January weather dead ahead; snow, lows near zero on the way

MOSES LAKE — It being January it had to happen sometime, and it looks like it’s happening later this week. Temperatures are expected to drop to near zero by Friday night.

Before that, though, the Columbia Basin and Eastern Washington in general are forecast to get snow. And rain. And snow and rain.

Krista Carrothers, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said the snow and rain will be here first, and at the same time. 

“It’s going to switch back and forth a little bit (between snow and rain),” she said. 

Grant County residents can expect small accumulations of snow, she said.

“At most you’ll get two inches, but probably closer to one (inch),” Carrothers said.

Temperatures will be pretty moderate for early January all the way into Wednesday, with high temperatures topping out between 35 and 40 degrees. Wednesday night and Thursday are when things start to chill out — the low temperature for Wednesday is forecast at about 15 to 20 degrees.

“Then (temperatures) will stay there,” she said.

Thursday high temperatures will be below freezing, and lows Thursday are forecast to be in single digits, with blustery winds. Friday’s high temperature is forecast to be below freezing too. 

“And then Friday night, that’s when we’re going to see temperatures sitting right around zero,” Carrothers said. 

At least Moses Lake and central Grant County will experience lows around zero. And that, as it happens, is good news.

“You guys are actually going to be the warmest area,” Carrothers said.

The culprit is that usual suspect, cold air dropping down from the Arctic and across Canada, she said. 

Forecasters are uncertain how long the cold will last. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing the climatic condition known as El Niño, with above-average temperatures and precipitation. The water year is measured beginning Oct. 1, and through Jan. 4 Moses Lake has experienced 3.08 inches of precipitation. Normal precipitation for the same period is 2.78 inches.

People should prepare before the cold starts, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Health. Water pipes should be insulated to keep them from freezing, and air leaks around doors and windows should be minimized. People who have to go outside should wear several layers of warm, light clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing, and mittens are recommended rather than gloves. A warm hat is recommended since there’s significant heat loss otherwise. Coat cuffs and shoes shouldn’t be too restricting. 

Fireplaces should be checked to ensure they’re working properly before it gets cold.

Pets should be indoors, or if they are outdoors, their quarters should be dry and free of drafts, big enough for them to turn around but small enough to preserve body heat, according to a press release from the American Red Cross. The shelter should be off the ground, have burlap or similar material to block the door, and have straw or a similar material on the floor. 

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.