New Winter Storm Warnings For 5 Feet of Snow and 45 MPH Winds Loom

Winter storm warnings have been issued as a powerful system threatens up to five feet of snow, 45 mph wind gusts, and dangerous blizzard conditions that could make travel hazardous.

5 Feet of Snow and 45 Mph Winds Are Expected to Strike Parts of Washington

On March 9, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning out of Spokane, Washington, with a similar forecast coming out of its Seattle, Washington, office on the same day. Forecasters in the region are warning about a powerful storm system that is expected to last from Tuesday, March 10, at 5 a.m. to the morning of Friday, March 13.

The Spokane office warns of up to five feet of snow arriving in spots like Holden Village, Stehekin, and parts of Stevens Pass. It details that the hardest-hit zones could see two to five feet of snow, while lighter-affected parts may be struck by one to two feet. Similarly, the Seattle office forecasts between two and four feet of snow in parts of Mount Baker and other areas of Steven Pass, and between six and 18 inches arriving elsewhere in the same area. It is important to note that the newly arriving snow will build on what has previously fallen during other recent systems.

Both offices are also calling for powerful wind gusts to arrive in all of the previously described regions. The Seattle office is calling for worse conditions in this case, as it states that 45 mph wind gusts are possible, compared to Spokane's 40 mph maximum.

While the offices predict different levels of snowfall and wind gusts, they both stress that those conditions could combine to make travel in the affected area dangerous. As such, they recommend anyone passing through the area carry food, water, and a flashlight for safety. This matters because people often travel through the affected area. For example, a Washington State Department of Travel report on avalanches states that 4,500 vehicles travel through Stevens Pass daily on average, with 450 of them carrying freight.

Since the National Weather Service advises that travelers in the area prepare for tough conditions, it is wise to learn about how to build a winter travel safety kit. Based on advice from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), a Men's Journal article recommends including these items:

• Flashlight (preferably crank-type, because batteries don’t last long in extreme cold)
• Reflective safety triangles or flares
• Small first-aid kit
• Snow brush and scraper
• Traction aids
• Small shovel with long handle
• Bag of abrasive material: sand, kitty litter (avoid road salt, which can cause your vehicle to rust)
• Plenty of windshield washer fluid
• Booster cables
• Gas-line antifreeze
• Lock de-icer (in extreme cold, keep it with you, rather than in your vehicle!)
• Paper towels
• Small tool kit (screwdriver, pliers, etc.)
• Extra fuses (for the vehicle’s electrical system)
• Warm blanket
• Extra socks, boots and gloves
• Hand and foot warmers
• Bottles of water
• Granola bars