Avalanche in Washington, February 7, 2008

Name: Avalanche in Washington, February 7, 2008
Start: 2008-02-07T16:15
End: 2008-02-07T16:15
Location: Washington

February 7, 2008 · NWS OTX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An avalanche destroyed a two-story vacation home built in 2007 near Lake Wenatchee.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.1 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

An avalanche destroyed a two-story vacation home built in 2007 near Lake Wenatchee.

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 Feb 7, 3:15 PM PST, 1 hour earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 7, 3:15 PM PST, 1 hour before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED AVIATION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
315 PM PST THU FEB 7 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT
AND FRIDAY WITH SNOW SHOWERS LINGERING ACROSS NORTH IDAHO. WARMER
WEATHER IS STILL IN STORE FOR THE WEEKEND WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND
SNOW IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. FOR NEXT WEEK...A SERIES OF COLD
FRONTS WILL KEEP THE WEATHER UNSETTLED WITH SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS
AND RAIN OR SNOW IN THE VALLEYS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
DOING A QUICK UPDATE TO EXTEND THE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE PALOUSE.
WINDS REMAIN ABOVE ADVISORY CRITERIA AT BOTH PULLMAN AND UNIONTOWN
THIS HOUR. HAVE EXTENDED IT TILL 7PM...WITH THE OTHER WIND
ADVISORIES. /NISBET

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 237 PM PST THU FEB 7 2008/

.DISCUSSION...
TONIGHT...STRONG JET OVER THE AREA HAS HELPED TO
KEEP FAIRLY CLEAR SKIES AND DRY CONDITIONS OVER MUCH OF THE
LOWLANDS EAST OF THE CASCADE CREST AND HAS KEPT SNOW SHOWERS IN
SOME SHAPE OR FORM CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF
THE CASCADE CREST AND AGAIN OVER THE MORE OROGRAPHICALLY FAVORED
AREAS OF THE IDAHO PANHANDLE. THUS POPS CONTINUE TO REMAIN
CONFINED TO THESE LOCATIONS EVEN WITH A SECOND SYSTEM DROPPING
DOWN FROM CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA WHICH MAY AGAIN ALLOW THE
SNOWFALL RATES OVER THESE LOCATIONS TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY
AGAIN. THE UPPER LEVEL JET HAS ALSO FAVORED PROLONGED PERIOD OF
RATHER ROBUST WINDS THAT REMAIN DOWN FROM PULLMAN SOUTH TO THE
LEWISTON/CLARKSTON AREA. THERE SHOULD BE SOME DECREASE IN THESE
WIND SPEEDS SHORTLY AFTER 00Z THIS AFTERNOON. ANOTHER FEATURE OF
NOTE IS THE CLOUD SHIELD GROWING IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE ON THE
LEE SIDE OF THE CASCADES WHICH IS NOT A PRECIPITATION THREAT BUT
RATHER JUST A CLOUD COVER PRODUCER. /PELATTI

FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...MODELS IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT
THROUGH THE SHORT-TERM PERIOD. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL PREVAIL
FRIDAY AS A RIDGE MOVES INTO THE GULF OF ALASKA. WINDS WILL REMAIN
ELEVATED AND GUSTY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS A 160KT JET MOVES ACROSS
WITH 35-45 KT WINDS AT AROUND 5K FT. SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL
ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH ID AND THE CASCADE CREST...WITH
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS ELSEWHERE. GIVEN THE ONGOING
SNOWFALL EXPECTED ABOVE 3K FT ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH
IDAHO...A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING. FRIDAY NIGHT THE RIDGE IS PUSHED ONTO THE WEST COAST AND
WILL CONTINUE ITS EASTWARD PROGRESSION OVER THE PAC NW ON SATURDAY.
SHOWERS WILL MAINLY BE CONFINED THE THE MOUNTAINS. THE LOW LEVEL
FLOW FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL USHER IN SOME WARMER 850 MB
TEMPERATURES RESULTING IN ABOVE FREEZING VALLEY TEMPERATURES
THROUGH THE WEEKEND. SATURDAY NIGHT A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE
PAC NW AS A SURFACE LOW TRACKS ACROSS SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...SUNDAY AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE
WILL APPROACH THE WEST COAST. THERE IS SOME MODEL DISCREPANCY WITH
THIS FEATURE ON SUNDAY NIGHT. THE ECMWF IS FASTER AND WEAKER WITH THE
SYSTEM. THE GFS IS STRONGER...SLOWER AND TRACKS IT RIGHT ACROSS WA
AND NORTH ID. IT IS A QUICK MOVING SYSTEM WITH LITTLE TO NO VALLEY
ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT A
SHORTWAVE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE MOVES OVER FOR A DECREASE IN SHOWERS.

TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...MODELS ARE IN BETTER AGREEMENT OF THE
TROUGH PASSAGE LATE TUESDAY. HAVE INCREASED CHANCE OF PRECIP
ACROSS THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA. THEN
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A BROAD RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN
US. WE GET A GOOD FETCH OF MOISTURE MOVING IN WITH SOUTHWEST FLOW.
HAVE INCREASED CHANCE OF PRECIP DURING THIS TIME FRAME. /NISBET

&&

.AVIATION...MOIST ZONAL WESTERLY FLOW WILL MAINTAIN WIDESPREAD
MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS IN SNOW SHOWERS NEAR THE CASCADE CREST AND
THE MOUNTAINS OF THE IDAHO PANHANDLE THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY. OVER THE
COLUMBIA BASIN MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH 00Z
SATURDAY...EXCEPT FOR SCATTERED MVFR CEILINGS IN SNOW SHOWERS OVER
THE RISING TERRAIN OF THE EASTERN COLUMBIA BASIN.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SPOKANE        30  39  29  40  32  41 /  30  50  50  20  50  30
COEUR DALENE  29  38  29  40  32  40 /  60  70  70  40  60  50
PULLMAN        29  38  32  43  34  43 /  30  50  50  20  40  30
LEWISTON       37  47  37  50  37  47 /  20  30  30  10  20  20
COLVILLE       27  40  28  40  32  42 /  30  50  30  20  60  40
SANDPOINT      30  38  30  38  31  38 /  80  90  80  70  70  50
KELLOGG        29  35  29  42  32  43 / 100  90  90  60  70  60
MOSES LAKE     27  42  28  45  31  45 /  10  10  10  10  20  20
WENATCHEE      27  42  28  42  30  42 /  10  10  20  10  20  20
OMAK           25  38  25  39  27  41 /  10  20  20  20  30  30

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR IDAHO PALOUSE.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 PM PST FRIDAY ABOVE 3000 FEET FOR
     CENTRAL PANHANDLE MOUNTAINS...NORTHERN PANHANDLE.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR LEWIS AND SOUTHERN
     NEZ PERCE COUNTIES.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR LEWISTON AREA.

WA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR WASHINGTON PALOUSE.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR LOWER GARFIELD AND
     ASOTIN COUNTIES.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 7, 10:34 AM PST, 5 hours 41 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1034 AM PST THU FEB 7 2008

IDZ001>004-026-027-WAZ031>033-035>037-081845-
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-
UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN-SPOKANE AREA-NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS-
1034 AM PST THU FEB 7 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE  REGION
TODAY...PRODUCING VERY STRONG WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND BLOWING
OR DRIFTING SNOW. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE OVER THE PALOUSE...SPOKANE
AND COLUMBIA BASIN AREAS. MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST INTO THIS
EVENING WITH SNOW ACCUMULATIONS CONTINUING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

TEMPERATURES WILL SHOW A WARMING TREND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA SAYTURDAY NIGHT AND
SUNDAY FOR MORE RAIN AND SNOW.

WAZ034-038-041>044-081845-
MOSES LAKE AREA-OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS-WENATCHEE AREA-
EAST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES-OKANOGAN VALLEY-WATERVILLE PLATEAU-
1034 AM PST THU FEB 7 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

WINDS GUSTS OF AROUND 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY FOR ALL TOWNS
OUTSIDE OF SHELTERED VALLEYS. MODERATE SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG
THE CREST OF THE CASCADES THROUGH THE DAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

TEMPERATURES WILL SHOW A WARMING TREND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA SAYTURDAY NIGHT AND
SUNDAY FOR MORE RAIN AND SNOW.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 7, 10:17 AM PST, 5 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1017 AM PST THU FEB 07 2008

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

0540 AM     HEAVY SNOW       17 NNW KETTLE FALLS     48.83N 118.20W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        FERRY              WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER STEVENS 48, ELEVATION 1860 FT.

0540 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 N COEUR DALENE       47.71N 116.79W
02/07/2008  M4.0 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER KOOTENAI 72, ELEVATION 2300 FEET.

0620 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ST. MARIES              47.31N 116.57W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        BENEWAH            ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER BENEWAH 15, ELEVATION 2280 FEET.

0640 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW ANATONE            46.08N 117.20W
02/07/2008  M8.0 INCH        ASOTIN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER ASOTIN 13, ELEVATION 3800 FEET.

0715 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 W ATHOL               47.95N 116.73W
02/07/2008  M5.5 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER KOOTENAI 82,ELEVATION 2500 FEET.

0800 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S WENATCHEE           47.37N 120.32W
02/07/2008  M47.00 MPH       CHELAN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CHELAN 65 1298 FT

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 S LIBERTY LAKE        47.56N 117.07W
02/07/2008  M4.0 INCH        SPOKANE            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOKANE 133 3100 FT MICA PEAK

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 E SPOKANE             47.68N 117.33W
02/07/2008  M4.0 INCH        SPOKANE            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOKANE 153 1950 FT

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NE ATHOL              47.96N 116.68W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            KOOT 17 2445 FT

0800 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW MOSES LAKE        47.19N 119.31W
02/07/2008  M44.00 MPH       GRANT              WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GRANT 19 1086 FT

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       NW BLANCHARD            48.02N 116.98W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        BONNER             ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BONNER 38 2200 FT

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W NAPLES              48.57N 116.46W
02/07/2008  M7.0 INCH        BOUNDARY           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BOUNDARY 18 2300 FT

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 E HARRISON            47.46N 116.67W
02/07/2008  M6.0 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            KOOT 80 2710 FT

&&

RB

Local storm report, Feb 7, 1:10 PM PST, 3 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
110 PM PST THU FEB 07 2008

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

0540 AM     HEAVY SNOW       17 NNW KETTLE FALLS     48.83N 118.20W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        FERRY              WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER STEVENS 48, ELEVATION 1860 FT.

0540 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 N COEUR DALENE       47.71N 116.79W
02/07/2008  M4.0 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER KOOTENAI 72, ELEVATION 2300 FEET.

0620 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ST. MARIES              47.31N 116.57W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        BENEWAH            ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER BENEWAH 15, ELEVATION 2280 FEET.

0640 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW ANATONE            46.08N 117.20W
02/07/2008  M8.0 INCH        ASOTIN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER ASOTIN 13, ELEVATION 3800 FEET.

0715 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 W ATHOL               47.95N 116.73W
02/07/2008  M5.5 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER KOOTENAI 82,ELEVATION 2500 FEET.

0800 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S WENATCHEE           47.37N 120.32W
02/07/2008  M47.00 MPH       CHELAN             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CHELAN 65 1298 FT

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 S LIBERTY LAKE        47.56N 117.07W
02/07/2008  M4.0 INCH        SPOKANE            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOKANE 133 3100 FT MICA PEAK

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 E SPOKANE             47.68N 117.33W
02/07/2008  M4.0 INCH        SPOKANE            WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOKANE 153 1950 FT

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NE ATHOL              47.96N 116.68W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            KOOT 17 2445 FT

0800 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW MOSES LAKE        47.19N 119.31W
02/07/2008  M44.00 MPH       GRANT              WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GRANT 19 1086 FT

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       NW BLANCHARD            48.02N 116.98W
02/07/2008  M5.0 INCH        BONNER             ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BONNER 38 2200 FT

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 W NAPLES              48.57N 116.46W
02/07/2008  M7.0 INCH        BOUNDARY           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BOUNDARY 18 2300 FT

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 E HARRISON            47.46N 116.67W
02/07/2008  M6.0 INCH        KOOTENAI           ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

            KOOT 80 2710 FT

1100 AM     HEAVY SNOW       METALINE                48.85N 117.39W
02/07/2008  M5.5 INCH        PEND OREILLE       WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PEND OREILLE 22 2350 FT

&&

RB

Event by event

1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.

Avalanche, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: February 7, 4:15 PM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Property damage: $1.1 million
Reported by: Newspaper

What these are

Avalanche: A mass of snow sliding down a mountainside that caused a death, an injury or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Washington in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, February 2008

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: 81413.