SPOKEVILLE, Wis. — The rain, which will arrive Tuesday afternoon, is just the beginning of an active 24-36 hour stretch of weather that will feature soaking rains and strong winds across eastern Washington. This has prompted a KREM 2 Weather Impact Alert Day for Wednesday due to the high winds.
The weather pattern is being fueled by an atmospheric river. This is a steady supply of tropical moisture from the Pacific Ocean, originating near Hawaii. The end of the jet stream is currently aimed directly at Washington state and has already pumped a huge amount of rain into western Washington and snow for the Cascades. In the Inland Northwest, the rain will begin in Spokane around 2 p.m. Tuesday and continue through Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, in Northern Washington and far North Idaho, another 1-2" of snow is possible for the valleys before the precipitation switches to rain. Okanogan and Ferry Counties are under a Winter Weather Advisory today.
However, the biggest weather impact will be as a result of the stronger winds on Wednesday. As an associated cold front passes through early Wednesday morning, wind speeds will pick up quickly. Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour are possible for regions between Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Pullman, and Grand Coulee. These areas have been placed under a Wind Advisory from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Strong cross winds for drivers will be the main threat, but sporadic power outages and tree damage is possible with winds this strong.
It's worth noting that temperatures will increase steadily throughout the day. Temps climb to the upper 30s before dark, and then into the 40s during the evening hours. We likely peak near 47° Wednesday morning as the cold front arrives, at which point temperatures will start to drop during the daytime Wednesday.
When: Wednesday morning
Impact: High winds up to 50mph
Need to Know: Secure loose outdoor objects before Wednesday and be cautious driving due to crosswinds.
