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NW Weather-Monday NIght: Bitterly Cold Wind Chills

The region will experience a period of bitterly cold wind chill temperatures Monday Night. Frigid overnight lows coupled with persistent winds will lead to downright raw conditions. The entire region will see values fall to or below zero. Locations in the Idaho Panhandle will fall to near -20F. Be prepared for the conditions if you will be outdoors Monday Night

Monday: Cold Winds Blow

An arctic cold front will bring very cold temperatures and gusty winds back into the Inland Northwest on Monday. The cold air will squeeze through the valleys of north Idaho and northern Washington, with localized wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph expected at times. The strongest winds are expected down the Okanogan Valley and Purcell Trench. This will create wind chills near zero Monday and well below zero Monday Night. Also, some localized blowing and drifting of recent snowfall is possible.

More Snow Overnight

Snow showers are possible once again overnight for much of the region, especially in the Cascades and Blue Mountains. Other locations outside will only see light snowfall with the vast majority receiving under an inch.

Snow Depth Eastern Washington / Northern Idaho

 ...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL THE PAST 24 HOURS 

 LOCATION              ELEVATION   OBSERVED    TIME OF     SOURCE

                        (FEET)      INCHES   OBSERVATION

 __________________________________________________________________

 ... BENEWAH COUNTY ID ...

 ST. MARIES 5 W           2460       6.5       630 PM      SPOTTER

 ... BONNER COUNTY ID ...

 SANDPOINT                           2.5       230 PM      PUBLIC

 PRIEST RIVER                        6.0       705 PM      PUBLIC

 ... BOUNDARY COUNTY ID ...

 BONNERS FERRY 11 ESE                3.0       715 AM      SPOTTER

 ... KOOTENAI COUNTY ID 

COEUR D`ALENE 4 SW       2900       6.0       530 PM      PUBLIC

 HAYDEN LAKE 1 NNE                   7.0       700 AM      SPOTTER

COEUR D`ALENE 20 ESE     2667      11.5       645 AM      SPOTTER

 ... LATAH COUNTY ID ...

 MOSCOW 5 NNE             2960       4.0       330 PM      SPOTTER

 ... LEWIS COUNTY ID ...

 WINCHESTER                          6.0       900 PM      PUBLIC

 ... SHOSHONE COUNTY ID ...

 KELLOGG 4 S                        12.0       600 AM      PUBLIC

 LOOKOUT PASS                       17.0       600 AM      PUBLIC

... SPOKANE COUNTY WA ...

 SPOKANE 3 NW                        1.2       615 PM      PUBLIC

 SPOKANE 4 NNW                       2.1       700 AM      SPOTTER

 SPOKANE 3 N                         3.0       415 PM      PUBLIC

... WHITMAN COUNTY WA ...

 PULLMAN                             4.0       530 PM      PUBLIC

 COLFAX                              4.0       705 PM      PUBLIC

Feeling sad? It Could be Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Carol Zinke Published: Dec 26, 2014

LEWISTON, ID - Hope you had a joyous Christmas. As the excitement is winding down from the holidays, moods may be too,

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months. Six-percent of the U.S. population is affected by it. 

"It occurs most often farther away from the equator," said Quality Behavioral Health Director of Development, Sara Kern. "It's when people are feeling sad, irritable, not wanting to be around others, having difficulty with relationships, a lot of people see weight gain and just being lethargic and not wanting to do things."

One Valley resident, who chose to remain anonymous, has been living with seasonal affective disorder for almost 50 years. He first discovered he had the disorder when he was in high school. "I felt like I was sad all the time," said SAD sufferer. "There were a couple times I felt like... Wishing I wasn't alive. Later on, when I was in college, there were times when I felt suicidal, during this time of the month, and I just wasn't very happy."
SAD can strike any time of the year, but it happens most often in the colder months, when the sun isn't always out.

"When it gets dark out I just have this low grade depression," said SAD sufferer. "This low grade feeling of sadness and I'm not quite able to be as happy, or I just don't feel as much during the winter months."

Anyone can get Seasonal Affective Disorder, but it's most common in: women, people who live far from the equator, where winter daylight hours are very short. People between the ages of 15 and 55, and people who have a close relative with SAD. 

"If people are seeing signs of hopelessness and suicide, reaching out and calling their doctor or getting enrolled in some type of psycho therapy, or behavioral counseling is definitely important," said Sara Kern. "You can also increase your exercise, try to get under lights, and get outside on the sunny days we do have. That's all very important."

"You have to learn that it's very temporary, don't get too discouraged and you have to let yourself feel depressed," said SAD sufferer. "Sometimes it's worse when you try to deny that you're depressed. So, the best things is to accept it; accept that it's part of who you are and that's what happens to you during the wintertime. Don't be afraid to see a councilor or a therapist."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 90% of people who die by suicide have clinical depression or another diagnosable mental disorder. So, don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. It's important to take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year. And, if you think someone you know has SAD, talk to them, it could save their life.

There are several places to turn to, in the valley, if you think you're experiencing seasonal affective disorder. Contact your local health care provider at any of our area hospitals or you can contact Quality Behavioral Health in Clarkston.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 – available 24/7 
Quality Behavioral Health (509) 758-3341
Tri-State Memorial Hospital (509) 758-5511
Valley Medical Center (208) 746-1383
Pullman Regional Hospital (509) 332-2541

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Opening day for Brundage had six inches of fresh snow

By Morgan Aguilar Updated: Dec 23, 2014

Brundage reported a base of 62 inches on Monday.

MCCALL, ID - Just in time for the Christmas, Brundage mountain is now 100% open.

Opening day was on Friday. A few runs were still closed, but those that were open had six inches of fresh snow. By Saturday, all five chairlifts were open, with just five runs still closed. Opening weekend turned out to be nothing but powder.

"Our average day usually comes around December 9th give or take a day or two," said April Whitney, Communication Director, Brundage Mountain. "We're about a week and half after that but the important thing for us is that we are open for Christmas break so families can enjoy their holiday tradition and come ski at Brundage Mountain and not have to change their plans at the last minute."

Monday, Brundage reported a base of 62 inches. The annual free "Light Up the Night" event is on Saturday. There will be a torchlight parade, slopeside fireworks show and live music. Be sure to tune into our Christmas Special Thursday evening to learn about another event that will be hosted at Brundage Mountain for the very first time this January.