A very active week of frequent snow storms across the Inland Northwest culminated with another warm front passage which concentrated heavy snow over the far western Columbia Basin during the day of January 18th. Snow levels rose during the day as the warm front passed through from south to north allowing partial melting of much of the morning accumulations.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 very active week of frequent snow storms across the Inland Northwest culminated with another warm front passage which concentrated heavy snow over the far western Columbia Basin during the day of January 18th. Snow levels rose during the day as the warm front passed through from south to north allowing partial melting of much of the morning accumulations. The Cascades received generally 3 to 5 inches of wet snow with local accumulations to around 8 inches near the Cascade crest. Elsewhere in eastern Washington, farther away from the deepest moisture feed and also subject to warming during the day generally 1 to 3 inches of wet snow was noted.
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 17, 3:37 PM PST, 11 hours 23 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Spokane WA 554 AM PST Fri Jan 17 2020 WAZ041>044-181400- Wenatchee Area-East Slopes Northern Cascades-Okanogan Valley- Waterville Plateau- 554 AM PST Fri Jan 17 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Central Washington and North Central Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY Another round of snow is due tonight into Saturday with the potential for another 4 to 12 inches with highest amounts in the Cascades. Yet another winter storm is possible late Monday night through Tuesday evening. At this time this storm doesn't appear as organized or strong as recent storms but may still be capable of producing moderate mountain snow accumulations. IDZ001-004-WAZ037-038-181400- Northern Panhandle-Central Panhandle Mountains- Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands- 554 AM PST Fri Jan 17 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho... North Central Washington and Northeast Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A storm system Saturday will brush the region with snow. Accumulations will generally moderate with possible heavy amounts in the mountains. Yet another winter storm is possible Tuesday into Tuesday night. At this time this storm doesn't appear as organized or strong as recent storms but may still be capable of producing moderate mountain snow accumulations. IDZ002-003-026-027-WAZ031>036-181400- Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-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- 554 AM PST Fri Jan 17 2020 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 No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A storm system Saturday will brush the region with snow. Accumulations will generally be light with moderate amounts over the northern basin. Yet another winter storm is possible Tuesday into Tuesday night. At this time this storm doesn't appear as organized or strong as recent storms but may still be capable of producing light to moderate snow accumulations.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A member of the public in Wenatchee reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
An observer 1 mile southeast of East Wenatchee recorded 4.4 inches of new snow accumulation.
A spotter 2 miles northeast of East Wenatchee reported 4.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Rock Island reported 5.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Cashmere reported 5.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Monse reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation from this storm.
A member of the public 3 miles northeast of Brewster reported 4.0 inches of new snow accumulation from this storm.
A member of the public in Omak reported 4.0 inches of new snow accumulation from this storm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Washington in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Washington, January 2020
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: 871114, 871117, 871118, 871122, 871124, 871119, 871120, 871121.