOR WINTER MIX TONIGHT...AND EXTEND IT UNTIL 19Z
TUESDAY.

IN THE WEST SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE CONTINUING SNOW...WITH
HANFORD STATION SWITCHING TO FREEZING RAIN AT 20Z TODAY. THE
CLASSIC SLOW TURNOVER TO FREEZING RAIN THEN RAIN BY DAWN LOOKS
PLAUSIBLE FOR THE UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN AND MOSES LAKE AREA. IN THE
FAR WEST FROM DOUGLAS PLATEAU THROUGH THE CASCADES VALLEYS THE COLD
AIR MAY BE TOO DEEP AND TOO TRAPPED TO SCRUB TONIGHT. THIS REGION
CLOSEST TO STRONGEST ISENTROPIC LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARENT
SYSTEM...AND IN THE DEEPEST MOISTURE FEED FOR A REAL CHANCE AT HEAVY
ACCUMULATIONS OF GLAZE ICE. PREVIOUS EVENTS SUGGEST THESE AREAS ARE
VERY SLOW TO SCRUB AND WILL UPGRADE TO ICE STORM WARNING HERE IN
COORDINATION WITH SURROUNDING OFFICES.

ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER ZONES PROCESS WILL BE DELAYED WITH WARM
AIR ALOFT SLOWLY INFILTRATING OVERNIGHT FOR MOSTLY SNOW AND SLEET
WITH THE MAIN TRANSITION PERIOD TO TAKE PLACE DURING THE DAY
TUESDAY.

IN GENERAL TONIGHTS LOW TEMPERATURES WILL NOT VARY MUCH FROM THIS
AFTERNOONS HIGHS...WITH SOME SOUTHERN LOCATIONS NOTING SLIGHT
INCREASES IN OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES.

ON TUESDAY A GENERAL DECREASE OF PRECIPITATION AS THE MAIN
ISENTROPIC REGION MOVES OUT BY AFTERNOON...BUT CONTINUED CHANCE POPS
REMAIN WITH A MID AND UPPER LEVEL COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE PROVIDING MORE
LIFT AND FOCUS. /FUGAZZI

TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...THE WET PATTERN WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS THE INLAND NORTHWEST THROUGH THE PERIOD. MOIST SOUTHWESTERLY
UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL LIE OVER EASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTH IDAHO
ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. AT THIS TIME...THERE DOES NOT
APPEAR TO BE ANY ORGANIZED SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH THE FLOW DURING
THIS TIME FRAME...BUT MOIST WARM AIR AND TOPOGRAPHY WILL BE ENOUGH
TO PRODUCE SOME VALLEY RAIN/SNOW AND MOUNTAIN SNOW...THOUGH SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE FAIRLY LIGHT. A SHORTWAVE TROUGH IS THEN
FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY EVENING BRINGING A
BETTER CHANCE OF RAIN/SNOW TO ALL AREAS. A BRIEF BREAK IS EXPECTED
LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT/EARLY THURSDAY BEFORE ANOTHER...STRONGER...
SYSTEM MOVES IN ON THURSDAY. IF ENOUGH OF THE SURFACE COLD AIR SCOURS
OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...AS IT SHOULD...PRECIPITATION TYPE SHOULD
NOT BE MUCH OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE USUAL RAIN/SNOW LINE AS
THE SNOW LEVELS RISE DURING THE DAY AND DECREASE AT NIGHT./CC

THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...SHORT WAVE MOVG THRU THE AREA
ON THURSDAY... MOVES EAST THURSDAY NIGHT WITH LINGERING SNOW IN THE
MOUNTAINS. ANOTHER SYSTEM IS TIMED IN FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON...
ACCORDING TO THE 12Z GFS... AS THE LONG WAVE RIDGE BUILDS ALONG
THE COAST. THE RIDGE AMPLIFIES THROUGH SAT AND SUN... ALTHOUGH THE
REGION REMAINS UNDER BRISK W AND SW FLOW AT THE TOP OF THE RIDGE.
EXPECT CLOUDS AND MTN PRECIP TO CONTINUE AT TIMES THROUGH
MONDAY WITH TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMALS. /JL

&&

.AVIATION...CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ON THE WAY DOWN AT
18Z AS NEXT DEFORMATION BAND MOVES IN OVER THE AREA. COLD TEMPS AT
THE SURFACE MEAN FROZEN OR FREEZING PRECIP THROUGH 00Z FOR
ALL LOCATIONS EXCEPT FOR THE PALOUSE. THERE SHOULD BE A BREAK THIS
EVENING WITH MVFR CONDITIONS FOR ALL EXCEPT THE WESTERN BASIN AND
EAST SLOPES. THEN THE NEXT DISTURBANCE WILL BRING MORE LOW CEILINGS
AND VISIBILITIES ALONG WITH MOSTLY FREEZING RAIN ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH APPROX 12Z. LOW CEILINGS AND IFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY. JL

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SPOKANE        22  34  32  36  32  38 / 100  80  50  30  60  60
COEUR DALENE  22  34  33  38  33  37 / 100  80  50  30  60  60
PULLMAN        33  38  35  41  35  41 /  80  60  50  30  60  60
LEWISTON       33  43  36  44  32  44 /  60  30  30  20  30  30
COLVILLE       18  29  29  34  31  36 /  80  60  50  50  60  60
SANDPOINT      17  29  29  37  32  36 / 100  80  50  50  60  60
KELLOGG        23  34  33  39  32  38 /  80  80  50  50  60  60
MOSES LAKE     29  33  33  35  32  39 /  60  50  30  20  30  30
WENATCHEE      27  32  32  35  30  37 /  80  60  30  20  30  30
OMAK           23  31  31  35  32  36 /  80  60  30  30  60  60

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM TUESDAY BELOW 3000 FEET FOR
       NORTHERN PANHANDLE.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM TUESDAY BELOW 3000 FEET FOR
       COEUR DALENE AREA...CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY FOR IDAHO PALOUSE.
WA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY FOR WASHINGTON
       PALOUSE.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM TUESDAY BELOW 3000 FEET FOR
       MOSES LAKE AREA...UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN...SPOKANE AREA.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM TUESDAY BELOW 3000 FEET FOR
       NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS...OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS...OKANOGAN VALLEY.
     ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM TUESDAY BELOW 3000 FEET FOR
       WENATCHEE AREA...EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES...WATERVILLE
       PLATEAU.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 19, 4:05 AM PST, 10 hours 54 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
405 AM PST MON DEC 19 2005

IDZ002-003-WAZ033>036-041-044-201215-
COEUR DALENE AREA-IDAHO PALOUSE-WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-WENATCHEE AREA-
WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
405 AM PST MON DEC 19 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
IDAHO...CENTRAL WASHINGTON...EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON...NORTH
CENTRAL WASHINGTON...NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND SOUTHEAST
WASHINGTON.

THE FOLLOWING WATCHES WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT
   WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
   4 AM PST TUESDAY.

PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
   SEAWSWOTX  /WWUS46 KOTX/

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED
TODAY THEREFORE A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

MIXED WINTERY PRECIPIATION...INCLUDING SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL
MAY CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER
STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS WEATHER
SITUATION.

IDZ001-004-WAZ037-038-042-043-201215-
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-OKANOGAN VALLEY-
405 AM PST MON DEC 19 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
IDAHO...NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND NORTHEAST WASHINGTON.

THE FOLLOWING WATCHES WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT
   WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM
     PST TUESDAY BELOW 3000 FEET.

PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
   SEAWSWOTX  /WWUS46 KOTX/

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED
TODAY THEREFORE A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

MIXED WINTERY PRECIPIATION...INCLUDING SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
WILL CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER
STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS ON THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER SITUATION.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Spokane, WA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 19, 3:50 AM PSTWinter Storm WarningOTXAdams, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Lincoln and 5 more47 hr
Dec 19, 10:36 AM PSTWinter Weather AdvisoryOTXAsotin, Garfield4 hr
Dec 19, 2:59 PM PSTWinter Weather AdvisoryOTXSpokane, Whitman16 hr

Nearby

Ice Storm Warnings in Washington, 2005Every ice storm warning in 2005

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.