SPOKANE, Wash. — A Wind Chill Advisory was in effect for much of eastern Washington and North Idaho until 8 a.m. on Monday as temperatures plunged to below zero degrees factoring in wind chill.
Some areas saw wind chills of -15 degrees on Monday morning, according to KREM Meteorologist Thomas Patrick. Spokane was sitting at -5 degrees at 5 a.m. on Monday with wind chill, while Coeur d'Alene was sitting at -8 degrees.
Mullan, Idaho, hit a wind chill temperature of -20 degrees on Monday. Bonners Ferry hit -15 degrees.
According to the National Weather Service, bitter cold temperatures are expected to stick around in the Inland Northwest until Tuesday morning. Wind chills will sit between -5 and -15 degrees, and lows will be in the single-digits and into sub-zero temperatures. Highs will sit in the 20s.
The cold temperatures pose the risk of frostbite and hypothermia, and potential danger to sensitive livestock, according to the National Weather Service.
On Sunday night, Lewiston set a temperature record for March 3 at 17 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The old record of 19 degrees was set in 1989, 1961 and 1960.
Pullman also broke the record for its coldest March temperature when it hit -9 degrees on Monday morning. Ephrata and Wenatchee also broke temperature records.
Spokane will remain in below average temperatures until mid-March before we see temperatures in the mid-40s, according to KREM meteorologist Michelle Boss.
Despite the cold temperatures, Monday and Tuesday will remain dry and sunny. The chance of snow returns on Wednesday and Thursday, but it is too early to know the exact amount, Boss said.
The National Weather Service is predicting light to moderate snow on Wednesday, with steady showers tapering off on Thursday morning. Freezing fog is also in the forecast on Thursday.
Highs will warm up to the 30s on Tuesday and this trend will continue throughout the week. This is still 10-15 degrees below normal for March.
