Winter Storm Warning 11, NWS Spokane, WA

404 
WWUS46 KOTX 041916
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1216 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WET AND HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED TODAY...

.HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY OVER EXTREME
NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND NORTH IDAHO. IN THE VALLEYS EXPECT MINOR
ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES OF WET SNOW ON GRASSY
SURFACES...WITH MINOR SLUSH ACCUMULATIONS ON ROADS.

IDZ003-027-WAZ033-042030-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WW.Y.0020.000000T0000Z-120405T0000Z/
IDAHO PALOUSE-LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-
WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...MOSCOW...PLUMMER...POTLATCH...
GENESEE...CRAIGMONT...NEZPERCE...WINCHESTER...
SOLDIERS MEADOW ROAD...PULLMAN...ROSALIA...OAKESDALE...TEKOA...
UNIONTOWN
1216 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

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

LIGHT SNOW ABOVE 2000 FEET AND A SNOW RAIN MIX BELOW 2000 FEET
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY...BUT FURTHER ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
MAINLY ON GRASSY SURFACES WITH ONLY MINOR SLUSHY ACCUMULATIONS ON
ROADS ABOVE 2000 FEET.

$$

IDZ002-026-WAZ031-032-036-042030-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WW.Y.0019.000000T0000Z-120405T0000Z/
COEUR D'ALENE AREA-LEWISTON AREA-NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS-
LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-SPOKANE AREA-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...COEUR D'ALENE...POST FALLS...
HAYDEN...WORLEY...GIFFORD...ANATONE...PEOLA...MOUNTAIN ROAD...
CLOVERLAND ROAD...POMEROY...ALPOWA SUMMIT...CHENEY...DAVENPORT...
ROCKFORD
1216 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

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

LIGHT SNOW ABOVE 2000 FEET AND A SNOW RAIN MIX BELOW 2000 FEET
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY...BUT FURTHER ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
MAINLY ON GRASSY SURFACES WITH ONLY MINOR SLUSHY ACCUMULATIONS ON
ROADS ABOVE 2000 FEET.

$$

IDZ001-WAZ037-050530-
/O.CON.KOTX.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120405T1200Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
SPRINGDALE-HUNTERS ROAD...ORIN-RICE ROAD...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD
1216 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT THURSDAY
ABOVE 3500 FEET...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE 
  VALLEYS AND IN THE MOUNTAINS AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 7 INCHES.

* TIMING: STEADY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS: SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...SPRINGDALE-HUNTERS 
  ROAD... ORIN-RICE ROAD...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD.

* HAZARD ELEVATION: ABOVE 3500 FEET.

* SNOW LEVEL: VALLEY FLOORS.

* IMPACTS: HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL INTO THE 
  HIGHER TERRAIN VERY HAZARDOUS. IN THE VALLEYS LIGHT SLUSHY 
  ACCUMULATIONS ON ROADS WILL MAKE DRIVING SLIPPERY. 

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.

&&

$$

IDZ004-050530-
/O.CON.KOTX.WW.Y.0019.000000T0000Z-120405T0600Z/
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...
OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...FOURTH OF JULY PASS...DOBSON PASS...
LOOKOUT PASS
1216 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS
EVENING...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 4 INCHES.

* TIMING: RAIN AND SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE IDAHO PANHANDLE
  TODAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL TO 2500 FEET OR LOWER LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

* LOCATIONS: KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN... 
  FOURTH OF JULY PASS...DOBSON PASS...LOOKOUT PASS.

* IMPACTS: MOTORISTS SHOULD ANTICIPATE WINTER DRIVING 
  CONDITIONS... ESPECIALLY ABOVE ELEVATIONS OF 3000 FEET TODAY 
  AND TONIGHT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

550 
WWUS46 KOTX 050255
WSWOTX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
755 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012


IDZ001-WAZ037-050400-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-120405T1200Z/
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ROAD...
SPRINGDALE-HUNTERS ROAD...ORIN-RICE ROAD...FLOWERY TRAIL ROAD
755 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

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

SNOW HAS TAPERED OFF IN THE NORTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE AND NORTHEAST
WASHINGTON MOUNTAINS. SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT BUT
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LIMITED TO AROUND AN INCH OR
LESS. THUS THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

$$

IDZ004-050400-
/O.CAN.KOTX.WW.Y.0019.000000T0000Z-120405T0600Z/
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...
OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...FOURTH OF JULY PASS...DOBSON PASS...
LOOKOUT PASS
755 PM PDT WED APR 4 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

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

SNOW HAS TAPERED OFF IN THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS. SNOW
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE OVERNIGHT BUT ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS 
WILL BE LIMITED TO LESS THAN 2 INCHES. THUS THE WINTER WEATHER 
ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
250 AM PDT Wed Apr 4 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
An active and unsettled weather pattern will envelope the region
tonight and last through Saturday...with some low elevation locations
receiving significant snow once again on Wednesday. The weather
will quiet down by Sunday...but a chance of at least mountain
showers will continue through early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

...A late season winter storm will bring accumulating snow to the
Palouse...Idaho Panhandle...and Spokane Metro today...

Today and Tonight: A very dynamic storm system is organizing over
the northern Rockies this morning. A stalled frontal boundary
stretching from southeast Oregon through the Idaho Panhandle will
become the focusing mechanism for banded precipitation today.
The 00z runs of the NAM, GFS, and ECMWF focus the axis of heaviest
precipitation from Hells Canyon across the Palouse to Coeur
D'Alene to Priest Lake today. As of 2 AM, the center of surface
low pressure was near Boise and deepening. This surface low will
track to the north-northeast, deepen and stall over northwest
Montana this afternoon. Upper level jet coupling, strong q-vector
convergence, and mid-level frontogenesis suggest that this will
not be your run of the mill frontal system. Despite 2 AM surface
temperatures around 40 degrees in Pullman, Pomeroy, and Spokane
vigorous forcing along the frontal band should cool temperatures
into the mid 30s by mid morning...bringing a change from rain to
snow. Pavement temperatures as of 2 AM were well above freezing
after a warm day yesterday. Accumulations on roads may or may not
be a problem today. Under the heaviest snow bands this morning, I
think that there will be some accumulation, especially above 2000
feet. With that in mind, a Winter Weather Advisory has been
issued for the Spokane and Coeur D'Alene areas above 2000 feet.
Advisories are also in effect for the Palouse, Pomeroy area and
Lewiston area above 2000 feet. The Blue Mountains and Camas
Prairie are under advisories as well. The onset of the heaviest
precipitation will be during the morning commute, so an advisory
will hopefully raise awareness to this late season storm. Even if
accumulations do not cause travel difficulties, the weather will
be nasty today. Wet, wind driven snow will be a cruel reality
check after yesterday's mild day.

The zones north of the Spokane area have not been included in the
Winter Weather Advisory. There is good agreement between the
models that snow levels will be above the valley floors around
Sandpoint, Priest Lake, and Colville this morning. A Trough of
Warm Air Aloft (TROWAL) is expected to develop over the far
northern Idaho Panhandle and extreme northeast Washington. By the
time cold advection arrives this afternoon, it may be tough for
snow to accumulate. Low elevation accumulations are tough during
the afternoon hours this late in the season. An advisory may be
necessary for tonight for Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake and Colville.
The models hint at the possibility of a slow moving deformation
band near the Canadian border tonight. By this evening snow levels
will fall to the valley floors.

Thursday and Thursday night: A cold upper trough will settle over
the Inland Northwest. Temperatures will be a good ten degrees
below average. Steep mid level lapse rates combined with surface
heating on Thursday afternoon will lead to convective showers.
Look for rain, snow, grauple and possibly some small hail in the
afternoon and early in the evening. The atmosphere will be border-
line cold for thunderstorms, but the mention of thunder has been
retained over the Columbia Basin into the Palouse where sunshine
has the best chance of creating enough surface based instability
for cells strong enough to produce lightning. /GKoch

Friday through Tuesday: An unstable upper trough brings showery
weather across the region early this period, before a ridge builds
in and shifts the primary shower threat to the mountains. On
Friday the upper trough centered over the Rockies migrates toward
the High Plains, with a notable vorticity max rotating by the
southeast to eastern CWA. Additionally, models depict 500mb
temperatures around -34C. During the afternoon hours 850-500mb
lapse rates are projected to be around 8 C/KM, with some CAPE and
negative LI's. This instability combined with the passing
shortwave with mean the threat of showers through the region. With
850mb temperatures around -1 to -2 C, this will mean a mixture of
rain and snow, with the possibility of graupel or small hail. The
instability will also warrant a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Almost anywhere could see thunder, but the most favorable location
at this time looks to be across the eastern third of Washington
and north Idaho.

By Saturday the atmosphere begins to stabilize as the center of
the trough shifts east and an upper ridge starts in. Shower
chances will linger across the eastern third of Washington and
northern Idaho, due to upslope flow and lingering weak
instability. From Sunday to Tuesday the ridge continues to build
in while the next trough sets up off the coast. For the most part,
drier weather is expected with more sun. However there is the
potential for a disturbance riding up from the south, currently
depicted by some guidance as passing between Sunday night and
Monday. This is depicted with an increase in clouds and lingering
shower chances around the mountains. Temperatures will remain
below average much of the period, however expect some moderation
and by Monday should be closer to average. /J. Cote'

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS...A weather system over southern Oregon will move north
into Eastern Washington and North Idaho through Wednesday.
Increasing rain and snow will occur with snow levels near 2000-2500
feet mainly east of a line from Republic to Ritzville.  CIGS are expected
to rapidly lower once precipitation begins with widespread IFR and
MVFR conditions.  Low level upslope winds will further lower CIGS at
KPUW.  Given warmer ground temperatures of early April snow will
have a difficult time sticking to runways, especially after 18z
Wednesday with the increasing sun angle. Precipitation should begin
to taper off after 21z with improving conditions.  Over Central
Washington drier low level air should result in continued VFR
conditions.  JW

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        38  31  44  30  45  30 / 100  60  40  30  50  20
Coeur d'Alene  37  32  42  29  45  30 / 100  70  50  30  50  30
Pullman        37  30  44  30  43  30 / 100  30  40  30  50  30
Lewiston       45  33  48  33  49  33 / 100  20  40  30  40  30
Colville       39  30  48  29  51  31 /  90  80  50  20  50  30
Sandpoint      37  32  43  28  44  30 / 100  90  60  30  60  40
Kellogg        36  29  39  27  43  29 / 100  80  60  40  70  40
Moses Lake     52  29  53  29  53  30 /  10  10  20  20  20  10
Wenatchee      51  32  52  33  53  33 /  10  10  20  20  20  10
Omak           48  31  53  31  53  31 /  30  20  30  20  30  10

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for Central
     Panhandle Mountains.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for Lewis
     and Southern Nez Perce Counties.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for Idaho
     Palouse-Lewiston Area.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 5 PM PDT this
     afternoon for Coeur d'Alene Area.

WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for Lower
     Garfield and Asotin Counties-Washington Palouse.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 5 PM PDT this
     afternoon for Spokane Area.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for
     Northeast Blue Mountains.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
650 AM PDT WED APR 4 2012

IDZ002>004-026-027-WAZ031>033-036-051400-
COEUR D'ALENE AREA-IDAHO PALOUSE-CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-
LEWISTON AREA-LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-
NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS-LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-
WASHINGTON PALOUSE-SPOKANE AREA-
650 AM PDT WED APR 4 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A SWATH OF 2 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TODAY FROM THE CAMAS
PRAIRIE TO PULLMAN TO COEUR D'ALENE TODAY. THE HEAVIEST
ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR ABOVE 2500 FEET. BLUSTERY WEST WINDS OVER
THE PALOUSE...WEST PLAINS...BLUE MOUNTAINS...AND POMEROY AREA WILL
CONTRIBUTE TO A WET...WIND DRIVEN SNOW. MOTORISTS DRIVING ON
HIGHWAY 95 FROM LEWISTON TO COEUR D'ALENE SHOULD ANTICIPATE
TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

IDZ001-WAZ037-038-051400-
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
650 AM PDT WED APR 4 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IS ANTICIPATED TODAY AND TONIGHT OVER THE
FAR NORTH IDAHO PANHANDLE AND THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST
WASHINGTON. VALLEY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 3 INCHES WILL BE
POSSIBLE BY LATE TONIGHT IN THE SANDPOINT...DEER PARK...
NEWPORT...AND PRIEST LAKE AREAS. THE MOUNTAINS OF THE NORTH IDAHO
PANHANDLE AND NORTHEAST WASHINGTON WILL LIKELY RECEIVE 4 TO 8
INCHES OF SNOW BY LATE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

SNOW SHOWERS WILL LINGER INTO THURSDAY AROUND BONNERS
FERRY...PRIEST LAKE...AND NORTHPORT.

WAZ034-035-041>044-051400-
MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-WENATCHEE AREA-
EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-OKANOGAN VALLEY-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
650 AM PDT WED APR 4 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.