Weather observers report snow depths

Snow started falling late last Thursday evening and continued falling steadily until Friday morning. Snow showers fell Saturday with temperatures warming gradually to the mid 20s, letting icicles drip a bit. By Monday, infrequent snow showers were widely scattered in the county and temperatures were in the mid-30s.

David Jones, Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Conservationist based in Colfax, reported Friday the snow total was six and a half inches, with an additional two inches falling over the weekend.

He said data from Pullman USDA was two inches of snow on Feb. 3, 5.5 inches on Feb. 7 and four inches on Feb. 9.

Jones also said reports from Garfield include .5 inches on Feb. 3, two inches on Feb. 7 and four inches on Feb. 9.

Art Schultheis reported that the eastern part of the county around Colton received between four to six inches of snow by Friday afternoon. He said it was hard to tell how much snow was received because a brisk east wind made the snow drift.

Steve Henning of Thornton said that area received three and a half inches of snow by Friday afternoon. Early Thursday morning he recorded zero degrees with an 18-below zero wind chill. He said the area received two to three more inches of snow on Saturday but it was difficult to measure because a sustained wind of 15 mph led to drifting.

An annual report from the Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District showed well below normal precipitation levels.

Rain gauge totals were reported by Greg Hall of Steptoe and Rodger Bly of St. John.

Hall reported a total 15.44 inches of precipitation for 2013 and Bly reported 16.22 inches.

In 2012, Hall reported 25.7 inches of precipitation and Bly reported a total of 24.62 inches.

In 2011, Hall reported 20.37 inches and Bly reported 18.29 inches.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the county until Sunday.