Snow, wind and rain forecast for Basin

MOSES LAKE — All things considered, it might just be best to stay home Tuesday night and add a little time to any travel plans Wednesday morning, even if it’s just to work. 

Snow is coming – not a lot of snow is forecast for Moses Lake and points south, but wind is coming along with the snow.  

Valerie Thaler, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane, said snow, wind and rain are forecast to arrive Tuesday night and stay around until Wednesday morning. It’s forecast to be wettest and windiest just as people are headed to work.  

“It’ll be a tricky commute,” she said.  

Up to 2 inches of snow are forecast for Moses Lake on Tuesday night through Wednesday, less for Othello and Mattawa, but 3-4 inches for Quincy and Ephrata.  

“Moses Lake to Quincy there could be a pretty stark (temperature) gradient,” she said. 

The snow will be accompanied by winds up to 25 to 30 miles per hour in Moses Lake and Wenatchee. That means the potential for blowing and drifting snow, according to a NWS briefing. Wet heavy snow could bring down power lines.  

Forecast snow totals increase to the north, up to 8 inches in Wenatchee and Omak and up to a foot of snow in Chelan. Depending on the location, snow could be falling at a rate of an inch an hour. While it’s going to snow, Thaler said meteorologists don’t anticipate any freezing rain.  

Travelers thinking about heading to Seattle Tuesday night might need to rethink, according to the NWS. Up to a foot of snow is forecast for Snoqualmie and Stevens passes. The North Cascades Highway, State Route 20, was closed for the season Monday morning, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation.  

The snow is forecast to turn to rain during the day Wednesday and the winds will die down, Thaler said. But the wet weather will stick around. A mix of rain and snow is forecast for early Thursday, with rain on Friday and Saturday.  

Drivers who are thinking of heading out into the elements, the NWS recommends checking road conditions and the weather forecast first.  

There’s still a good chance of rain Saturday, but it starts decreasing after that. Temperatures are close to average for mid-November — the forecast high in Moses Lake is 46 degrees Wednesday, dropping to 31 degrees Wednesday night into Thursday. Thaler said temperatures could start dropping late next weekend and early next week.  

Safety checklist: 

Ready.gov recommends drives carry the following in their cars and make the following checks to ensure they’re ready to travel safely in winter weather. 

Supplies: 

Jumper cables
Ice scraper
Flares/reflective triangle
Car cell phone charger
Blanket
Map
Cat litter/sand for traction
First aid kit 

Checks: 

Check antifreeze levels
Test battery and ignition
Inspect brakes
Inspect air/fuel filters
Check oil level
Test all lights
Fill windshield wiper fluid (In winter, use a fluid suitable for cold temperatures)
Ensure wipers are serviceable 

General car safety tips:  

• Keep your gas tank full in case of evacuation or power outages. A full tank will also keep the fuel line from freezing. 

• Install good winter tires and make sure they have enough tread, or any chains or studs required in your local area. 

• Do not drive through flooded areas. Six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control or possibly stall. A foot of water will float many cars. 

• Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car. 

• If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical shock. Stay inside until a trained person removes the wire. 

• If it becomes hard to control the car, pull over, stop the car and set the parking brake. 

• If the emergency could affect the stability of the roadway avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards.