Snow buries Columbia Basin
A pickup slid into a snow-filled ditch near Road L.9 in Grant County Tuesday.
MOSES LAKE - Weather centers recorded four to eight inches of snow falling in the Columbia Basin region on Monday.
Metrologists predict below freezing temperatures in the upcoming days and possibly more snow on Thanksgiving evening and into the weekend.
Warden measured 8 inches of snow, Othello measured four inches of snow and Moses Lake measured four inches of snow, according to Colby Neuman, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
He said the Columbia Basin area had high winds throughout Monday, causing two feet of snow to accumulate on roadways.
"The wind caused the snow to drift and that caused a huge mess on the roadways. It created low visibility," he said.
Moses Lake measured wind gusts of 39 mph, Othello measured wind gusts of 37 mph and Ephrata measured wind gusts of 41 mph.
As colder temperatures mix with the wind chill, Neuman said it is important for individuals to dress appropriately for the weather.
"Anyone who may be stranded on the side of the road or does not have any proper clothing could easily get frostbite and potentially die in these conditions," he said.
Snow drift caused numerous non-injury collisions throughout the area, according to Grant County Emergency Management.
The Grant County Sheriff's Office responded to nearly 73 calls on Monday and Tuesday for snow-related incidents, said Grant County Emergency Management public information officer Kyle Foreman.
One person in Ephrata was trapped in their house when their front door froze shut, according to Foreman. They lived on Fourth Avenue Southwest.
The individual was rescued by emergency service personnel.
In Ephrata, several roads were closed due to multiple stuck vehicles.
County Road 9 NW was closed between Road E NW and state Route 283.
Sagebrush Flats Road, west of Ephrata, was closed as well.
Public works is unsure when the roads will reopen.
The snow drift is causing plowed roads to be covered with snow quickly afterwards, said a Grant County Public Works spokesperson.
"No one has reported structural damages at this point," Foreman said. "No serious injuries or damages have been reported."
Foreman said he expects the number of non-injury calls to taper as the weather clears.