Heavy Snow in Washington, January 8 to 9, 2005

Name: Heavy Snow in Washington, January 8 to 9, 2005
Start: 2005-01-08T16:00
End: 2005-01-09T12:00
Location: Washington

January 8 to 9, 2005 · NWS OTX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OTX wrote it up.

A reinforcing shot of cold air followed the large storm system that hit eastern Washington between the 6th and the 8th of January. This smaller system brought heavy snow to a few counties in eastern Washington during the overnight hours between the 8th and 9th of January. In the Spokane Area, The National Weather Service Office reported 4 inches of new snow. In the Northeast Mountains, 4 to 5 inches were common with a spotter reporting 4 inches at Diamond Lake and 5 inches at Deer Park. In the Okanogan Valley, heavy snow fell with 6 inches being reported by a spotter in the town of Malott.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jan 8, 2:30 PM PST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 2:30 PM PST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WASHINGTON
230 PM PST SAT JAN 8 2005

.SYNOPSIS...UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE INLAND
NORTHWEST THROUGH SUNDAY AS UPPER LEVEL WAVES EJECTING FROM THE
OFFSHORE LOW CREATE PERIODS OF SNOW. COOLER AND DRIER
CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN MONDAY AND LAST THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT
WHEN A MODIFIED ARCTIC FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH BRINGING
AREAS OF LIGHT SNOW AND COLDER TEMPERATURES.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
SUNDAY AS MINOR WAVES EJECT FROM THE OFF SHOW LOW NEAR 130 W...46
N. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAVE SHOULD DRIVE A SURFACE TROUGH AND UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY...SURFACE
REFLECTION NOT UNLIKE WHAT OCCURRED THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...
DYNAMICS ALOFT EXPECTED TO BE WEAKER AS ENERGY ALOFT IS SHEARED IN
THE DEFORMATION ZONE AND THE VORTICITY PATTERN BECOMES INCREASINGLY
CHANNELED. YET COLDER AIR ALOFT...AND DESTABILIZING MID-LEVELS SHOULD
PROVIDE A RIPE ENVIRONMENT FOR EMBEDDED SHOWERS AS THE WAVE MOVES
THROUGH. WILL KEEP SNOW ACCUMULATIONS BELOW HIGHLIGHT CRITERIA AT
THIS TIME BUT FOLLOWING SHIFTS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR EAST SLOPES
TONIGHT AS REGION IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MAY
EXPERIENCE MORE SHOWER ACTIVITY THAN ANTICIPATED...THIS WILL ALSO
BE COUPLED WITH UPSLOPE FLOW OVERNIGHT. LATE TONIGHT...EARLY
TOMORROW FOCUS SHIFTS TO NORTHEASTERN WA AND PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...
TRACK OF SURFACE LOW...AND UPPER LEVEL VORTICITY MAXIMUM CRUCIAL IN
DETERMINING SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS...AT THIS TIME ANTICIPATE DYNAMICS
TO SHEAR EASTWARD OVER SOUTHERN IDAHO PANHANDLE ZONES.  BY MONDAY
THE OFFSHORE LOW DIGS FAR ENOUGH SOUTH TO ALLOW FOR DRIER MORE STABLE
CONDITIONS WITH SHOWERS PRIMARILY OROGRAPHIC IN NATURE.  ADDED
SHOWERS TUESDAY WITH THE WEAK TROUGH EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE
AREA IN ADVANCE OF THE MODIFIED ARCTIC AIRMASS MOVING SOUTHWARD OUT
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

TUESDAY NIGHT THRU SATURDAY...PER PREVIOUS MODEL RUNS EXTENDED
FORECAST STILL BANKING UPON INTRUSION OF COLD AIR FROM THE NORTH
WITH PERSISTENT PLACEMENT OF A RATHER PRONOUNCED AND NARROW
OFFSHORE RIDGE. THE OFFSHORE RIDGE PLACEMENT WILL ALLOW FOR A PATH
FOR MINOR SHORTWAVES TO TRAVERSE DOWN THRU...THUS LINGERING SLIGHT
CHANCE POP WORDING FOR PARTS OF THE CASCADES AS WELL AS NORTHEAST
MOUNTAINS AND IDAHO PANHANDLE WHILE REMAINDER OF REGION EXPECTED TO
REMAIN DRY. THE MORE IMPRESSIVE PORTION OF THE FORECAST WILL BE THE
EXPECTED MAX AND MIN TEMPERATURES OVER THIS PERIOD. CURRENT
SNOW-PACK IS NOT EXPECTED TO ERODE MUCH GIVEN JUST ABOUT ALL FORECAST
MAX AND MIN TEMPERATURES REMAIN BELOW FREEZING. THUS CLEARING
OVERNIGHT SKIES COMBINED WITH THE ADVERTISED COLD AIR INTRUSION
TUESDAY NIGHT FROM CANADA MERIT A A NEED FOR FAIRLY COLD FORECAST
OVERNIGHT LOWS AND DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES...FOR A START AT LEAST
BELOW CLIMO. IM SURE THESE FORECAST TEMPS WILL BE TWEAKED FROM TIME
TO TIME AS WE GET A BETTER FEEL FOR HOW THE POTENTIAL ARCTIC AIR
INTRUSION WILL EVOLVE.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

SPOKANE        023 027 021 029 015 025/ 50 50 10 10 20 30
COEUR DALENE  022 025 020 027 018 022/ 60 50 10 10 20 30
PULLMAN        026 032 023 034 020 027/ 40 20 10 10 20 30
LEWISTON       030 033 026 035 026 033/ 40 20 10 10 30 30
COLVILLE       019 020 016 022 014 022/ 40 50 20 05 20 40
SANDPOINT      018 022 016 024 015 022/ 70 40 20 10 20 40
WALLACE        019 022 017 024 013 020/ 70 60 40 30 30 40
MOSES LAKE     025 029 024 031 020 029/ 40 20 10 05 10 20
WENATCHEE      022 027 023 029 018 027/ 60 30 10 05 10 20
OMAK           021 024 020 026 016 023/ 50 20 10 00 10 20
&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 8, 2:23 PM PST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
223 PM PST SAT JAN 8 2005

IDZ001>004-026-027-WAZ031>038-041>044-091430-
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-COEUR DALENE AREA-IDAHO PALOUSE-
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-LEWISTON AREA-
LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS-
LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-WASHINGTON PALOUSE-
MOSES LAKE AREA-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-WENATCHEE AREA-
EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-OKANOGAN VALLEY-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
223 PM PST SAT JAN 8 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE AREAS LISTED ABOVE.

.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAY TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 8, 1:17 PM PST, 2 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
117 PM PST SAT JAN 08 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0130 AM     HEAVY SNOW       WATERVILLE              47.65N 120.07W
01/08/2005  5.0 INCH         DOUGLAS            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0610 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 NW SPOKANE            47.72N 117.49W
01/08/2005  5.0 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   NWS EMPLOYEE

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       CHESAW                  48.94N 119.05W
01/08/2005  8.0 INCH         OKANOGAN           WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       N CHEWELAH              48.29N 117.73W
01/08/2005  7.0 INCH         STEVENS            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SPRINGDALE              48.06N 117.75W
01/08/2005  7.0 INCH         STEVENS            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       S CHEWELAH              48.29N 117.73W
01/08/2005  7.0 INCH         STEVENS            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       N COLVILLE              48.54N 117.90W
01/08/2005  5.5 INCH         STEVENS            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       S COLVILLE              48.54N 117.90W
01/08/2005  5.5 INCH         STEVENS            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DEER PARK               47.96N 117.43W
01/08/2005  4.0 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GIFFORD                 46.44N 116.55W
01/08/2005  1.0 INCH         FERRY              ID   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GREEN ACRES             47.66N 117.16W
01/08/2005  3.0 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       IONE                    48.74N 117.42W
01/08/2005  2.8 INCH         PEND OREILLE       WA   AMATEUR RADIO

0710 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 WNW KETTLE FALLS      48.66N 118.24W
01/08/2005  11.0 INCH        FERRY              WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HOURS

0720 AM     HEAVY SNOW       8 WSW NEWPORT           48.14N 117.21W
01/08/2005  5.0 INCH         PEND OREILLE       WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0730 AM     SNOW             BLANCHARD               48.02N 116.98W
01/08/2005  3.0 INCH         BONNER             ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

0735 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N HAUSER              47.81N 117.01W
01/08/2005  2.8 INCH         KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SE BONNERS FERRY      48.65N 116.25W
01/08/2005  8.0 INCH         BOUNDARY           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MALOTT                  48.27N 119.71W
01/08/2005  8.5 INCH         OKANOGAN           WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       13 NE COLVILLE          48.68N 117.69W
01/08/2005  8.0 INCH         STEVENS            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 NW SPOKANE            47.74N 117.52W
01/08/2005  5.5 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   NWS EMPLOYEE

0755 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NE WENATCHEE          47.44N 120.31W
01/08/2005  8.0 INCH         CHELAN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       COEUR DALENE           47.70N 116.78W
01/08/2005  4.0 INCH         KOOTENAI           ID   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             KELLOGG                 47.54N 116.14W
01/08/2005  1.5 INCH         SHOSHONE           ID   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       RITZVILLE               47.13N 118.38W
01/08/2005  4.5 INCH         ADAMS              WA   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             PORTHILL                48.99N 116.49W
01/08/2005  2.0 INCH         BOUNDARY           ID   CO-OP OBSERVER

0805 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MOYIE SPRINGS           48.72N 116.19W
01/08/2005  7.0 INCH         BOUNDARY           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

0815 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SE BONNERS FERRY      48.65N 116.25W
01/08/2005  11.0 INCH        BOUNDARY           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

0820 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SE RICE               48.41N 118.15W
01/08/2005  8.5 INCH         STEVENS            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ENTIAT                  47.68N 120.21W
01/08/2005  4.0 INCH         CHELAN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       CLAYTON                 47.99N 117.56W
01/08/2005  5.0 INCH         STEVENS            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12 INCHES ON THE GROUND.

0905 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MANSON                  47.88N 120.15W
01/08/2005  3.0 INCH         CHELAN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0910 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N DIAMOND LAKE        48.16N 117.19W
01/08/2005  6.0 INCH         PEND OREILLE       WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

0945 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 NW OKANOGAN           48.44N 119.68W
01/08/2005  8.0 INCH         OKANOGAN           WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HOURS

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 W SPOKANE             47.67N 117.56W
01/08/2005  6.1 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            NWS OFFICE SPOKANE.

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 W SPOKANE             47.67N 117.52W
01/08/2005  3.8 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            FELL AT THE SPOKANE AIRPORT.

1010 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 E SPIRIT LAKE         47.97N 116.80W
01/08/2005  5.5 INCH         KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SPOKANE                 47.67N 117.41W
01/08/2005  5.0 INCH         SPOKANE            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SOUTH HILL

1020 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 W ENTIAT              47.68N 120.23W
01/08/2005  7.0 INCH         CHELAN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

1025 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 ENE ATHOL             47.96N 116.67W
01/08/2005  3.0 INCH         KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

1145 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W NAPLES              48.57N 116.45W
01/08/2005  8.0 INCH         BOUNDARY           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

RBONNER

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 8, 4:00 PM PST to January 9, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Spokane Area

When: January 8, 4:00 PM PST to January 9, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Spokane Area forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 47.599, -117.911 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Valley

When: January 8, 4:00 PM PST to January 9, 12:00 PM PST
Where: Okanogan Valley forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 48.143, -119.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Washington in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, January 2005

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5433690, 5433691, 5433692.