Columbia Basin weathers heavy snow
A horse trailer flipped over on Interstate 90, approximately 10 miles west of Moses Lake Monday morning. The horse trailer was pulled by an SUV. There did not appear to be any horses in the trailer. It's unclear if there were any injuries to the people inside the SUV. The snowfall was thick and reduced most traffic to one lane on the interstate.
COLUMBIA BASIN — Winter weather is no match for Columbia Basin residents’ willpower.
As snow continues to fall, residents and businesses handle the weather as best as they can.
A spotter in the Moses Lake area reported 13.6 inches of snowfall so far for the month of December, said John Livingston, meteorologist in charge for National Weather Service’s Spokane office.
Six inches were reported Monday morning in the Moses Lake area.
Livingston said Moses Lake has no long-term snowfall data. The closest comparison is Ephrata’s average snowfall for December of 5.8 inches. Quincy’s average December snowfall is four inches.
The record snowfall in a single month for Ephrata is 27.6 inches of snow in December 1992.
Spokane broke its record Monday for most snowfall in a single month, reaching 59.7 inches, Livingston said. The previous record was 56.9 inches of snowfall in January 1980.
National Weather Service predicts snow Tuesday night near Moses Lake, and rain and snow Thursday.
Othello is expected to experience rain Tuesday night, and rain and snow Thursday night. Quincy is expected to experience snow showers Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
There is a chance the cities could celebrate New Year’s Day with snow.
Big R Stores Manager Jeff Sparr said plenty of ice melting product is in stock at the Moses Lake location. Other winter items are sparse in inventory or completely out of stock.
“Basically, we’re trying to keep up with demand. It’s been a real challenge,” Sparr said.
Snow shovels and heat tape are among products running low in the store.
Post offices are feeling the impact of the winter weather.
Soap Lake Postmaster Shawn Fisk said delivery is slightly slower as a result of the winter weather, but crews are doing a decent job keeping roads clear.
Residents can help the post office by ensuring snow is cleared from around mailboxes, Fisk said.
“That is always greatly appreciated,” he said.
He said residents are doing a great job so far of ensuring accessibility.
U.S. Postal Service vehicles such as those in Ephrata and Moses Lake have rear wheel drive, Fisk said. Chains can be used on the vehicles in poor weather.
Rural drivers use their own vehicles for mail delivery, Fisk said. Many of the vehicles used by Soap Lake’s drivers are equipped with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
The town of Wilson Creek is handling the winter weather without major issues, reported Mayor Kathy Bohnet.
“We’re doing OK,” Bohnet said. “We’re paving our streets and people are getting around.”
She said the city has a road grader and a truck with a blade and sander to keep roads clear.
Bohnet said the city experienced a variety of weather, including similar winter weather, in previous years.
“This isn’t something we haven’t seen before,” she said.