Heavy Snow in Washington, January 23 to 25, 2018

Name: Heavy Snow in Washington, January 23 to 25, 2018
Start: 2018-01-23T10:00
End: 2018-01-25T02:00
Location: Washington

January 23 to 25, 2018 · NWS OTX · 32 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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: 32

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.

During the afternoon of January 23rd a warm front formed over eastern Washington and North Idaho fed by a deep and favorably directed fetch of Pacific moisture. The front became stationary and produced a 24 to 36 hour period of light to moderate snow impacting the mountains and valleys of the Cascades and northeastern Washington. The Okanogan Valley also received heavy snow from this storm system. The Columbia Basin was in the warm sector of this storm system and received mostly rain with 2 to 5 inches of wet snow noted in the far western basin near the Cascades and on the Waterville Plateau.

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 22, 2:34 PM PST, 19 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 22, 2:34 PM PST, 19 hours 26 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 22, 3:14 PM PST, 18 hours 46 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

32 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Holden Village recorded 13.3 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Valley

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 48.143, -119.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public near Brewster reported 4.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Valley

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.143, -119.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A weather spotter near Pateros reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Valley

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 48.143, -119.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public near Riverside reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Stehekin recorded 11.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Winthrop recorded 7.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Mazama recorded 7.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Plain recorded 8.6 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Public

A member of the public near Telma reported 8.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Valley

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Valley forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.143, -119.716 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The COOP observer at Chief Joseph Dam recorded 5.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Public

A member of the public near Leavenworth reported 8.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Leavenworth reported 10.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at Leavenworth reported 10.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

An observer near Ardenvoir reported 6.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes Northern Cascades

When: January 23, 10:00 AM PST to January 24, 4:00 AM PST
Where: East Slopes Northern Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

An observer at Lake Wenatchee State Park reported 10.6 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Highlands

When: January 23, 12:00 PM PST to January 24, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 48.510, -119.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer 4 miles north of Republic reported 7.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Highlands

When: January 23, 12:00 PM PST to January 24, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.510, -119.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The COOP observer at Republic reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Highlands

When: January 23, 12:00 PM PST to January 24, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.510, -119.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public near Chesaw reported 10.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Highlands

When: January 23, 12:00 PM PST to January 24, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.510, -119.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public near Chesaw reported 10.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Okanogan Highlands

When: January 23, 12:00 PM PST to January 24, 8:00 AM PST
Where: Okanogan Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 48.510, -119.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer near Boyds reported 7.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public near Springdale reported 4.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The COOP observer at Boundary Dam reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The COOP observer at Boundary Dam reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer near Clayton reported 7.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter 8 miles southeast of Northport reported 5.2 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public 6 miles west of Orin reported 8.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public in Deer Park reported 5.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A member of the public near Loon Lake reported 7.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A weather spotter 7 miles northwest of Diamond Lake reported 6.2 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observer near Metaline Falls reported 5.5 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The 49 North ski area reported 24.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Mountains

When: January 23, 2:00 PM PST to January 25, 2:00 AM PST
Where: Northeast Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.184, -117.511 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Mt. Spokane ski area reported 16.0 inches of new snow accumulation.

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 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, January 2018

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: 730042, 730043, 730044, 730045, 730048, 730049, 730050, 730051, 730053, 730054, 730055, 730058, 730059, 730060, 730065, 730046, 730052, 730061, 730062, 730063, 730047, 730056, 730057, 730064, 730066, 730067, 730068, 730069, 730070, 730072, 730073, 730074.