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This is the weekly weather briefing for Monday, January 27th, 2014. This briefing will
cover the weather for the upcoming week across the Inland Northwest. As always, forecast
are subject to change, so please check our website during the week for updated information.
Today and tonight will see continued areas of fog and stratus as we have seen in the
past. Finally tomorrow midday a winter storm system will enter helping to clear the low clouds
and fog. Snow, rain and freezing rain are expected with the incoming system. Wednesday
night into Thursday the snow is expected to continue for the Idaho Panhandle and portions of
Northeast Washington. A dry northerly will begin to enter on Friday decreasing the
chances for precipitation.
More of the same can be expected today into early tomorrow as the ridge remains in place for
another day. The Air Stagnation Advisory remains through10am Tuesday morning. With the ridge
in place, more fog and low stratus will be present around the region. With the movement
of the ridge tomorrow, the stagnant air and low clouds will finally exit. Increased
chances of precipitation will also be noted with the incoming system.
With the arrival of the winter storm on Tuesday, a mixed bag of precipitation will accompany
it. Rain, snow and freezing rain can all be expected. Snow is expected for the Cascades,
northern mountains in Washington, the Idaho Panhandle mountains and the Spokane/CdA
areas. Moving south and west the threat for freezing rain arises in the Basin and on the
Palouse. The freezing rain may also be present with rain and some snow showers in the northern Basin.
Mostly rain is expected for areas in the LC Valley.
Concerning the snow, it is anticipated to reach the Cascades midday Tuesday and
spread eastward through Washington and the Panhandle Tuesday evening into the
overnight hours. The highest impacts are expected to end for most areas in Washington by
late Wednesday morning. Snow will linger later in the week for the Idaho Panhandle.
Associated impacts with the snow will be winter driving conditions. Also the Wednesday
morning commute will be impacted and mountains passes around the region will
experience snow. Stay tuned to local Dept. of Transpiration information as to restrictions
on the Passes. Winter highlights may have to be issued to address the threats
associated with the snow.
Freezing rain will be a potential for the Columbia Basin into the Palouse and
approaching the Spokane area. The best chance for freezing rain will be Tuesday afternoon
into early Wednesday. Freezing rain amounts are expected to remain rather light, but any
amount on the roadways will lead to very slick conditions. Winter weather highlights may
also have to be issued to cover the freezing rain threats.
From Wednesday night to Thursday the area will remain active. A stationary front across
northeast WA and northern ID, in tandem with impulses in the westerly flow, will keep
precipitation chances alive. The highest threat will be at the Cascade crest, the
northeast Washington Mountains and over Northern Idaho. A rain, snow mix is expected in the valleys
in the early evening, transitioning to mainly snow overnight into Thursday. The
deeper Basin and L-C valley, however, should hold onto a mix throughout. The Northeast WA and
Idaho Panhandle mountains look to receive the highest snow amounts. By Thursday night a
northerly flow develops and high pressure edges in, leading to a drying trend.
The latter part of the 7 day forecast looks relatively benign. Occasional impulses in
the northerly flow may produce some light snow showers, from time to time, but impacts are
expected to remain low.
The 8 to 14 day outlook calls for above normal precipitation chances and below normal
temperatures.
In summary, we will see persistent conditions through tomorrow morning before a winter storm
system will finally break down the ridge of high pressure. The exit of the ridge will help
to clear the fog and low stratus. The incoming winter storm will bring rain, snow and
freezing rain to much of the region. Chances for notable precipitation in most valley
locations diminish by Wednesday leading to mainly mountain and light valley snow accumulations
through late Thursday. A dry northwesterly flow will enter the region Friday limiting the
chances for precipitation.
Thanks for tuning into the Weekly Weather Briefing.