Heavy Snow in Washington, February 10 to 12, 2019

Name: Heavy Snow in Washington, February 10 to 12, 2019
Start: 2019-02-10T13:00
End: 2019-02-12T23:00
Location: Washington

February 10 to 12, 2019 · NWS PDT · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 PDT wrote it up.

A winter storm lasting from the 10th to the 12th of February brought extreme snowfall to the east slopes of the Washington Cascades and Columbia River Gorge with heavy snowfall for the Columbia Basin, Simcoe Highlands and Blue Mountains. Snowfall totals at Snoqualmie Pass neared four and a half feet over 48 hours resulting in the pass being closed for over 72 hours for snow removal and avalanche mitigation. Just after the initial closure a fatal motor vehicle accident (indirect) occurred near Hyak when a tractor trailer crashed into a concrete barrier. Over 300 vehicles became stranded on the pass when the interstate was shut down. They were eventually led to safety on the 12th of February in a Washington State DOT and State Police convoy. Additional storm total snowfall accumulations of 38 inches at Trout Lake, 15 to 22 inches in the Columbia River Gorge, 8 to 12 inches in the Simcoe Highlands, 10 to 12 inches in the Northwest Blue Mountains and 4 to 6 inches in the Blue Mountain foothills were recorded.

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 Pendleton, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 10, 9:30 AM PST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 10, 9:30 AM PST, 3 hours 30 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
930 AM PST Sun Feb 10 2019

.UPDATE...Big comma head weather system that had and is impacting
the cwa with continued accumulating snow is slowly winding down.
Wrap around moisture was persisting mainly along the wa/or state
line and eastward into the mountains. This short lived...decrease
in pcpn will only be replaced with the next winter storm that is
expected to move into the region tonight with a prolonged period
of accumulating snow. Despite a minor lull in pcpn early
Monday...significant accumulating snow is expected to return
Monday afternoon and night and will likely prompt additional
winter weather advisories and warnings with the next package.

AVIATION...18Z TAFs...Snow has ended at DLS and tapering off at YKM.
IFR/MVFR cigs and vsby in snow will taper off at PSC/ALW/PDT sites
between 18Z-20Z. Conditions will improve at most locations after
20z. The next system will start arriving after 00Z with increasing
and lowering clouds and snow showers starting after 03Z. 93

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 337 AM PST Sun Feb 10 2019/

SHORT TERM...Today through Monday night. Very active weather
pattern for the region the next 2 days. Satellite shows center of
upper low along the Oregon coast early this morning. Large area
of enhanced clouds and snowfall over eastern Oregon and southern
Washington. Expect this area of precipitation to continue through
the morning although likely decreasing in intensity by mid
morning. By afternoon the snow should be mostly over the northeast
Oregon mountains as the low continues to move east into Idaho and
Nevada. Strong winds over Washington have decreased and Blizzard
warnings have expired. For the moment all other warnings and
advisories remain as snow is fairly widespread. Another system is
seen on water vapor moving south along the BC coast. This low
will move quickly across the Pacific northwest this evening and
overnight with additional snowfall. A third system will be
approaching from the west. This low and frontal boundary will move
into the Pacific northwest Monday and Mon night. Additional snow
is expected. Temperatures will remain cold through the period
although slight warming is indicated by the models on Mon with a
warm advection pattern. Locally breezy conditions tonight and
Monday as surface lows moving through the area tighten up
gradients. 94

LONG TERM...Tuesday through Saturday...A series of weather systems
will move through during the extended period with cold temperatures
and periods of snow. Tuesday an offshore low pressure system will
move south with a band of moisture spreading snow from southwest
Oregon through central Washington. Wind fields show upslope flow
into central Washington so this may enhance snow amounts. Models
differ Tuesday night and Wednesday. The GFS moves the low east over
WA while the ECMWF keeps the low offshore but does move the moisture
band east over the area. I trended the forecast toward the ECMWF. A
weak upper level ridge will move through Thursday. A few showers
will linger in the mountains. Another system will move into the area
Thursday night and should keep a chance of snow over most of the
area through Sunday.  Coonfield

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  20  15  27  21 /  90  80  70  70
ALW  22  16  28  24 /  90  80  70  70
PSC  23  13  24  20 /  70  80  60  70
YKM  26  11  22  16 /  60  80  70  80
HRI  23  16  25  20 /  90  80  60  70
ELN  23   8  20  12 /  20  80  60  80
RDM  27  17  34  26 /  70  70  60  60
LGD  22  17  32  27 /  80  80  70  70
GCD  24  18  34  27 /  60  80  80  70
DLS  27  20  30  25 /  80  80  70  80

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST this morning for ORZ041-
505-     506-508-510.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM PST this afternoon for ORZ503.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for ORZ049-
     050-502.

     Winter Storm Warning until 1 PM PST this afternoon for ORZ044-
     507.

WA...Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST this morning for WAZ024-
521.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM PST this afternoon for WAZ029.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for WAZ030.

     Winter Storm Warning until 1 PM PST this afternoon for WAZ028.

&&

97/

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 10, 8:26 AM PST, 4 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
826 AM PST SUN FEB 10 2019

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

0800 AM     SNOW             2 SE KENNEWICK          46.18N 119.13W
02/10/2019  E6.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF SNOW. 7 AM PST SATURDAY THROUGH 8 AM SUNDAY.

&&

VP

Local storm report, Feb 10, 9:59 AM PST, 3 hours 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
959 AM PST SUN FEB 10 2019

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

0530 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 19 N WEST RICHLAND      46.60N 119.46W
02/09/2019  M63 MPH          BENTON             WA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION HGABL, 19 NNW WEST RICHLAND.

0427 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 22 SW HIGHLAND          45.92N 119.46W
02/09/2019  M58 MPH          BENTON             WA   MESONET

            MESONET STATION XIRL, 2 NE IRRIGON.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 10, 10:46 AM PST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1046 AM PST SUN FEB 10 2019

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

1039 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NW PENDLETON          45.69N 118.85W
02/10/2019  E4.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

1038 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SE PILOT ROCK         45.48N 118.83W
02/10/2019  E4.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   CO-OP OBSERVER

1026 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NE PILOT ROCK         45.52N 118.77W
02/10/2019  M4.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0830 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 SE KITTITAS           46.93N 120.34W
02/09/2019                   KITTITAS           WA   PUBLIC

            RANCHER REPORTED BARN ROOF BLOWN OFF FROM
            VERY STRONG EASTERLY DOWNSLOPE WINDS. UNABLE
            TO SEE NEIGHBORS RANCH ONLY 1000 FEET AWAY
            DUE TO BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. RANCH IS AT BASE
            OF BOYLSTON MOUNTAINS SOUTHEAST OF
            ELLENSBURG.

&&

Local storm report, Feb 10, 12:19 PM PST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1219 PM PST SUN FEB 10 2019

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

1218 PM     HEAVY SNOW       7 WSW HELIX             45.80N 118.80W
02/10/2019  E5.5 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM SPOTTER 10 MILES NORTH OF PENDLETON
            REPORTS AROUND 5 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW.

&&

DS

Local storm report, Feb 10, 12:49 PM PST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1249 PM PST SUN FEB 10 2019

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

0725 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSE SNOQUALMIE PASS   47.39N 121.39W
02/08/2019  E6.0 INCH        KITTITAS           WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 11 AM. ELEVATION 2600 FEET.

0732 PM     HEAVY SNOW       7 NNW EASTON            47.32N 121.25W
02/08/2019  E7.5 INCH        KITTITAS           WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            7 TO 8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 11 AM. ELEVATION 2520
            FEET.

1200 AM     SNOW             PENDLETON               45.67N 118.82W
02/09/2019  M1.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0445 AM     SNOW             KENNEWICK               46.20N 119.17W
02/09/2019  E3.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   BROADCAST MEDIA

0500 AM     SNOW             N SELAH                 46.66N 120.53W
02/09/2019  E4.0 INCH        YAKIMA             WA   BROADCAST MEDIA

0500 AM     SNOW             PASCO                   46.25N 119.13W
02/09/2019  E2.0 INCH        FRANKLIN           WA   BROADCAST MEDIA

0500 AM     SNOW             4 NNW GOLDENDALE        45.88N 120.85W
02/09/2019  M3.5 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0500 AM     SNOW             ELLENSBURG              47.00N 120.55W
02/09/2019  E2.0 INCH        KITTITAS           WA   BROADCAST MEDIA

0545 AM     SNOW             GLENWOOD                46.02N 121.29W
02/09/2019  E4.0 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   PUBLIC

            STARTED AROUND 9 PM LAST NIGHT.

0626 AM     BLIZZARD         6 E ELLENSBURG          47.00N 120.42W
02/09/2019                   KITTITAS           WA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            INTERSTATE 90 CLOSED BOTH DIRECTIONS MILE MARKER 117 TO
            137 DUE TO SEMI SPINOUTS AND BLOWING...DRIFTING
            SNOW...AND POOR VISIBILITY.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSE SNOQUALMIE PASS   47.39N 121.39W
02/09/2019  M7.0 INCH        KITTITAS           WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     SNOW             12 SSW CANYON CITY      44.23N 119.04W
02/09/2019  M3.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 ENE WHITE SALMON      45.75N 121.41W
02/09/2019  M4.6 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SW RICHLAND           46.28N 119.31W
02/09/2019  M5.7 INCH        BENTON             WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SSW RICHLAND          46.25N 119.32W
02/09/2019  M5.5 INCH        BENTON             WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       NNE KENNEWICK           46.20N 119.17W
02/09/2019  M5.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       8 E CLE ELUM            47.19N 120.76W
02/09/2019  M4.0 INCH        KITTITAS           WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 WNW WHITE SALMON      45.73N 121.50W
02/09/2019  M4.5 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     SNOW             2 NW BEND               44.09N 121.34W
02/09/2019  M3.0 INCH        DESCHUTES          OR   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0700 AM     SNOW             SSE PROSSER             46.21N 119.77W
02/09/2019  M3.9 INCH        BENTON             WA   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0712 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 N ELGIN               45.69N 117.92W
02/09/2019  M5.3 INCH        UNION              OR   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0722 AM     HEAVY SNOW       FINLEY                  46.17N 119.04W
02/09/2019  M3.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   PUBLIC

            3 INCHES NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT.

0722 AM     HEAVY SNOW       RICHLAND                46.29N 119.29W
02/09/2019  M6.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   PUBLIC

            6 INCHES NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT.

0722 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MOSIER                  45.68N 121.39W
02/09/2019  M5.0 INCH        WASCO              OR   PUBLIC

            5-6 INCHES NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT, SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT.

0722 AM     HEAVY SNOW       RIMROCK                 46.66N 121.12W
02/09/2019  M4.0 INCH        YAKIMA             WA   PUBLIC

            4 INCHES NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT.

0722 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SUNNYSIDE               46.32N 120.01W
02/09/2019  M4.0 INCH        YAKIMA             WA   PUBLIC

            4 INCHES NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT.

0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SE ELLENSBURG         46.99N 120.53W
02/09/2019  M6.0 INCH        KITTITAS           WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT. 8 INCHES ON GROUND.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SW BOARDMAN             45.84N 119.70W
02/09/2019  M4.0 INCH        MORROW             OR   COCORAHS

            24 HOUR ACCUMULATION

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SE KENNEWICK          46.18N 119.13W
02/09/2019  E4.5 INCH        BENTON             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW STARTED AT 8 AM FRIDAY AND HAS ACCUMULATED 4.5
            INCHES. SNOWING MODERATELY CURRENTLY. UPDATE AT 9 AM
            STILL SNOWING MODERATELY WITH WINDS AT 20 TO 25 MPH AND
            ISOLATED HIGHTER GUSTS. VISIBILTY IS GREATER THAN 1 MILE.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       16 WSW TIETON           46.61N 121.06W
02/09/2019  M14.0 INCH       YAKIMA             WA   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORTED A 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 14
            INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION JUST EAST OF RIMROCK LAKE.

0903 AM     BLIZZARD         4 ESE TERRACE HEIGHTS   46.58N 120.36W
02/09/2019                   YAKIMA             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW STARTED
            AROUND MIDNIGHT. HAS BEEN SNOWING AND VISIBILITY AT 100
            YARDS CURRENTLY AND LESS THAN 1/4 MILE THROUGH THE
            MORNING HOURS. SNOW HAS BLOWN AND FROZEN TO THE
            ANEMOMETER, AND ESTIMATED WIND IS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH
            HIGHER GUSTS. MEASURED WINDS IN THAT AREA AT OTHER
            SENSORS HAVE BEEN 35 MPH OR GREATER.

0930 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SSW CHENOWETH         45.56N 121.28W
02/09/2019  M7.4 INCH        WASCO              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED MEASURING 5 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION AT
            820 AM AND HEAVY SNOW. A SECOND MEASURE WAS DONE AT 930
            WITH 2 AND 3/8 INCHES MORE OF ACCUMULATION. TOTAL 24 HOUR
            ACCUMULATION WAS 7 AND 3/8 INCHES.

1000 AM     SNOW             4 NNW GOODNOE HILLS     45.80N 120.51W
02/09/2019  M6.0 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 5 PM LAST NIGHT

1030 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 WNW GOLDENDALE        45.86N 120.96W
02/09/2019  E8.0 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   PUBLIC

            8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW ON CARS REPORTED VIA TWITTER

1040 AM     BLIZZARD         4 ESE ROZA              46.77N 120.38W
02/09/2019                   KITTITAS           WA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            INTERSTATE 82 CLOSED FROM MILE POST 26 IN SELAH TO MILE
            POST 2 NEAR ELLENSBURG DUE TO BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS

1040 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SW PROSSER            46.20N 119.78W
02/09/2019  M4.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

1100 AM     HEAVY SNOW       MOSIER                  45.68N 121.39W
02/09/2019  M8.0 INCH        WASCO              OR   PUBLIC

            A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REPORT 8 INCHES OF SNOW
            ACCUMULATION SIINCE 6 PM AND 10.5 INCHES OF GROUND SNOW.
            REPORT TAKEN VIA FACEBOOK.

1130 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 NNW SENECA            44.22N 119.02W
02/09/2019  M7.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED 6 TO 8 INCHES OF OVERNIGHT ACCUMULATION.

1130 AM     HEAVY SNOW       E SENECA                44.13N 118.97W
02/09/2019  M18.0 INCH       GRANT              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED 1 AND A HALF FEET OF SNOW OVERNIGHT WITH
            2 FEET OF GROUND SNOW.

0100 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 W YAKIMA              46.59N 120.61W
02/09/2019  M5.9 INCH        YAKIMA             WA   CO-OP OBSERVER

0149 PM     HEAVY SNOW       WSW DUFUR               45.45N 121.13W
02/09/2019  M6.0 INCH        WASCO              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0159 PM     SNOW             7 SSE PRINEVILLE        44.20N 120.80W
02/09/2019  M4.0 INCH        CROOK              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0159 PM     SNOW             TROUT LAKE              46.00N 121.53W
02/09/2019  E8.0 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   PUBLIC

            ACCUMULATION SINCE LAST NIGHT. REPORTED VIA TWITTER.

0242 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 WSW GOLDENDALE        45.82N 120.83W
02/09/2019  M7.4 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            7.4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 800 PM FRIDAY. ELEVATION
            1600 FEET.

0250 PM     BLIZZARD         9 NE PLYMOUTH           46.03N 119.22W
02/09/2019                   BENTON             WA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            INTERSTATE 82 CLOSED FROM COFFIN ROAD SOUTH OF THE
            TRI-CITIES TO THE OREGON BORDER DUE TO BLIZZARD-LIKE
            CONDITIONS.

0300 PM     HEAVY SNOW       17 ENE SENECA           44.21N 118.64W
02/09/2019  E6.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   MESONET

            LAKE CREEK R.S. SNOTEL. 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24 HOURS.
            ELEVATION 5240 FEET.

0311 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ARLINGTON               45.72N 120.19W
02/09/2019  E4.0 INCH        GILLIAM            OR   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 928 AM. ELEVATION 450 FEET.

0338 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 SE ELLENSBURG         46.99N 120.53W
02/09/2019  E10.0 INCH       KITTITAS           WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24 HOURS. ELEVATION 1750 FEET.

0345 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 ENE PRINEVILLE        44.32N 120.80W
02/09/2019  E6.0 INCH        CROOK              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24 HOURS. ELEVATION 3100 FEET.

0519 PM     HEAVY SNOW       E MAUPIN                45.17N 121.08W
02/09/2019  E9.5 INCH        WASCO              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            9 TO 10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE MIDNIGHT. ELEVATION 1000
            FEET.

0557 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SE PATERSON           45.90N 119.54W
02/09/2019  E5.0 INCH        MORROW             OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            5 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN 24 HOURS. BLOWING AND DRIFTING
            SNOW. ELEVATION 300 FEET.

0700 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 E JOHN DAY            44.41N 118.90W
02/09/2019  E4.0 INCH        GRANT              OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE EARLY AFTERNOON. ELEVATION
            3300 FEET.

0722 PM     HEAVY SNOW       9 NE SERVICE CREEK      44.90N 119.90W
02/09/2019  E5.5 INCH        WHEELER            OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            5 TO 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN PAST 24 HOURS. 3 INCHES FELL
            LAST NIGHT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 3 INCHES SINCE THIS
            AFTERNOON.ELEVATION 2800 FEET.

0730 PM     HEAVY SNOW       6 W CONDON              45.24N 120.30W
02/09/2019  E4.0 INCH        GILLIAM            OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN PAST 24 HOURS. BLOWING AND
            DRIFTING SNOW. ELEVATION 3300 FEET.

0738 PM     HEAVY SNOW       N MAYVILLE              45.08N 120.19W
02/09/2019  E6.0 INCH        GILLIAM            OR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN PAST 24 HOURS. BLOWING AND
            DRIFTING SNOW. ELEVATION 2938 FEET.

0842 PM     HEAVY SNOW       W TROUT LAKE            46.00N 121.54W
02/09/2019  E7.0 INCH        KLICKITAT          WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 TO 8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN PAST 24 HOURS. MOST OF THE
            SNOW FELL BEFORE NOON. ELEVATION 1870 FEET.

0852 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HERMISTON               45.83N 119.28W
02/09/2019  E4.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            4 INCHES OF NEW IN PAST 24 HOURS. ELEVATION 640 FEET.

0930 PM     SNOW             HERMISTON               45.83N 119.28W
02/09/2019  E2.0 INCH        UMATILLA           OR   PUBLIC

            2 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 6 PM. REPORTED VIA SOCIAL
            MEDIA. TOTAL ON GROUND 8 INCHES.

1000 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GOLDENDALE              45.82N 120.82W
02/09/2019  E11.8 INCH       KLICKITAT          WA   PUBLIC

            11.8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 8PM FRIDAY. REPORTED VIA
            SOCIAL MEDIA.

1012 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MORO                    45.49N 120.73W
02/09/2019  E11.0 INCH       SHERMAN            OR   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            11 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE 956 AM. ELEVATION 1899 FEET.

1041 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SSE WHITE SWAN        46.35N 120.71W
02/09/2019  E12.0 INCH       YAKIMA             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE FRIDAY EVENING. BLOWING AND
            DRIFTING SNOW. ELEVATION 1000 FEET.

0800 AM     SNOW             2 SE KENNEWICK          46.18N 119.13W
02/10/2019  E6.0 INCH        BENTON             WA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6 INCHES OF SNOW. 7 AM PST SATURDAY THROUGH 8 AM SUNDAY.

&&

RQB

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes of the Washington Cascades

When: February 10, 1:00 PM PST to February 12, 4:00 PM PST
Where: East Slopes of the Washington Cascades forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Very heavy snow fell along the east slopes of the Washington Cascades with 53 inches at Snoqualmie Pass and 38 inches at Trout Lake. Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass was closed for over 72 hours for snow removal and avalanche mitigation. Just after the initial closure a fatal motor vehicle accident (indirect) occurred near Hyak when a tractor trailer crashed into a concrete barrier.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Blue Mountains

When: February 10, 4:40 PM PST to February 11, 11:00 PM PST
Where: Northwest Blue Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 46.264, -118.193 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Eastern Columbia River Gorge

When: February 10, 11:05 PM PST to February 12, 11:00 PM PST
Where: Eastern Columbia River Gorge forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 45.874, -120.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Simcoe Highlands

When: February 10, 11:05 PM PST to February 12, 4:00 PM PST
Where: Simcoe Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.166, -120.764 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Blue Mountain Foothills

When: February 11, 2:00 AM PST to 11:00 PM PST
Where: Blue Mountain Foothills forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.264, -118.193 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heavy Snow, East Slopes of the Washington Cascades	2019-02-10		Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

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 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Washington, February 2019

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: 797000, 796996, 796989, 797029, 796991.