Spokane, Washington – Winter Weather Advisories are in effect across large portions of eastern Washington, with freezing rain and mixed precipitation expected to create hazardous travel conditions from Thursday afternoon into early Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Spokane, advisories cover the Upper Columbia Basin, Moses Lake area, Washington Palouse, lower Garfield and Asotin counties, and parts of Chelan County, including Stevens Pass and Leavenworth. Start times range from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, with most advisories remaining in effect until 4 a.m. Friday. Higher-elevation Chelan County locations remain under an advisory through 1 p.m. Friday.
Forecasters expect periods of freezing rain, rain, and snow across the region. Snow accumulations are expected to remain light, generally up to one-half inch in the Columbia Basin and up to 2 inches in the Cascades. Ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch are possible in several locations, enough to create very slick driving conditions.
Impacted communities include Moses Lake, Ephrata, Quincy, Ritzville, Odessa, Othello, La Crosse, Pomeroy, Grand Coulee, and Harrington. In Chelan County, Stevens Pass, Leavenworth, Plain, and Stehekin may see a combination of light snow and icing, increasing the risk of hazardous mountain travel.
The National Weather Service warned that untreated roads, bridges, and elevated surfaces may quickly become icy during periods of freezing rain. Travel impacts are most likely during the Thursday evening commute and overnight hours.
Drivers are urged to slow down, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking. Officials recommend checking current road and pass conditions through the Washington State Department of Transportation before traveling.
While precipitation is expected to taper early Friday, lingering icy patches may persist into the morning hours, particularly in shaded areas and higher elevations.
