Alert archive / Idaho / Winter Storm Warnings in 2011

Winter Storm Warning 13, NWS Spokane, WA

May 25, 20115 counties in Washington; 6 counties in Idaho

NWS Spokane, WA issued this winter storm warning at May 25, 2011, 11:35 AM PDT for 5 counties in Washington; 6 counties in Idaho. It took effect at May 26, 2011, 2:00 AM PDT. It was in force for 15 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
May 25, 2011, 11:35 AM PDT (18:35 UTC)
In effect from
May 26, 2011, 2:00 AM PDT
Expired
May 26, 2011, 5:06 PM PDT
In force
15 hr
Issued by
NWS Spokane, WA

Counties Benewah County, ID, Bonner County, ID, Boundary County, ID, Kootenai County, ID, Latah County, ID, Shoshone County, ID, Ferry County, WA, Okanogan County, WA, Pend Oreille County, WA, Spokane County, WA, Stevens County, WA

The radar

The Spokane radar (KOTX), 43 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:34 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, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 71 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 2011-05-25Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Spokane, WA at 12:00Z on 2011-05-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 147 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
765 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
147 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
143 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.

975 
WWUS46 KOTX 251835
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1135 AM PDT WED MAY 25 2011

...LATE SEASON SNOW EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL SEND A BAND OF HEAVY
PRECIPITATION INTO THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.
INITIALLY RAIN WILL FALL THEN QUICKLY CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ABOVE
4000 FEET.

IDZ001-004-WAZ037-038-260245-
/O.UPG.KOTX.WS.A.0007.110526T0900Z-110526T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KOTX.WS.W.0013.110526T0900Z-110526T1800Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD...CHESAW ROAD...
HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS
1135 AM PDT WED MAY 25 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 11 AM PDT THURSDAY
ABOVE 4000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPOKANE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING ABOVE 4000 FEET FOR HEAVY SNOW WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2
AM TO 11 AM PDT THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: POSSIBLE ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4000 FEET.

* TIMING: RAIN WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT...CHANGING OVER TO SNOW
  BETWEEN 2 AM AND 5 AM ON THURSDAY FOR THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE
  MOUNTAINS AND NOT UNTIL AFTER 5 AM FOR THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE
  MOUNTAINS...THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND THE OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS.
  THE SNOW WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF MID MORNING OVER THE CENTRAL
  PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 90 OVER LOOKOUT PASS.
  AREAS CLOSER TO THE CANADIAN BORDER WILL SEE MOUNTAIN SNOW
  THROUGH LATE MORNING HOURS.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHESAW ROAD...HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...BOULDER
  CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD... FLOWERY
  TRAIL ROAD...MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH. RIDGE TOP WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 
  MPH POSSIBLE. 

* IMPACTS: HEAVY SNOWFALL INTENSITY WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTRA
  DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY...AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR
  SLUSHY ROADWAYS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS
OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
985 
WWUS46 KOTX 260111
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
611 PM PDT WED MAY 25 2011

...LATE SEASON SNOW EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL SEND A BAND OF HEAVY
PRECIPITATION INTO THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.
INITIALLY RAIN WILL FALL THEN QUICKLY CHANGE OVER TO SNOW ABOVE
4000 FEET.

IDZ001-004-WAZ037-038-261200-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0013.110526T0900Z-110526T1800Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD...CHESAW ROAD...
HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS
611 PM PDT WED MAY 25 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 11 AM PDT
THURSDAY ABOVE 4000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 4000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM
2 AM TO 11 AM PDT THURSDAY. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: POSSIBLE ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4000 FEET.

* TIMING: RAIN WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT...CHANGING OVER TO 
  SNOW BETWEEN 2 AM AND 5 AM ON THURSDAY FOR THE CENTRAL 
  PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS AND NOT UNTIL AFTER 5 AM FOR THE 
  NORTHERN PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND 
  THE OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS. THE SNOW WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF MID 
  MORNING OVER THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING 
  INTERSTATE 90 OVER LOOKOUT PASS. AREAS CLOSER TO THE 
  CANADIAN BORDER WILL SEE MOUNTAIN SNOW THROUGH LATE MORNING 
  HOURS.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHESAW ROAD...HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...
  BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN 
  ROAD... FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD...MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS 

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH. RIDGE TOP WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 
  MPH POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS: HEAVY SNOWFALL INTENSITY WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTRA 
  DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY...AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL 
  FOR SLUSHY ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS
OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$
691 
WWUS46 KOTX 261009
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
309 AM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...LATE SEASON SNOW EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL SEND A BAND OF HEAVY
PRECIPITATION INTO THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH THIS MORNING. INITIALLY
SNOW LEVELS WILL BE ABOVE PASS LEVELS OVER THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE
CANADIAN BORDER. BUT DURING THE EARLY TO MID MORNING HOURS SNOW
LEVELS WILL FALL TO NEAR 4000 FEET.

IDZ001-004-WAZ037-038-261800-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110526T1800Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD...CHESAW ROAD...
HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS
309 AM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING ABOVE 4000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 4000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
11 AM PDT THIS MORNING. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4000 FEET.

* TIMING: RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW BY 5 AM FOR THE CENTRAL
  PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS AND NOT UNTIL AFTER 5 AM FOR THE NORTHERN
  PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND THE OKANOGAN
  HIGHLANDS. 

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHESAW ROAD...HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...
   BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN 
  ROAD... FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD...MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS 

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH. RIDGE TOP WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 
  MPH POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS: HEAVY SNOWFALL INTENSITY WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTRA 
  DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY...AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL 
  FOR SLUSHY ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS
OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$
942 
WWUS46 KOTX 261748
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1048 AM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...LATE SEASON SNOW EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...

THE STRONG SPRING STORM SYSTEM HAS SLOWED OVER THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING. THIS WILL CONTINUE THE MODERATE TO HEAVY
PRECIPITATION OVER THE MOUNTAINS TODAY. TSNOW LEVELS LOWERED TO
NEAR 4000 FEET...BUT EXPECT A SLOW INCREASE THROUGH THE LATE
AFTERNOON HOURS.

IDZ004-261900-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110526T1800Z/
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...MULLAN...LOOKOUT PASS
1048 AM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE
DAY IN SHOSHONE COUNTY BUT ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL REMAIN
BELOW WARNING CRITERIA.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-038-262100-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110526T2100Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD...CHESAW ROAD...HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...
BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS
1048 AM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON ABOVE 4000 FEET...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 4000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL
2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4000 FEET.

* TIMING: RAIN HAS CHANGED OVER TO SNOW THIS MORNING FOR THE
  NORTHERN PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND THE
  OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS. HIGH ELEVATION SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONINTUE
  THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHESAW ROAD...HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...
  BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
  FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH. RIDGE TOP WIND GUSTS UP TO 30
  MPH POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS: HEAVY SNOWFALL INTENSITY WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTRA 
  DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY...AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL 
  FOR SLUSHY ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS
OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$
243 
WWUS46 KOTX 262052
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
152 PM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...LATE SEASON SNOW EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS...

THE STRONG SPRING STORM SYSTEM HAS WILL SLOWLY PUSH NORTHEAST INTO
BRITISH COLUMBIA THIS EVENING. LIGHT TO MODERATE PRECIPITATION
WILL CONTINUE TO FALL OVER THE NORTHEAST AND PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS
NEAR THE CANADIAN BORDER INTO THIS EVENING. SNOW LEVELS REMAIN AT
OR JUST ABOVE 4000 FEET.

WAZ038-262200-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110526T2100Z/
OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...CHESAW ROAD...
HIGHWAY 20 WAUCONDA SUMMIT...BOULDER CREEK ROAD...SHERMAN PASS
152 PM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO LINGER INTO THIS
EVENING. BUT ANY ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE VERY LIGHT.


$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-270500-
/O.EXT.KOTX.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110527T0600Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD
152 PM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING ABOVE 4000 FEET...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 4000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4000 FEET.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL CONTINUE FOR PANHANDLE AND THE NORTHEAST
  MOUNTAINS NEAR THE CANADIAN BORDER THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH. RIDGE TOP WIND GUSTS UP TO 20
  MPH POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS: HEAVY SNOWFALL INTENSITY WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTRA 
  DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY...AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL 
  FOR SLUSHY ROADWAYS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS
OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$
861 
WWUS46 KOTX 270006
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
506 PM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

IDZ001-WAZ037-270115-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-110527T0600Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD
506 PM PDT THU MAY 26 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

THE WIDESPREAD SNOW HAS ENDED ACROSS THE NORTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE
MOUNTAINS AND THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON. SCATTERED
RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. HOWEVER ANY
ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE VERY LIGHT.

$$
LN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 3:29 AM PDTRiver Flood WatchOTXAsotin16 hr
May 25, 3:31 AM PDTWinter Storm WatchOTXFerry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens8 hr
May 25, 3:29 AM PDTRiver Flood WatchOTXKootenai, Shoshone32 hr
May 25, 3:29 AM PDTRiver Flood WatchOTXBoundary32 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Idaho, 2011Winter Storm Warnings in Washington, 2011Every winter storm warning in 2011

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.