A wet and vigorous low pressure system brought snow and strong winds across much Eastern Washington on the evening of November 12th into November 13th. The heaviest snowfall was near the Cascade Crest with 1 to 2 feet reported.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 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 wet and vigorous low pressure system brought snow and strong winds across much Eastern Washington on the evening of November 12th into November 13th. The heaviest snowfall was near the Cascade Crest with 1 to 2 feet reported. Numerous locations in the northern mountains and mountain valleys received up to one foot. The heavy, wet snow impacted morning commutes and led to numerous school district closures on the 13th. There were many accidents on I-90 and state highways, especially through the Spokane - Coeur d'Alene corridor due to slushy, melting snow. The snow was followed by strong winds in the afternoon and evening, with gusts reaching 45-60 mph across the Palouse and parts of the Columbia Basin.
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 Nov 12, 4:11 PM PST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Spokane WA 425 AM PST Thu Nov 12 2020 IDZ001>004-026-027-WAZ031>038-041-043-044-131230- Northern Panhandle-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse- Central Panhandle Mountains-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- Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands-Wenatchee Area- Okanogan Valley-Waterville Plateau- 425 AM PST Thu Nov 12 2020 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. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Light snow accumulations are expected tonight into the early Friday morning hours. Motorists in north Idaho, northeast Washington, and the Palouse can expect winter driving conditions by early Friday morning and create a slippery morning commute. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY Several rounds of mountain snow are expected this week, this weekend, and early next week. Accumulations could be particularly heavy in the mountains Friday night and Saturday with the arrival of a potentially strong storm. This storm may also produce very windy conditions for eastern Washington and portions of north Idaho on Saturday. WAZ042-131230- East Slopes Northern Cascades- 425 AM PST Thu Nov 12 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Central Washington. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Moderate to heavy mountain snow accumulations are expected to begin this afternoon into the evening hours. This first round will bring snow accumulations to the Cascade Passes. Plan on slippery road conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY Several rounds of mountain snow are expected this week, this weekend, and early next week. Accumulations could be particularly heavy in the mountains Friday night and Saturday with the arrival of a potentially strong storm. This storm may also produce very windy conditions for eastern Washington and portions of north Idaho on Saturday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 heavy snow, 4 winter weather, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow fell in the Cascades with 10 inches reported by the DOT at Blewett Pass and 25 inches at Stevens Pass. 10.8 inches fell near Mazama, 18.8 inches west of Lucerne, and 12.8 inches at Holden Village. There were reports of 7 inches in the Wenatchee River Valley.
A CoCoRaHS observer, 8 miles west of Lucerne, recorded 18.8 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Holden Village reported 12.8 inches of new snow accumulation.
Snowfall reports included 12 inches in Inchelium, 7 inches north of Republic, 4.6 inches east of Tonasket and 8 inches southwest of Chesaw.
A member of the public in Inchelium reported 12.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
Light snow fell overnight, but temperatures remained above freezing and limited accumulations. The Highway 97 corridor saw 1 to 2 inches of snow. A few outlying locations east of Tonasket picked up 3 to 5 inches of snow. An observer outside of Malott received 7 inches of snow.
A CoCoRaHS observer, 4 miles north of Republic, recorded 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Carrs Corner reported 15.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
Local utility companies reported 8,586 customers without power, mainly in Colville and northeast Washington, due to snow laden trees and branches falling onto power lines.
A member of the public in Cusick reported 12.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A trained spotter, 6 miles northwest of Diamond Lake, recorded 10.7 inches of new snow accumulation.
A CO-OP observer station, 9 miles north of Metaline Falls, recorded 7.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Orin reported 12.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
The Washington Department of Transportation recorded 25 inches of 48 hour new snow accumulation at Stevens Pass.
The Washington Department of Transportation recorded 10 inches of 48 hour new snow accumulation at Blewett Pass.
A member of the public, 4 miles west-southwest of Chesaw, reported 8.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A member of the public in Tonasket reported 6.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A trained spotter, 7 miles west-northwest of Malott, recorded 7.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
Widespread heavy snowfall reports included 12 inches at Cusick and Orin, 10.7 inches near Diamond Lake, 9.4 inches at Clayton, 8 inches northeast of Deer Park, 7 inches at Metaline Falls and Newport. The heaviest snowfall report was 15 inches at Carrs Corner. Local utility companies reported 8,586 customers without power, mainly in Colville, due to snow laden trees and branches falling on power lines.
Light snow fell overnight with temperatures above freezing. Reports in the Spokane area ranged from 1 to 3 inches on grassy surfaces. There was a report of 7.3 inches of snow fall in the northwest corner of Spokane county. At the U.S. Highway 2 interchange, Interstate 90 was closed briefly for a snow laden power line that fell across the road.
A member of the public, 5 miles north-northeast of Deer Park, reported 8.0 inches of new snow accumulation.
A CoCoRaHS observer, 14 miles northwest of Spokane, recorded 7.3 inches of new snow accumulation.
A CoCoRaHS observer in Mazama recorded 10.8 inches of new snow accumulation.
Interstate 90, at the interchange with U.S. Highway 2, was briefly closed in both directions due to an active, snow laden power line that fell across the road.
Law enforcement reported a semi-truck rollover on State Route 243. Roadway was closed due to frozen fruit on the roadway.
A trained spotter reported roof shingles blown off and tree limbs down due to strong winds. Wind gust speed was estimated based on damage and local wind speeds.
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, November 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: 962016, 930497, 930498, 962017, 930531, 962020, 930499, 930504, 930505, 930523, 930524, 930525, 930527, 928987, 928988, 930501, 930502, 930503, 962018, 962019, 930521, 930522, 930538, 930511, 928994, 928993.