SPOKANE, Wash. — You might want to throw on an extra layer Wednesday morning, Spokane and the Inland Northwest are dealing with potential record-lows as wind chills drop well below zero for the second day in a row.
Thanks to an arctic airmass and radiative cooling, much of the Inland Northwest woke up to one of the coldest mornings of the season.
Wind chills this morning once again dropped to 0 to 15 degrees below zero. For that reason, wind chill advisories are in place until 10 am. Despite wind easing, the actual air temperatures are cold enough that the little wind still has the same bite as Tuesday morning's howl.
So, just how cold is it?
Temperatures in Spokane and North Idaho fell into the single digits Wednesday morning with some spots at zero or lower. Here are some of the temperatures recorded by the National Weather Service as of about 5:30 a.m.
- Spokane: 3°
- Coeur d’Alene: 5°
- Deer Park: 0°
- Lewiston: 10°
- Lookout Pass: -9°
- Moses Lake: 10°
- Priest Lake: -13°
- Pullman: 7°
- Sandpoint: 5°
- Wallace: -1°
Remember, these lows don’t take into account the wind. Wind chills are even lower on Wednesday morning, with the temperature feeling like it is -5° in Spokane, -9° in Coeur d’Alene, and -28° at Lookout Pass.
The worst of it will come to an end on Wednesday. An incoming shortwave will bring a little scattered light snow to the region early Thursday morning. Most locations will pick up trace amounts, but the recent cold means it all sticks and roads stay slick.
Heading into the weekend, temperatures continue to climb. 40s make a triumphant return by Saturday and stick around next week as a more active (wet) weather pattern returns to the region.
Cold weather safety
During a stretch of weather like this, it's important to be prepared outside, inside, and while traveling. Dress in multiple layers to stay warm while outside, particularly when the wind is strong and causes wind chills to drop. It's a good idea to keep an eye on your pets too, as some animals don't like the cold as much as others.
Inside, keep the warm air circulating throughout the home, especially where the plumbing is. This gives you the best chance for pipes to not freeze over. People should also check in with their elderly neighbors and family members to make sure they are comfortable during this cold stretch of weather.
Drivers should have an emergency kit in their car while traveling, including blankets, water, phone changers, batteries, and first aid.