A peak wind gust of 53 MPH was measured by ASOS at the Pullman Airport. The strong winds blew down several tree branches.
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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.
The episode as NWS OTX wrote it up.
A peak wind gust of 53 MPH was measured by ASOS at the Pullman Airport. The strong winds blew down several tree branches. A combination of the strong winds and slick roadways contributed to three traffic accidents in Whitman County.
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 Mar 8, 3:40 PM PST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
340 PM PST WED MAR 8 2006
.SYNOPSIS...
A VERY ACTIVE WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE INLAND
NORTHWEST TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW...VALLEY RAIN AND
SNOW...AND VERY WINDY CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY
MORNING. COOLER AND UNSETTLED CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN THROUGH THE
WEEKEND.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS CURRENTLY
JUST OFF THE WEST COAST AND IS POISED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION
THIS EVENING. AT THE TIME A FAIRLY STRONG WARM FRONT IS MOVING
ACROSS THE CWFA. GOOD ISENTROPIC LIFT...COMBINED WITH A DECENT
MOISTURE TAP IS COMBINING TO SPREAD PRECIPITATION THROUGH THE AREA.
THE LOWER EAST SLOPES OF THE CASCADES EAST TO ABOUT THE WATERVILLE
PLATEAU APPEARS TO BE GETTING SHADOWED BY A STRONG CASCADE FLOW...BUT
STILL EXPECT THOSE AREAS TO PICK UP SOME DECENT PRECIPITATION. A
VIGOROUS COLD FRONT IS CLEARLY VISIBLE ON SATELLITE IMAGERY AND IS
PROGGED BY THE 12Z MODELS TO BE ON THE CASCADES NEAR 03Z AND IS EAST
INTO MONTANA BY 12Z. EXPECT PRECIPITATION TO CUT-OFF QUICKLY BEHIND
THE COLD FRONT FROM EAST TO WEST OVERNIGHT. SNOW LEVELS REMAIN NEAR
2500-3000 FEET THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. UP-SLOPING FLOW WILL KEEP
HIGHER POPS GOING ACROSS THE IDAHO PANHANDLE ZONES THROUGH THE
NIGHT. ON THURSDAY THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH SOUTHERN BRITISH
COLUMBIA. THE ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES WITH THE TROUGH PASSAGE AND
WILL SUPPORT WIDESPREAD CONVECTIVE SHOWERS THROUGH THE DAY.
NOW FOR HIGHLIGHTS...EVEN WITH A FAST MOVING SYSTEM SUCH AS THIS THE
MODEL QPF IS IMPRESSIVE. IN ADDITION A LOW LEVEL JET COMBINED WITH A
TIGHTENING OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WITH THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN
NUMEROUS WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WIND ADVISORIES. WILL END THE
WSWS FOR THE CASCADES AND NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS BY 12Z WITH THE
PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS CONTINUING UNTIL 18Z. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
BREEZY THURSDAY BUT ARE EXPECTED TO SUBSIDE BELOW WIND ADVISORY BY
AROUND 12Z. /TOBIN
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...ONCE THE COLD FRONT RUSHES THROUGH
THE AREA EARLY THURSDAY...THE REGION WILL BE LEFT UNDER A COOL AND
UNSETTLED WEATHER REGIME. THIS WEATHER CHANGE WILL DEVELOP AS A COLD
AND BROAD UPPER LEVEL LOW SETTLES OVER THE ENTIRE PACNW. PLACEMENT OF
THE LOW...LEAVES JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE JET ENERGY FIXED WELL OFFSHORE
OR TO OUR SOUTH. SUBSEQUENTLY SYNOPTIC FORCING WILL BE RATHER WEAK
THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY. DESPITE THE WEAK SYNOPTIC SETTING...
SOUNDING DATA AND VERTICAL CROSS SECTIONS REVEAL A CONDITIONALLY
UNSTABLE AIRMASS UP TO NEARLY 450 MBS. THIS AIRMASS COMBINED WITH ANY
DIURNAL HEATING AND OROGRAPICAL ASCENT WILL RESULT IN SHOWER
ACTIVITY. WE SEE NO REASON TO ZERO OUT POPS DURING ANY OF THIS
PERIOD...HOWEVER WE WILL NOT GO OVERBOARD EITHER DUE TO LACK OF
SIGNIFICANT FORCING MECHANISMS. PRECIP TYPE WILL BE PRIMARILY SNOW
WITH WET BULB ZERO HEIGHTS GENERALLY STICKING AT 2K FEET OR LOWER.
ONLY OTHER CONCERN DURING THIS PERIOD IS WHAT ARE THE THUNDER
CHANCES. CLIMATOLOGICALLY MARCH THUNDER IS NOT COMMON...AT LEAST IN
THE VALLEYS (SPOKANE AVERAGES LESS THAN ONE THUNDERSTORM PER
MARCH)...WHILE THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS OF NORTH/CENTRAL IDAHO
AND NE WASHINGTON AVERAGE FEWER THAN 10 STRIKES FOR THE ENTIRE
MONTH. NONETHELESS THIS IS A FAIRLY UNSTABLE AIRMASS SO WE CANNOT
RULE THEM OUT ENTIRELY BUT GIVEN PREVIOUS SYNOPTIC
LIMITATIONS...THE ODDS DO NOT WARRANT MENTION IN THE ZONES OR
GRIDS AT THIS POINT. TEMPS WILL REMAIN COOL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
FX
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...EXTENDED MODELS IN GENERAL
AGREEMENT OF AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH SITTING OVER THE INLAND
NORTHWEST THROUGH SUNDAY. MEANWHILE A HIGHLY AMPLIFIED RIDGE WILL
EXTEND INTO THE GULF OF ALASKA. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC WILL UNDERCUT THE RIDGE AND PUSH INTO THE PAC
NW TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. HAVE CONTINUED SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE OF
SHOWERS THROUGH THE ENTIRE EXTENDED PERIOD AS GENERAL TROUGHINESS
PREVAILS. INCREASED CHANCE OF PRECIP FOR TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
ESPECIALLY ALONG THE CASCADES AS WE GET INTO SOUTH TO SOUTHEASTERLY
FLOW AS THE TROUGH APPROACHES. /KOCH
&&
.AVIATION...PCPN CONTINUES AS RA/SN MIX WITH LITTLE ACCUMULATION OF
SNOW IN THE VALLEYS...THEN CHANGING OVER TO SNOW AFTER 02Z. AREAS OF
IFR/MVFR CIGS AND VIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL AROUND 06Z. ONCE FROPA
OCCURS EARLY THIS EVENING...STRONG W/SW WINDS OF 20-34KT WITH GUSTS
TO 40 KTS WILL BE COMMON FOR ALL TERMINALS THROUGH 15Z.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SPOKANE 27 37 24 38 21 39 / 100 20 30 30 20 20
COEUR DALENE 28 36 24 38 21 38 / 100 20 40 30 20 20
PULLMAN 29 37 27 38 21 39 / 90 20 40 30 20 20
LEWISTON 33 44 31 41 27 43 / 70 20 40 30 20 20
COLVILLE 26 37 25 37 19 38 / 100 20 40 40 20 20
SANDPOINT 28 36 23 37 18 38 / 100 60 40 40 30 20
KELLOGG 28 37 24 40 22 39 / 100 80 50 40 30 20
MOSES LAKE 29 46 28 45 26 45 / 80 10 20 30 20 10
WENATCHEE 27 45 28 44 27 44 / 70 10 30 30 20 10
OMAK 24 44 24 44 23 44 / 90 10 20 30 20 10
&&
.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM THURSDAY FOR NORTHERN
PANHANDLE... CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM THURSDAY FOR COEUR
DALENE AREA...IDAHO PALOUSE...LEWISTON AREA.
WA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM THURSDAY FOR NORTHEAST BLUE
MOUNTAINS.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM THURSDAY FOR LOWER
GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES...WASHINGTON PALOUSE...UPPER
COLUMBIA BASIN...SPOKANE AREA...WATERVILLE PLATEAU.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 AM THURSDAY FOR NORTHEAST
MOUNTAINS...OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS...EAST SLOPES NORTHERN
CASCADES.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1147 AM PST WED MAR 8 2006
IDZ001>004-026-WAZ031>033-035>038-042-044-091400-
NORTHERN PANHANDLE-COEUR DALENE AREA-IDAHO PALOUSE-
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS-LEWISTON AREA-
NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS-LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES-
WASHINGTON PALOUSE-UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-
NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-
EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SANDPOINT...RATHDRUM...BONNERS FERRY...
PRIEST RIVER...COEUR DALENE...POST FALLS...HAYDEN...MOSCOW...
ST. MARIES...KELLOGG...PINEHURST...OSBURN...WALLACE...MULLAN...
LEWISTON...ANATONE...PEOLA...CLARKSTON...PULLMAN...RITZVILLE...
COULEE DAM...ODESSA...ELECTRIC CITY...WILBUR...GRAND COULEE...
COULEE CITY...SPOKANE...COLVILLE...DEER PARK...CHEWELAH...
NEWPORT...KETTLE FALLS...REPUBLIC...INCHELIUM...LEAVENWORTH...
MAZAMA...TWISP...WINTHROP...WATERVILLE...MANSFIELD
1147 AM PST WED MAR 8 2006
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
IDAHO...NORTH CENTRAL 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 UNTIL 4 AM PST THURSDAY FOR
NORTH IDAHO PANHANDLE...NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS...OKANOGAN
HIGHLANDS...EAST SLOPES NORTH CASCADES
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY FOR
CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 12 PM PST
THURSDAY FOR COEUR D ALENE AREA...IDAHO PALOUSE...LEWISTON
AREA...LOWER GARFIELD AND ASOTIN COUNTIES...WASHINGTON
PALOUSE...UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN...SPOKANE AREA...WATERVILLE
PLATEAU
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST THURSDAY FOR
NORTHEAST BLUE MOUNTAINS
PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
SEAWSWOTX /WWUS46 KOTX/
SEANPWOTX /WWUS76 KOTX/
.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
A STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TODAY. THIS
STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW ABOVE 3000 FEET
ELEVATION. IN ADDITION TO SNOW...STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY
THIS STORM. PLEASE SEE THE APPLICABLE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
PRODUCTS FOR DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA ON THURSDAY.
OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.
IDZ027-WAZ034-041-043-091400-
LEWIS AND SOUTHERN NEZ PERCE COUNTIES-MOSES LAKE AREA-
WENATCHEE AREA-OKANOGAN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KAMIAH...CRAIGMONT...NEZPERCE...
WINCHESTER...MOSES LAKE...EPHRATA...OTHELLO...QUINCY...
WENATCHEE...OMAK...OKANOGAN...BREWSTER...BRIDGEPORT...OROVILLE
1147 AM PST WED MAR 8 2006
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
IDAHO...EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON AND NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON.
.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA TODAY. STRONG
WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
TONIGHT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA ON THURSDAY. OTHERWISE NO
HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, March 2006
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: 5493885.