NWS issues storm warning
Ice and dormant rushes are shown along the shores of Moses Lake Friday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald
The National Weather Service on Wednesday afternoon issued a winter storm warning for the Basin, including Grand Coulee, Coulee City, Quincy, Wilbur, Ephrata, Ritzville, Harrington, Othello, Odessa, Moses Lake, and Creston.
The warning was to remain in effect until 10 a.m. today and included heavy snow, between 4 and 7 inches. Thursday morning’s commute was expected to be “significantly impacted” by the storm, the NWS’ warning stated.
Temperatures were expected to be 33 degrees as the high Thursday, and 30 as the low in Moses Lake.
Freezing rain also was predicted in areas Thursday afternoon and evening before temperatures rose above freezing overnight.
Parts of Interstate 90 near Moses Lake might get a glaze of ice, and parts of U.S. Route 395, between Ritzville and Tri-Cities, also could get freezing rain Thursday afternoon and evening.
“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,” the warning stated. “The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.”
Additionally, a hazardous weather outlook was issued by the NWS Thursday through Tuesday, which included the Moses Lake area, due to the storm.
“Snow will end or slowly transition to rain from south to north across the Columbia Basin and into the valleys around Spokane and Cd’A (Coeur d’Alene),” the NWS stated. “A brief period of freezing rain will be possible during this transition but significant ice accumulations are not expected.”