Winter Weather in Washington, December 16, 2021

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Spokane WA
1018 AM PST Thu Dec 16 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
Chilly temperatures and light snow accumulations this afternoon
and evening will have the potential to produce treacherous driving
conditions across the Idaho Panhandle and eastern third of
Washington. Friday will be cold with many areas topping out in the
20s. Heavy snow is expected over the Cascades on Saturday with the
potential for light to moderate accumulations for lowland
communities in counties along the Canadian border.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Spokane, Couer
d'Alene, the Washington/Idaho Palouse, and the Central Idaho
Panhandle for this afternoon into the evening. A cold upper
trough descending from British Columbia will produce 1 to 3
inches of accumulation across the central and southern Idaho
Panhandle, the Palouse, and Spokane metro. Total amounts from this
quick moving system won't be out of the ordinary, but travel
conditions from late afternoon into the evening have the potential
to be treacherous. Unlike some of our recent precipitation events,
temperatures will be cold enough for lowland winter driving
conditions, and possibly a melt/refreeze event on untreated roads
for the evening commute. Clearing skies overnight courtesy of a
weak backdoor cold front will push low temperatures into the teens
with single digits in some of our sheltered valley locations near
the Canadian border. /GKoch

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs: Periods of light to moderate snow will occur this
afternoon into early this evening across the Idaho Panhandle and
eastern third of Washington. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are
expected for airports in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Pullman, Deer
Park, Kellogg, and Sandpoint. Visibility reductions to a half mile
will likely accompany the heaviest bands in the 20z-00z timeframe.
This quick moving upper trough will move out of north Idaho this
evening with dry and cold air behind it. Look for clearing skies
for most airports. Southeast Washington and the southern Panhandle
are often the last spots to clear out with systems of this
trajectory, so Lewiston and Pullman may hold onto some low to
mid-level clouds longer than advertised in the TAFs. /GKoch

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Spokane        30  14  26  23  37  31 /  80  10   0  20  40  50
Coeur d'Alene  30  14  28  24  36  32 /  90  30   0  10  50  60
Pullman        30  19  28  24  36  31 /  80  40   0  10  30  50
Lewiston       38  25  34  28  42  35 /  50  40   0   0  20  30
Colville       29  10  25  19  33  27 /  60   0   0  30  60  70
Sandpoint      29  13  25  21  34  32 / 100  20   0  30  70  80
Kellogg        30  13  26  22  36  33 / 100  70   0  10  50  70
Moses Lake     35  19  32  25  36  29 /  10   0   0  10  20  20
Wenatchee      35  19  30  24  34  28 /  10   0   0  20  50  60
Omak           31  14  27  23  33  29 /  10   0   0  20  50  60

&&

.OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM PST this evening for Central
     Panhandle Mountains-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse.

WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM PST this evening for Spokane
     Area-Washington Palouse.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Spokane WA
514 AM PST Thu Dec 16 2021

WAZ031-032-034-035-038-041-043-044-047>049-171315-
Northeast Blue Mountains-Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties-
Moses Lake Area-Upper Columbia Basin-Okanogan Highlands-
Wenatchee Area-Okanogan Valley-Waterville Plateau-
Central Chelan County-Western Chelan County-
Western Okanogan County-
514 AM PST Thu Dec 16 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Central
Washington...East Central Washington...North Central Washington
and Southeast Washington.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Another round of snow is expected this weekend and possibly
bringing widespread snow impacts to the Inland Northwest.

IDZ001>004-026-027-WAZ033-036-037-171315-
Northern Panhandle-Coeur d'Alene Area-Idaho Palouse-
Central Panhandle Mountains-Lewiston Area-
Lewis and Southern Nez Perce Counties-Washington Palouse-
Spokane Area-Northeast Mountains-
514 AM PST Thu Dec 16 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North Idaho...
North Central Idaho...Northeast Washington and Southeast
Washington.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Snow showers through the afternoon expected to bring accumulations
of one to two inches. Slick conditions on area roadways expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Another round of snow is expected this weekend and possibly
bringing widespread snow impacts to the Inland Northwest.